2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE CORROSION BY VISIBLY INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS TOTALLY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4669457241. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4 -WHEEL DRIVE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, NO. 110, NO. 114, NO. 225, NO. 209, & NO. 208. VECHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A LEFT -FRONT BRAKE PIPE WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SCORE AT A RANDOM LOCATION ALONG THE LENGHT OF THE PIPE AS THE RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IF THE BRAKE PIPE PARTIALLY OR FULLY FRACTURED,BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WOULD IMMEDIATELY INCREASE AND FRONT BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE REDUCED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS MAY FRACTURE. MISSING WELDS ON THE REAR FLOW PLAN THE CALIBRATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT HIGH SPEED GEAR ENGAGEMENT. THIS FRACTURE COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A RANGE SHIFT COLLAR IN THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE THAT CONTAINS CRACKS.

DRIVING I-85 NORTH BOUND ON THE MORNING ON 6/15/2015 HEADED TO WORK WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER TO CROSS OVER INTO ANOTHER LANE THEN BACK INTO THE LANE I WAS IN, SPIN UNCONTROLLABLE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SPINNING AND THEN THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, THE CAR COMES TO A STOP AND SLAMS INTO A GUARD RAIL WHERE I AM FACING SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC, NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY, I HAVE A NECK AND BACK INJURY THAT TO THIS DAY I AM STILL BEING TREATED FOR AND MY PASSENGER WHO WAS A COWORKER RIDING TO WORK WITH ME THAT MORNING ALSO HAD A BACK INJURY. MY VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, LOST TIME FROM WORK, STILL HAVE MEDICAL BILLS, OCCURRING, ALTHOUGH I HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT LOSS WAGES. JUST HAD THESE TIRES PUT ON MY TRUCK ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE PASSING THESE BAD TIRES ON AS NEW TIRES , DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE CASE OR NOT. DON'T KNOW WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DON'T KNOW WHY STEERING WHEEL SPIN THEN LOCKED UP, THANK GOD IT WAS NOT WORSE! STATE TROOPER SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE FROM THE WAY I LANDED.

WELL I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED FROM AMERICAS CARMART IN GADSDEN ALABAMA.THEY HAVE A 100 PLUS LOTS AND ADVERTISE GOOD USED QUALTIY CARS..WHEN I BOUGHT THE SUV I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THEIR ON SITE CERTIFIED MECHANIC CHECKED IT ALL OUT AND WITH THE SERVICE AGREEMENT THOUGHT I WAS OK....HAD IT TWO DAYS AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT..THE SUSPENSION WAS ALSO AN ISSUE THEN 12/21/2014 ..GOING PAST 50 IT SHOOK LIKE CRAZY....AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AGAINI PURCHASED A SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR $595.00..IT COVERS WHAT MY PROBLEMS ARE...BUT THE CONTRACT SAYS THEY CAN USE NON MANUFACTER PARTS WHICH IS FINE...WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION..THEY PUT A JUNKYARD SALVAGE TRANSMISSION WITH 100.000 MILES ON IT...WHEN I CALLED THEM IN DECEMBER ABOUT THE SHAKING AND SUSPENSION AND THE TRANSMISSION...THEY SAID BRING IT IN...I ASKED THEM WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE IT..THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME...AND I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T WANT A JUNKYARD SUSPENSION OR TRANSMISSION AS PER CONTRACT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN..I ALSO ASKED FOR A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO DO THE WORK...THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO.I DO A LOT OF DRIVING IN TENNESSEE..ALOT OF MOUNTAIN DRIVING AND I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FRONT END {BALL JOINTS,ETC GO OUT THERE..NOT REAL SAFE..THEY CAME AND GOT THE CAR...I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO FIX IT AS AGREED...THAT WAS ON THE 8TH OF JAN..NOW THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO SUE ME FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE....I JUST WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THIS SUV AS IT IS NOT SAFE..AND ITS MY OPINION THEY DO THIS A LOT TO OTHER PEOPLE...I WANTED TO DRAW THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AS I WOULD FEEL BAD IF I HEARD OF SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT..DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO SELL QUALITY USED CARS AS THEY ADVERTISE...AND BELIEVE THEIR PRACTICES ON REPAIRING THESE CARS WITH A SERVICE AGREEMENT GETS CHECKED INTO..I FILED A COMPLAIT W/THE FTC AND AGOFFICE. *TR

THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2012, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY DUE TO BEARING FAILURE. RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS NOT EXHIBITED A LEAK, WAS VERY LOW ON FLUID, (3 QUARTS) AND THE FLUID WAS BURNED. THE TRANSMISSION NOW SLIPS AND IS CHANGING ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT BUFF WHELAN CHEVROLET IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MI. *TR

HAD BANGING NOISES UNDER THE CAR WHICH AT SOME POINT FELT AS IF MY SUSPENSION WAS BAD SINCE IT WAS NOT STABLE RIDING. THE SUV SEEMED AS IF IT WERE DARTING ACROSS THE ROADS AND LEFT US DRIVERS FEELING AS IF WE WERE ALWAYS ADJUSTING THE SUV TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE. TURNED OUT THAT ALL FOUR SWAY BAR LINKS WHERE BAD WHICH LEADS MY FAMILY TO WONDER WHY WOULD ALL FOUR SWAY BAR LINKS TWO IN THE FRONT & TWO IN THE REAR GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME AND IN LESS THEN A YEAR OF HAVING THE SUV INSPECTED BY THE SAME DEALER WHOM FOUND THE SWAY BAR LINKS FRONT & REAR TO BE BAD. SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE PARTS ARE NOT OF QUALITY AND POORLY MADE AND MAKE THE AUTO VERY UNSTABLE WHEN THEY FAIL AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN DOING SO. WE ENDED UP REPLACING THE TWO FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS BUT, ARE HOLDING OFF ON THE REAR FOR RIGHT NOW. I FEEL THESE SWAY BAR LINKS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. *JB

SWAY BAR LINKS (ALSO CALLED STABILIZER LINKS) REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER: I HAD ALL 4 REPLACED IN MAY 2007 BY A LOCAL REPAIR BUSINESS, THEN 10 MONTHS LATER THE REAR 2 WERE REPLACED BY AUTODEALERSHIP IN MARCH 2008, THEN YET AGAIN 8 MONTHS LATER I HAD THE RIGHT REAR ONE REPLACED BY SAME AUTODEALERSHIP (IN ALL CASES PARTS WERE ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 MILES AND I HAD TRAVELED OVER THE LIMIT). I ASKED THE AUTO DEALERSHIP IF THEY THEMSELVES HAVE SEEN A TREND IN REPLACING THESE PARTS THEY GAVE ME A GM# TO CALL - WHICH I DIDN'T. I FIGURED I WOULD START HERE FIRST. (I KNEW THERE WAS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM IN ALL THREE CASES WHEN I HEARD LOUD RATTLING NOISES COMING FROM REAR OF THE SUV - I ADDITIONALLY HAD ALL 3 REPAIR PLACES SHOW ME THE OLD SWAY BAR LINKS TO OBSERVE DAMAGE.) I DO HAVE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY TRAILBLAZER BUT REPLACING SWAY BAR LINKS 3 TIMES ON SAME VEHICLE SEEMS EXCESSIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STEERED THE VEHICLE SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND SOMETIMES FELT VIBRATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN TURNING OR JUST SWITCHING LANES. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE NOISES BEGAN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2007, AND BECAME MORE DISTINCT, CONSISTENT, AND LOUD. ALSO, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THEREWAS NOW A PERIODIC RATTLING AND CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,400, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CONTACT HAD THE NAME OF THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE THE ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER. *AK

SNAPPING AND POPPING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STABALIZER LINKS. THIS SEEMD TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. NOW THE NOISE IS BACK AND AT TIMES IS QUITE LOUD. VEHICLE HAS 21,000 MILES. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY TRAIL BLAZER FOR 1 YR AND 1 MONTH. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND BACK PADS AND ROTORS, BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC (SP) CONVERTER, AND NOW THEY JUST TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ON THE MANIFOLD. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. THE OTHER DAY THE RADIO JUST STOPPED PLAYING AND THEN THE SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. *NM

DT: TOOK FOR INSPECTION AND WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE BALL JOINT ON PASSENGER. TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. CALLED GM SAFETY DEFECT TO REPORT BALL JOINT. GM SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. GM SAFETY DEFECT MADE APT FOR SECOND OPPION. SECOND DEALER SAID NOTHING AGAIN. TOOK BACK FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AGAIN, THEY REFUSE TO PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE BALL JOINT.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER BUMPS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC REPLACED,THE STRUTS, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE HANDLING WAS VERY POOR. THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS UNSTEADY WHEN BEING PASSED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OF ANY SIZE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB WINDY CONDITIONS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE'S POOR HANDLING. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS NORMAL FOR SUV'S. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED WITH THE DEALER THEREFORE THEY TOOK NO FURTHER ACTION. *NM