CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT · model year

2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT

120 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETTRAILBLAZER EXT carries 120 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, 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 2002 TRAILBLAZER EXT is power train:automatic transmission with 18 filings, followed by electrical system (12) and fuel system, gasoline (9). 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 3 active recall campaigns, 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 2002 TRAILBLAZER EXT, 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.

120
Complaints
3
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

120 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY5
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
STRUCTURE4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS3
VISIBILITY3
EQUIPMENT2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR2

Recalls (3)

05V49400027/10/2005

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A REAR SIDE CLOSURE LATCH THAT MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BY ROAD SPLASH, SUCH AS WATER AND ROAD SALT. THESE VEHICLES WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, M

04V04600004/02/2004

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER

04V52700001/11/2004

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Recent Complaints

20170521UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SMELLING GAS EVEN THOUGH NO GAS WAS SPILLED. THE CAR IS STATIONARY IN GARAGE. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO KEEP IN THE GARAGE AND I AM PARKING IT OUTSIDE. I AM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING.

Mileage: 140,000

20140217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY CHECK ENGINE TURNED ON INSIDE THE CAR IT WAS SMELLING LIKE GAS . I WENT TO A LOCAL SHOP THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ITS A FUEL TANK LEAK . ITS LEAKING RIGHT WERE THE FUEL GOES IN THE TANK . I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL . BUT I FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE ACTION #EAO7009. *TR

Mileage: 117,150

20131015VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE WIPERS STOP HALF WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN IT IS RAINING. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED OF THE WIPERS. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. MY DISABLED SON HAS TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE AND GM COULD CARE LESS. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH ALL TRAILBLAZERS. GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

20130813ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAYING 50 DEGREES REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. WHEN ACTUAL TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING THIS REPRESENTS A HAZARD. WHEN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 50 DEGREES AIR CONDITIONING NOT RESPONSIVE (EVEN WHEN TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 100 DEGREES, "HEATER" COMES ON DUE TO ERRONEOUS OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE READING). POOR FUEL MILEAGE RESULTS FROM INCORRECT AIR/FUEL MIXTURE AT ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURES MORE THAN 20 DEGREES +/- 50 DEGREE SYSTEM TEMPERATURE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20130719FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, A FEW MINUTES LATER SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. POPPED HOOD AND FUSE BLOCK AND RELAY WE SMOKING AND MELTING! GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHED AND PULLED THE HEAD LIGHT RELAY SWITCH, BUT IT HAD MELTED THROUGH THE BLOCK!!!! *TR

Mileage: 177,000

20130719FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, A FEW MINUTES LATER SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. POPPED HOOD AND FUSE BLOCK AND RELAY WE SMOKING AND MELTING! GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHED AND PULLED THE HEAD LIGHT RELAY SWITCH, BUT IT HAD MELTED THROUGH THE BLOCK!!!! *TR

Mileage: 177,000

20130628FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSIDE OF THE LENS ASSEMBLY OVER HEATS AND MELTS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR GOING TO THE BULB AND THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. HAD TO GO AND HAVE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING PLUS CONNECTOR REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

20130628FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSIDE OF THE LENS ASSEMBLY OVER HEATS AND MELTS THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR GOING TO THE BULB AND THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. HAD TO GO AND HAVE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING PLUS CONNECTOR REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

20110319ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LARGER OCCURRING ISSUES WHICH COULD EFFECT SAFETY INCLUDE THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY DECIDING TO CHANGE FROM 2WD/A4WD/4WDH4WDL WHENEVER IT WANTS TO UNDER VARIOUS WEATHER/ROAD CONDITIONS (INCLUDING PERFECT WEATHER AND ROAD SURFACE) AND OCCASIONAL RANDOM IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL ON IT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL RIGS LIKE THIS ONE COME IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE .. I BELIEVE THAT CHEVY GM NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND HAVE THIS FIXED BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE IS INJURED OR KILLED.. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20110201POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEAR OUT OF PARK POSITION AND IT SHIFTED INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE GEAR SHIFT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V075000, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ON-GOING FOR THE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20110116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTRUMENT PANEL QUITS FUNCTIONING AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND MAY START WORKING AT ANYTIME, ACCURACY IS QUESTIONABLE. THIS INCLUDES SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, CHARGING AND FUEL GAUGES. *LN

Mileage: 19,000

20100831ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OUR 2002 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER MIRRORS WILL NOT RESET TO THE MEMORY POSITIONS. THE MIRRORS CHANGE POSITIONS BY THEMSELVES AND HAVE TO BE READJUSTED EVERYTIME THE CAR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

20100831VISIBILITY

OUR 2002 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER MIRRORS WILL NOT RESET TO THE MEMORY POSITIONS. THE MIRRORS CHANGE POSITIONS BY THEMSELVES AND HAVE TO BE READJUSTED EVERYTIME THE CAR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

20100817POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT WHICH HAS BEEN IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED BY ME. PRIOR TO GOING ON A VACATION I BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION AS USUAL AND HE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. HE ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WHICH PROMPTED CHEVROLET TO CHANGE THE DESIGN. HE CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST BUT WAS NOT. I CHECKED THE NHTSA SITE AND HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH GM AND PLACED ON A RECALL LIST FOR REPLACEMENT BY A DEALERSHIP? *TR

Mileage: 155,000

20100625VISIBILITY

2002 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CLAIM THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED AND WILL NOT BE FIXED AGAIN MY THING IS IF IT IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS NOT FIXED THEN THEY SHOULD BE FIXED UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED WE HAVE TO RIDE AROUND WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING OR DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE WE CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED OURSELVES I CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID TO BAD IT WAS UP TO US ONLY ONE RECALL. CAN YOU HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM OR WILL THIS CONTINUE TO GO UNNOTICED THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20100512ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OUR 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LOSES POWER AND THE TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASH INCLUDING THE SERVICE LIGHT AND REDUCED POWER LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE CHANGED THE 02 SENSOR, FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND HAD THE EMISSION SYSTEM CHECKED ALL TO NO AVAIL. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT ISOLATE THE PROBLEM AND ALL THINGS WE HAVE TRIED HAS FAILED. WE HAVE RESET THE COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD NO HELP FROM GM. *TR

Mileage: 100,004

20100422VISIBILITY

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER VIN# [XXX] AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS WILL NOT TURN ON AND CEASED OPERATION WHILE IN USE. (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM) THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON 2/4/2004 RECALL ID #69922 I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 7/2004 FOR A SEAL ASSEMBLY AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS THE INFORMATION BELOW WAS POSTED IN THE RECALL AD: BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OR CAN LEAD TO THE CORROSION OF COMPONENTS WITHIN THE MODULE. CONSEQUENCE DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. HOW CAN CHEVROLET GET AWAY WITH SELLING A PRODUCT WITH KNOWN DEFECTS AND NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INSURING THAT THESE DEFECTS ARE PROPERLY FIXED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F

Mileage: 123,000

20100422FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE, FOUND OUT A CRACK IN THE TANK AROUND THE TUBE CONNECTING THE HOSE COMING FROM THE FILLER NECK, QUITE DANGEROUS IT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, ASK GM AND THE HAVE A SAFETY POLICY ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT EXPIRES WHEN THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD OR 70000 MILES, THERE ARE MANY MANY CASES LIKE THIS SO THIS MUST BE A RECALL ISSUE AT MY POINT OF VIEW. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20100323UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND REMAINS AT LAST KNOWN SPEED OR STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE IS TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF AND RESTART.

Mileage: 114,000

20100313EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WING FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

Compare 2002CHEVROLETTRAILBLAZER EXT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT has 120 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT?
Yes, the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 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.