CHEVROLET BLAZER · model year

2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER

103 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003CHEVROLETBLAZER carries 103 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 BLAZER is air bags with 10 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (7) and electrical system (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2003 BLAZER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

103
Complaints
19
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

103 filings

Crashes Reported

19 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
STRUCTURE:BODY4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
SERVICE BRAKES3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)2
STEERING2

Recalls (1)

04V13200018/03/2004

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Recent Complaints

20180228CrashAIR BAGS

REAR ENDED A STOPPED PICK UP AT 45 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED BUT MOST WAS ON DRIVER SIDE.

20180111FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1/10/2018, WHILE DRIVING ON I-96, SUV SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 72MPH. I COASTED VEHICLE TO A STOP IN THAT LANE, AS HEAVY TRAFFIC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PULL OVER. MY FAMILY OF FOUR WERE IN THAT SUV WHEN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING.

Mileage: 206,854

20160920STRUCTURE:BODY

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NE

20160920SERVICE BRAKES

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NE

20160920FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NE

20151220CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALL

Mileage: 175,000

20151220CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALL

Mileage: 175,000

20151220CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALL

Mileage: 175,000

20141106AIR BAGS

AIRBAG RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20141026AIR BAGS

MY 03 BLAZER HAS HAD ITS AIRBAG LIGHTS ON FOR SOME TIME NOW AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF I GET INTO A CRASH MY AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY, I'M SCARED ALSO TO SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA OR BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED BADLY. A RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR

Mileage: 138,300

20141007STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR LATCH AND DOOR FLYING OPEN. *TR

20140806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

20140728CrashAIR BAGS

WAS HIT BY RIGHT SIDE IMPACT BY A TRUCK WITHOUT BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT. IT WAS GOING 40 MPH. COMING DOWN HILL AS I TOOK OFF AT STOP LIGHT . PUSHED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ! ALSO I WAS HIT ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE PANEL . IT LATER CAUSED MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO NOT DISPLAY THE LIGHTS ON WARNINGS . HAD TO REPLACE THE PANEL . THAT'S WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AT ALL ! BUT FLASHES ON AND OFF AS YOU DRIVE. *JS

Mileage: 78,000

20140331SERVICE BRAKES

NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. GM DEALER SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I PAID A LOCAL GARAGE TO INSTALL NEW BRAKE LINE. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN, 98,000, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LOST BRAKING ABILITY. I FIND THAT GM WILL SELL ME A SET OF BRAKE LINES FOR $500 AND I CAN HAVE THEM INSTALLED ANYWHERE I WANT TO. CONSIDERING THE CURRENT GM SITUATION WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH I THINK THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES AND FIX THEIR RUSTING BRAKE LINES. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20130827CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SEIZURE AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO VEER TO THE LEFT WHERE I CLIPPED SEVERAL CARS THAT WERE HEADED NORTHBOUND AND HAD STOPPED DUE TO THE REALIZATION THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER CONTROL. I THEN PROCEEDED OVER A TREE LAWN AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I HIT A DODGE RAM PICKUP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSHED THAT VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR THAT WAS NEXT TO IT. BOTH VEHICLES ENDED UP SIDEWAYS AND MY VEHICLE ENDED UP SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. POLICE WERE CALLED AN PARAMEDICS ARRIVED. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE USED TO EXTRACT ME FROM MY VEHICLE. I WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I SUFFERED BURST FRACTURES OF L1, L2, AND L3. I ALSO SUFFERED AN EVULSION FRACTURE OF MY LEFT ANKLE. THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT I WAS TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THAT THE VEHICLES WHICH WERE NORTHBOUND WERE JUST CLIPPED. THE AIRBAGS ARE BOTH STILL WITHIN

Mileage: 174,500

20111011EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH, ALL TAIL LIGHTS. MECHANIC INVESTIGATION SHOWS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM AS IN PREVIOUS RECALL FOR MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON 2002 BLAZER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION AND ADDITION TO THE RECALL. *KB

Mileage: 155,984

20111011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH, ALL TAIL LIGHTS. MECHANIC INVESTIGATION SHOWS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM AS IN PREVIOUS RECALL FOR MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON 2002 BLAZER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION AND ADDITION TO THE RECALL. *KB

Mileage: 155,984

20111011EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH, ALL TAIL LIGHTS. MECHANIC INVESTIGATION SHOWS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM AS IN PREVIOUS RECALL FOR MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON 2002 BLAZER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION AND ADDITION TO THE RECALL. *KB

Mileage: 155,984

20111011EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH, ALL TAIL LIGHTS. MECHANIC INVESTIGATION SHOWS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM AS IN PREVIOUS RECALL FOR MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON 2002 BLAZER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION AND ADDITION TO THE RECALL. *KB

Mileage: 155,984

20110506FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ONGOING FAILURE IN WHICH THE FUEL GAUGE CONSTANTLY DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED DUE TO THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE FAILURE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 12,000

Compare 2003CHEVROLETBLAZER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER have?
The 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER has 103 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER?
Yes, the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER?
The most-complained component for the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER is AIR BAGS with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.