There are 32 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE PULLED BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSTANT STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,476.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
POWER STEERING LINE FAILED/CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL THE FLUID ON GROUND WITHOUT WARNING. UNKNOWN IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE UNIT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY CAR SHUT OFF AND I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE ALL OF THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND I LOST CONTROL OF MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *TR
WAS MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEED WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED. HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE. *TR
WAS MAKING A LANE CHANGE ON PERFECT ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE BACK END OF THE TRAILBLAZER STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. VEERED INTO THE MEDIAN AND WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. CRANKED HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID TRAFFIC AND ROLLED THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE TRANSMISSION LINES LEAKED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE POWER STEERING LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED FLUID EXCESSIVELY. THE LINES WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,000. THE TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED AND LEAKED FLUID AND ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $350.00. UPDATED 08/31/11.*JB
STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD WOULD GO BACKWARDS HAD JUST HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED 1 YEAR BEFORE ONLY HAD 79K MILES BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW BOTH DRIVER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT SEAL TO FRONT DRIVER DOOR TRANSMISSION REPLACE PWR STEERING--RACK AND PINIONS AND USUALLY HAVE REGULAR CHECK UP WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT. *TR
WATER HAS BEEN SEEN SEVERAL TIMES DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK IN THE CENTER AREA. IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. NO WET WEATHER AT THE TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF CONDENSATION. ALSO FAN CLUTCH FAILURE, SWAY BAR LINKAGES FAILURE, TIE-ROD FAILURE, RACK AND PINION FAILURE/LEAK, CONTROL ARM FAILURES 2 TIMES, WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT TURN OFF FAILURE, WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR TANK LEAK REPLACED, AC COLD AIR FAILURE. ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT @ 35,825 MILES I REPORTED MY VEHICLE BINDS UP ON TURNS & OF COURSE THE GARAGE FOUND NOTHING (DROVE IT 20 MILES FOR COMPARISON @ THE TIME). SO NOW THAT I AM UP TO 82,090 MILES NOW I MENTION SUSPENSION ISSUES STILL & OF COURSE THEY FIND BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACED @ $320.06 & LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END BROKEN @ $170.80. ALSO THEY INFORM ME I NEED TO REPLACE 3 OF MY 4 STABILIZER BAR LINKS ARE LOOSE & RATTLING @ AN ESTIMATE OF $320.00 (HAVEN'T DONE YET) ALSO, I HAVE LOOKED ON A WEBSITE CALLED MYCARSTATS.COM & FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THESE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE @ MUCH LOWER MILEAGE & WHERE TIE ROD ISSUE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT -- THEY WEREN'T AS LUCKY AS ME. ALSO PEOPLE I WORK WITH WHO HAVE THIS SAME YR & MODEL VEHICLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE BALL JOINTS, SWAY BARS REPLACED, AND OTHER SUSPENSION WORK @ LOWER MILEAGES. I ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 4-WHEEL DRIVE BECOMING INOPERATIVE & THIS DID ALMOST CAUSE ME TO WRECK GOING UP HILL DURING WINTER WEATHER. THEY REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ENGAGEMENT ACTUATOR. ALL THESE THINGS IN MY MIND SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT THESE MILEAGES. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE QUIT @ 80,000 MILES. ALL THESE ISSUES CAN CREATE SAFE DRIVING ISSUES FOR THE CONSUMER ESPECIALLY SOMEONE WHO PAYS OVER $30,000 FOR A VEHICLE WHEN IT'S NEW. LET ME ADD NOW THAT THE LATEST EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO ADD TO MY LIST IS THE FAN CLUTCH ASSEMBLY ON MY ENGINE COOLING FAN SYSTEM $573.00 -- ALSO FOUND MANY GM OWNERS OF BRAVADA, RAINERS, ENVOYS & TRAILBLAZERS EXPERIENCING THIS ITEMS FAILURE TOO. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. WHILE IDLING THE SPEEDOMETER READ 90 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES THE STEERING COLUMN FROZE AND ACTIVATED THE HORN. THE HORN WILL NOT DEACTIVATE UNLESS THE FUSE WASREMOVED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, BUT THE PEDAL DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT MUST RELEASE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I OWN A 2003 TRAILBLAZER AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED 4 FAN CLUTCHES, 3 COMPUTERS, TRANSMISSION JUST HAD ITS 2ND OVERHAUL AND NUMEROUS OTHER LITTLE ITEMS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 66,400 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *JB
2003 TRAILBLAZER RACK AND PINION FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE RACK & PINION FAILED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER LEFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, UPON APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE HOWEVER, THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/27/06. *JB
HIGH PITCH WHIRRING SOUND EMANATING FROM THE FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SOUND INCREASED AS ACCELERATION INCREASED. DIFFICULTY IN STEERING BECAME PROMINENT. RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOT. GASOLINE TANK LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, WHEN FULL, LEAKED GASOLINE. *JB
TIE ROD END FAILED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVING A REGULAR MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RIGHT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, NHTSA RECALL, #04V527000 REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS IN THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. IN ADDITION, RESURFACED REAR ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS. ALSO, REPLACED REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM. THE DOOR LOCSK WERE INOPERATIVE. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
MY 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT HAS HAD A POWER STEERING PROBLEM STARTING AROUND 15K MILES. THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT WITH NO WARNINGS. WHEN I HAVE NOTICED THIS, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY IF YOU PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO SPEED UP, BUT IF YOU DO NOT THE POWER STEERING GOES COMPLETELY OUT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHILE I WOULD BE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WOULD GO OUT. YOU DO STILL HAVE CONTROL OF THE STEERING BUT IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH THE SAME STYLE TRUCK AND THEY ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM AS WELL. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN A HUGE ISSUE. MY DEALER, WHICH IS VERY GOOD, HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS BEING AN ISSUES FROM THE MANUFACTURING, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE RECEIVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THEMSELVES ON THIS ISSUE. *NM
DRAGGING FEELING WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. SOUNDED LIKE METAL SCRAPPING AGAINST METAL. *NM
Showing 1–20 of 32 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