2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Powertrain & Transmission Problems

While driving my Trailblazer in A4WD on slippery road conditions, I went to pulled out of a parking lot and there was a loud sound like my whole front end fell out and the front end completely locked up. Almost causing an accident. I had to dial back to 2HI quickly to unlock to front end. There was no light indicating any problems. Been driving it 2HI since with out any problems. Still no service light or anything, but feels like I'm stuck in A4WD. Feels like there is a drag and a pulling to the right. Also using more gas since. It was a scary, afraid to try the 4x4 functions again. Another snow storm is on the way!

DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL AND TRAILBLAZER MADE A LOUD CLUNK. THEN STARTED MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE. FINISHED DRIVING SLOWLY TO HOSPITAL AS NOT TO MESS ANYTHING ELSE UP. PULLED IN AND PARKED. GOT READY TO LEAVE HOSPITAL AND HAD NO REVERSE ONLY FOWARD.

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TWICE IN 10 MONTHS. I BOUGHT NEW PARTS FOR IT NOT USED THAT WERE REDONE TO GET RID OF THE PROBLEMS IT HAD NOW IT HAS GONE AGAIN. THIS TIME I HAVEN'T EVEN USED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE YET SINCE THE LAST REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCH IT AND I NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TWICE NOW I HAVE IN FACT REPORTED TO GM ASKING IF THERE WAS ANY RECOURSE I MAY TAKE AND THEY SIMPLY FLAT OUT TOLD ME NO! SO I STARTED HEARING A NOISE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY TO THE POINT YOU COULD NOT DRIVE IT. TO ME THIS I CONSIDER THIS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE IF IT STOPPED MOVING ALTOGETHER I'D BE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING. I DO HAVE AN INVOICE BUT NO SCANNER, IT DID COST ME 3K OR BETTER ON BOTH OCCASIONS TO REPLACE IT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING I'M ABLE TO DO TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY OR ALL OF THE INCONVENIENCE I'VE CONCURRED.

I PURCHASED A 2003 TRAILBLAZER FROM AN INDIVIDUAL. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD A HOLE IN IT. SO I PURCHASED A DIFFERENTIAL FROM A SCRAP YARD. 90 DAY WARRANTY. STILL HAD A NOISE . I STILL HAD A NOISE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS OUT AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE THIRD DIFFERENTIAL FROM A DIFFERENT YARD TOOK IT APART . FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE BEARING BAD. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DRIVERS CONSTANT. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL. I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THANK YOU THERE WAS A FIRE THE DIFFERENTIAL GREASE BURNT BEARING WENT OUT AND CHARD MOTOR AND SURROUNDING AREA NO REAL DAMAGE. *TR

PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND STAYED IN DRIVE. SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND PUT ON PARK HOWEVER STILL IN DRIVE AND NOW WILL NOT START. SINCE I WORK ON VEHICLES I LOOKED AT TRANSMISSION LINKAGE AND FOUND CABLE CAME OFF TRANSMISSION LINKAGE. PLASTIC CLIP BROKEN. LOOKED ON LINE AND FOUND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE REPAIR CLIP FOR $14.99. SINCE IT WAS SPECIAL ORDER I WENT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO REPAIR KIT AND THAT THEY HAVE PLENTY OF SHIFTER CABLES IN STOCK $75.00 WENT AHEAD AND ORDERED AFTERMARKET PART SPECIAL ORDER 2 DAYS AND TODAY 3 DAYS LATER WAS TOLD OUT OF STOCK AND NONE AVAILABLE TIL DECEMBER. COINCIDENCE OR IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM? I'M AFRAID SOMEONE WILL NOT KNOW OR REALIZE VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE WHEN SHIFTER MOVES TO PARK AND NOT MOVING SHIFTER LINKAGE AT TRANSMISSION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 290 (YOUNGMAN HIGHWAY) AT ABOUT 65 M.P.H. WHEN SMOKE BEGAN WAFTING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN MEETS THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION, PULLED ONTO AND OFF THE SHOULDER ONTO THE GRASS, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, RAN TO THE BARRIER FENCE AND WATCHED TO SEE IF VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER CALLING AAA, ABOUT TEN MINUTES HAD ELAPSED WITHOUT FURTHER SMOKE SO I ASSUMED I COULD DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP AT COLVIN BLVD. (ABOUT 1,000 FEET AWAY) AND OFF TO A WENDY'S PARKING LOT WHERE I WAITED FOR A AAA FLATBED TRUCK. MY SUV WAS FLATBED TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP, FUCCILLO CHEVROLET ON GRAND ISLAND, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, CODE NUMBER C0379. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS$222.66. IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS EXPENSE. THOUGH NO VISIBLE FIRE WAS OBSERVED, THE SMOKE WAS A CLEAR SIGN OF PROBLEM THAT WAS SO HOT IT CAUSED OXIDATION OF MATERIAL INTO VISIBLE SMOKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN DRIVE AND WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 10/24/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/16/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED BETWEEN DRIVE AND OVERDRIVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT KIT AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO LANSING WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER AND GUAGE FUNCTION.I BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD HOWLING NOISE, PULLED OFF AT THE EXIT WENT TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN PORTLAND, MI WHERE MY WHEEL HUB EXPLODED IN THEIR HAND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FAN CLUTCH HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND LOOSE ALL POWER AND MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED RIGHT UP AND STOPPED WORKING. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT A RATE OF 70 MPH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 25 AND HAD NO POWER. I HAVE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I AM NOW CHECKING FOR RECALLS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED COMPLETELY.

