Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems

Owners filed 1,277 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer with NHTSA between Jun 2001 and Mar 2025. The most-cited component is power train (335).

Complaints
1,277
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
110
Reported by owners
Fires
39
Reported by owners
Injuries
102
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train335
  2. Electrical system199
  3. Exterior lighting159
  4. Engine and engine cooling158
  5. Fuel system, gasoline125
  6. Visibility110
  7. Air bags106
  8. Seat belts49
  9. Steering46
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic46
  11. Structure43
  12. Equipment42
  13. Suspension36
  14. Fuel/propulsion system25

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20014
2002117
2003174
2004144
2005150
2006106
2007125
200890
200971
201062
201144
201228
201325
201441
201530
201619
201717
20189
20199
20203
20217
20221
20230
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

335 reports8 crashes5 fires3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE AND FLUID LEAKED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2020Power trainODI 11297999

Electrical system

199 reports9 crashes22 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SOLENOID WHICH HE BELIEVED REPAIRED THE ISSUE. SOON AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT FUSES AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CIRCUIT BOARD HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V096000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CORWIN MOTORS KALISPELL (2565 US-93, KALISPELL, MT 59901, (406) 755-5555) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11415169

Exterior lighting

159 reports2 crashes8 fires2 related recalls
“CHEVROLET DEALER BEGAN RECALL REPAIRS BUT GM FILED BANKRUPTCY AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR CITING INABILITY TO GET PAID BY GM FOR RECALL, RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME UNREPAIRED. NEXT DEALER SAID RECORDS SHOWED REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THEY WERE NOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11194474

Engine and engine cooling

158 reports6 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM THE TRANSMISSION LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION ON THE INSULATED HEAT SHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,924. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10537535

Fuel system, gasoline

125 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CAR. WINDOWS DON'T COME DOWN, DOORS DON'T UNLOCK, AND OTHER ISSUES. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN, UNLESS IT WAS DONE MANUALLY. THERE WAS A LOCKING AND UNLOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DOORS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WIRING INSIDE THE DOORS. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A SMALL EVAP LEAK AND AFTER MARKET FUEL CAP.*JB THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE FLICKING ON AND OFF, THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. UPDATED 04/13/15. *JB UPDATED 07/20/15. *J *JS *JS *JS *JS *JS *JS *JS *JS *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2015Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, EngineODI 10661702

Visibility

110 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF DID NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE SUN ROOF IN OCTOBER OF 2010 BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,394.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2019VisibilityODI 11240635
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.