Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer power train problems

335 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer cite power train, 26% of all 1,277 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
335
26% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 UNDER DASH SHORTING OUT. CAUSING ACCESSORY PLUG TO SHOOT SPARKS AS WELL AS CAUSING DASH LIGHTS TO GO OUT, AND FRONT PANEL TO STOP WORKING. AC ELECTRICAL QUIT WORKING AFTER. 4WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTS RANDOMLY IN AND OUT OF 2 AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL. MOTOR SOLENOIDS AND SENSORS KEEP FAILING AND SHORTING OUT DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2019Power train, Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11267812
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND THE ANTI-THEFT LOCK AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2016Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10917639
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY SHUT ON AND OFF. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY SWITCH TO FIRST GEAR AND CAUSED THE SPEED TO SUDDENLY REDUCE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN REVERSE. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2015Power train, Exterior lightingODI 10817155
“THE COOLING LINES FROM THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXIT THE TRANSMISSION NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A PORTION OF THE LINES ARE COVERED WITH A PROTECTIVE AND LOOSE FITTING COVER WHICH APPEARS TO BE ALUMINUM ALMOST LIKE A TIN FOIL. THIS COVERING CREATES AN AREA WHERE MOISTURE COLLECTS CAUSING THE LINES TO RUST. EVENTUALLY THE LINES START TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE FLUID IS BLOWN ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND COULD START A FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE EXPOSING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO EXTREME DANGER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS OIL FROM THE ENGINE, BUT UPON CHECKING CLOSER, I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION LINES LEAKING. THE PLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE CONVERTER AND IF EXCESSIVE FLUID IS SPLATTERED ON THE CONVERTER, A FIRE COULD RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE LEAK WAS NOTICED. HOWEVER, THE FLUID WAS FOUND AFTER BEING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH SPLATTERED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SURROUNDING AREA OF THE VEHICLE. SPEAKING WITH AAMCO MECHANICS WHO REPLACED THE LINES, THEY FELT IT IS A REAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. WHAT BROUGHT MY ATTENTION TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2015Power trainODI 10809904
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE ONLY SHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND FAILED TO GO INTO THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,338.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2015Power trainODI 10790610

Showing 6 of 335 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN ADDITION, THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVERRIDE THAT CAN ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.

Power trainReported Mar 6, 2003NHTSA 03V075000

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE CALIBRATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT HIGH SPEED GEAR ENGAGEMENT.

Power trainReported Oct 17, 2001NHTSA 01V334000

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES (4 WHEEL-DRIVE). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A RANGE SHIFT COLLAR IN THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE THAT CONTAINS CRACKS.

Power trainReported Sep 5, 2001NHTSA 01V283000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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