THE CAR TAKES OFF AS IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO ALLOW SHIFT CHANGE. IT AUTOMATICALLY CHANGES ON IT'S ON. TRANSMISSION STARTING TO SLIP. *TR

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES SPRING A SMALL PIN HOLE LEAK. LEAK DIRECTLY UNDER POWER STEERING PUMP. LINES CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP AND HAVE VERY HARD TIME SHIFTING INTO NEXT GEAR. TRUCK WOULD ALMOST RED LINE. CAN CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION IF KEPT DRIVING. TRUCK HAS SAT FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF TRANSMISSION LOSES TO MUCH FLUID. *TR

I WAS AT A DRIVE THRU PHARMACY WHEN MY GEAR SHIFTER CABLE (BROKE) AND WAS STUCK IN PARK. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO GET TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S GARAGE, LUCKILY ABOUT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, I HAD NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFTER VERY LOOSE FOR ATLEAST A YEAR!! THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE HAD BEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR CHEVROLETS. THE CHEVROLET PARTS DEALER TOLD MY MECHANIC THE SAME THING. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE CAME OFF THE LEVER CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION THUS LEAVING ME STUCK IN REVERSE DURING THIS RECENT EVENT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PARK IT SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM RESULTED FROM A PLASTIC BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE CABLE TO THE LEVER, SEE GM # 15785087. IN MY OPINION THIS BUSHING WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE NORMAL LIFE OF THE CAR DUE TO THE DEGRADATION OF THE BUSHING WHICH ESSENTIALLY SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES AND ALLOWED THE CABLE TO DISLODGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND LEAVING THE DRIVER STUCK IN WHATEVER GEAR THEY HAPPEN TO BE IN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF AFTER SAFELY BEING REMOVED FROM TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TIE WRAP CABLE BACK TO LEVER TO PLACE IN THE PROPER GEAR IE. PARK. GM SHOULD HAVE DESIGNED A MORE RIGID LINKAGE CONNECTION WITH A SAFETY PIN TO PREVENT THIS DISLODGING. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE CONSOLE HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE CABLE THUS LEAVING THE AVERAGE OWNER STUCK IN HAVING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND INCUR THE COST UPWARDS OF $300.00 TO REPLACE IT. *TR

WE OWN A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WHICH KEEPS GOING INTO REDUCE POWER MODE, I PULLED THE CODES AT VARIOUS TIME AND DIFFERENT PARTS, I REPLACED THE CRANK, CAM, AND ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSORS. I ALSO REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, FAN CLUTCH, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS TO AVAIL. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND REFUSE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS ISSUE ADDRESS, LAWSUIT AND OR DEATH. ASHAMED ON YOU GM. THIS ISSUE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

BOUGHT USED FROM A DEALER. HAD FOR 2 DAYS WHEN HAD FIRST PROB THAT WAS FIXED GOT BACK AFTER A WEEK. RAN GREAT. DROVE FOR 1 DAY AND RAN GOOD, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO PULL ONTO MAIN HIGHWAY AND WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. BACKED UP FINE BUT NO FORWARD. I FINALLY GOT IT TO CRAWL FORWARD. AFTER A LIL WHILE IT KICKED BACK IN AND RAN FINE TIL I STOPPED AGAIN. FINALLY I MADE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. AFTER THEY FINALLY CAME AND TOWED IT AND "FIXED" IT I HAD IT AND DROVE IT FOR 1 DAY AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. AFTER IT SAT FOR A WHILE IT DID GO AGAIN. PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND PARKED IT. STILL WAITING FOR IT TO BE TOWED AND "FIXED" AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY RIGHT THIS TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND IT HAPPENS A LOT. SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE FAN CLUTCH OR SUN SHELL SPLINE. NOT SURE YET THOUGH. CALLED MECHANIC THAT DEALER HAD FIX IT AND THEY ONLY CHANGED A VALVE IN TRANNY THEY THOUGHT WAS BAD. SAID THEY HAVE ABOUT 3 MORE OF THEM TO CHECK BEFORE THEY REPLACE WHOLE TRANNY. I HOPE MORE PEOPLE RESEARCH THESE VEHICLES AND DON'T BUY THEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 0 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD REGAIN SPEED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AUTOMATIC DRIVE SHIFT LINKAGE DISCONNECTED DUE TO FAILURE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SMALL PLASTIC RIVET THAT HELD THE LINKAGE COMPONENTS TOGETHER. TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE, NOT EVEN TO NEUTRAL. COULD ONLY STOP CAR BY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES, TURNING OFF THE IGNITION KEY, AND THEN APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. CALLED DEALER AND THEN TOW TRUCK. WHEN THE TOWER ARRIVED, HE LOOKED AT THE MAKE/MODEL OF THE VEHICLE AND AS I DESCRIBED WHAT HAD HAPPENED HE SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE HE HAD PICKED UP 6 OF THE SAME VEHICLE IN THE LAST 2-3 MONTHS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN HE CHECKED, HE WAS CORRECT, THE LINKAGE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED DUE TO A BROKEN PLASTIC RIVET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE SUN SHELL GEAR WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,265.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FAN CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 9/25/12 *CN