There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
OVERHEATING, REPLACED WATER PUMP THERMOSTAT CLUTCH FAN, RADIATOR IS GOOD, FUEL VALVE AND CLUTCH FAN ALL NEW, STILL OVERHEATING WHEN IT'S HOT OR CITY DRIVING WITH STOP AND GO. MECHANIC REPORTS HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING CAUSING IT. FOUND INFO ON 2004 PCM CLUTCH FAN SETTING BUT, NOT 2003
SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE CAR LOT MY MOTER LOCKED UP. IT WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD , AND EVENTUALLY JUST WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND 18 WHEELERS ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE IT WENT OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
VEHICLE STARTED LEAVING SPOTS OF OIL ON THE GROUND OVER NIGHT. WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY AND A BLUISH CLOUD OF SMOKE WAS TRAILING BEHIND ME. ARRIVED AT WORK AND LET TRUCK COOL DOWN AFTER WHICH I CRAWLED UNDERNEATH AND WITH A MIRROR WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE LEAKING REAR MAIN SEAL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM,S 5.3 LITER ENGINES. MULTIPLE FORUMS ARE POSTING MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCTS AND REPAIR THIS ISSUE WHICH AGAIN IS A WIDE SPREAD KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
THE ENGINE JUST DIES WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE REDUCED POWER KICKS IN AND CHECK ENGINE. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE IT IS NOW HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND MAKE A RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT AND ALL OF THE PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE AS IT BECAME ENGULFED INTO FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. A REPORT WOULD BE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TWO MONTHS PRIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 08-30-12 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
EXHAUST BOLTS HAVE BROKEN ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THIS VEHICLE HAS THE V8 ENGINE. DEALER EXPLAINS THAT THIS NEEDS FIXED AS CARBON MONOXIDE COULD ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO, I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO SEE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT GM VEHICLES MODEL YEAR 2000 TO 2007 WITH THIS 5.3 V8 ENGINE HAVE REPORTED THESE BOLTS BREAKING AND INFORMED ME TO CONTACT GM ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. I DO NOT HAVE THE $2000 FOR REPAIRS AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH FAN CLUTCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE RPM WENT UP, THE FAN CLUTCH WOULD DISENGAGE AND THEN SOUND NORMAL. THE FAN CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING LESS THEN 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED . THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN RESTART IT. THE CONTACT CONSULTED A PRIVATE MECHANIC ABOUT THE FAILURE AND HE STATED THAT NO CODES WILL APPEAR IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51236.
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT .AND WILL CONTINUE TO FILE COMPLAINTS UNTIL ALL OF THE CONSUMERS ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS NOT WILLING TO HOLD THEIRSELFS LIABLE FOR THESE ISSUES ,BUT PEOPLE SPEND PRETTY PENNIES OUT OF POCKET TO PURCHASE VEHICLES FROM THESE MANUFACTURERS TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AFTER JUST A SHORT WHILE OF OWNING THESE . I HAVE RESEARCHED ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE , AND I AM HAVING ALL THE ABOVE LISTED ISSUES , AND DO NOT WISH TO SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO PAY FOR THESE COST CONSIDERING I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE . I JUST SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTIVE ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS ,AND HAVE SET UP AN APPOINMENT TO PAY A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS , BUT AM HOPING THAT I CAN GET CLOSURE ON THESE ISSUES WITHOUT PAYING BIG EXPENSES. I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND KEEP INPUTTING YOUR COMPLAINTS UNTIL THEY ARE RESOLVED. MY VEHICLE ISSUES ARE THE FAN CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACED, MY GAS TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED ALREADY,JUST REPLACED MY SERPINTINE BELT THIS MORNING, MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS (BRAKE/TURN SIGNAL) HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES OVER TWO MONTHS, AND ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON , SOMETHING DOESNT SEEM RIGHT UNDERNEATH THIS VEHICLE EITHER. I JUST FEEL LIKE I AM PAYING FOR A PEICE OF JUNK ON TOP OF PAYING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING. OH YEA THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF BODY WORK DONE AS WELL THANKS TO MOTHER NATURE. I JUST HOPE THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILTY OF THEIRS ,NOT OURS. *TR
THERMOSTAT HAS FAILED TWICE DURING LONG TRIPS. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN HOT OR COLD. I AM ON MY THIRD ONE AND HAVE CONCLUDED IT MUST BE A DESIGN DEFECT. FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THUS STRAND THE DRIVER. *TR
IN JULY 2010 MY TRAILBLAZERS CLUTCH FAN AND THERMOSTAT WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS MODEL THAT WERE ON THE INTERNET. THEN IN OCTOBER MY TACHOMETER STARTED ACTING UP, IT BROKE NOVEMBER 24, 2010. THE SPEEDOMETER BROKE ON DECEMBER 3, 2010. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CLUTCH FAN GOING OUT AND THE CLUSTER GOING OUT ON THE INTERNET. SOMEONE AT WORK HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENVOY AND IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT AND THEIR CLUTCH FAN GOING OUT. ALL AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN GM FOR NOT WANTING TO REPAIR THESE ISSUES SO THE CONSUMER BEARS THE COSTS OF REPAIR WHICH IS ABOUT 500 FOR THE CLUTCH FAN AND THERMOSTAT AND 400 FOR THE CLUSTER.
2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER - FAN CLUTCH - HAVING TO REPLACE FAN CLUTCH AFTER REPLACING LESS THAN 2 YRS AGO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH, THE DRIVER TRAVELED OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND OBSERVED THAT THE "EMPTY FUEL" INDICATOR WAS DISPLAYED ON THE FUEL GAUGE. WHEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT HAS CONCERNS OF THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,220.
THE FAN CLUTCH ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. FIRST FAILURE AT 81000 MILES AND FAILURE OF DEALER INSTALLED REPLACEMENT AT 115000. THE FAILURE RESULTS IN A LOSS OF ACCELERATION ABILITY, THE NOISE LEVEL IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTRACTION TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS, AND THE PENDING FAILURE OF THE COOLING SYSTEM COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE ROADSIDE CONDITIONS. *TR
ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING FROM REAR HEATER CORE. CAUSED MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. FLUID LEAKS AT A FAIRLY RAPID RATE. IN DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THEY CHANGED THE HEATER CORE SO THIS REPAIR COSTS AN EXTRA $500 FOR PARTS TO RETROFIT A NEW HEATER CORE. IF THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? IT COULD CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. I CALLED GM WITH NO LUCK. *TR
2ND TIME REPLACING CLUTCH FAN "68,000 MILES" CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE. EVENTUALLY GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE "MAX 10MPH". MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND IT IS MAKING THAT LOUD WHIRRING NOISE AGAIN. I AM EXPECTING A THIRD FAILURE SOON. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026