Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer steering problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer cite steering, 4% of all 1,277 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
46
4% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT WHICH RESULTED IN BRIEF CONTROL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2015SteeringCrash reportedODI 10787202
“UNKNOWN REASON LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. MY BROTHER WAS EJECTED AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON HIM. NO AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2015Steering, Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 10717236
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER SIDE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO MANUEVER. ALSO, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CROSSED OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, AND CRASHED INTO AN IRON FENCE AND A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND WHIPLASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES, WHIPLASH, AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2015Steering, Air bags, Service brakesODI 10713871
“I WAS SLOWING DOWN AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF EITHER VEHICLE WAS HURT, PER POLICE REPORT. ON MY WAY TO THE COLLISION CENTER NEAR HOME, THE CAB OF THE TRUCK FILLED SUDDENLY WITH VERY BLACK SMOKE, SO THICK I COULDN'T SEE AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TRY TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE WERE FLAMES IN THE CAB AS WELL. WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK MY CLOTHES WERE ON FIRE. I WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND HAD TO BE TREATED FOR 1ST AND 2ND DEGREE BURNS OF THE FACE, SCALP, EYES, CALF, AND BOTH HANDS. MY RIGHT (DOMINANT) HAND WAS BURNED THE WORST, AS I HAD TRIED TO GET TO THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER I KEPT IN THE BACK. THE ENTIRE TRUCK BURNED EXCEPT THE LAST ROW OF SEATS (PARTIALLY BURNED) AND THE BACK DOOR. I AM STILL HAVING TO GO TO A WOUND CARE CENTER ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND MY BANDAGES HAVE TO BE CHANGED DAILY. I HAD TO GET A FLAT-TOP HAIRCUT TO GET RID OF ALL MY HAIR BURNED OFF, AND I HAVE TO HAVE HELP FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING SINCE MY "GOOD" HAND WAS THE WORST…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2014Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10662229
“IT WAS DRIZZLING THAT MORNING. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TAKING OVER MY DRIVING. MY TRUCK WENT LEFT INTO ANOTHER LANE ON ITS ON. I SAW ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING UP IN THAT LEFT LANE. ALL I COULD DO WAS ASK MY TRUCK WHAT WAS WRONG. AND I STARTED TALKING TO THE LORD. PLEASE DON'T LET ME HIT THIS TRUCK. PLEASE HELP ME. NEXT THING I WAS PULLED BACK TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND THEN OFF THE ROAD I WENT. I WENT THROUGH THE WOODS OVER STOMPS AND BUMPS. AND THEN CRASHED INTO A HUGE TREE. I FAINTED.I HEARD SOMEONE YELLING. I OPENED MY EYES TO LIFE. THE POLICE CAME OUT. AND THE AMBULANCE. THANK GOD I'M NOT TO COOL FOR A SAFE BELT. CAUSE MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD THEY MAY DEPLOY AT ANYTIME SO I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF TRUCK. MY SEATBELT LEFT ITS PRINT ON MY NECK AND CHEST. THE TRUCK WAS CRUSHED IN. WHEELS ON PASSENGER SIDE WERE BENT UNDER TRUCK. A TOTAL LOSS .. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2014Steering, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10579346
“I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2002 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WHERE THE 4X4 SELECTOR SWITCH WILL NOT WORK, OR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL BE PUT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHILE THE SELECTOR SWITCH IS STILL TURNED ON TWO WHEEL DRIVE. THE SELECTOR SWITCH AT TIMES HAS NOT WORKED WHEN I WANTED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE GO INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE IS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BY HAVING A HARD TIME TURNING THE FRONT WHEELS AND SEEING THE FRONT TIRES SPIN ON LOOSE GRAVEL EVEN THOUGH I NEVER SWITCHED THE VEHICLE INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE SELECTOR SWITCH STATES IT'S STILL IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE BUT THE YELLOW LIGHT IS LIT UP THAT IT'S IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES TO GM AND HAVE HAD THE SELECTOR SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. EVERYTIME THAT GM LOOKS AT IT THEY SAY THAT IT IS WORKING JUST FINE. I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL PUT OUT FOR THIS DRIVE SELECTOR SWITCH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2012Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 10444922

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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