2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Suspension Problems

SEE ATTACHED COMPLAINT TO GENERAL MOTORS. I HAVE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THERE SIMILAR YEAR TRAILBLAZERS.

FRAME FAILED DRIVER'S SIDE REAR. CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVE CONDITION. FORWARD TO REVERSE GRINDING CAUSED BY SEPARATION OF FRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VIBRATION WAS MORE PRONOUNCED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. ALSO, WHILE ASCENDING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS, CONTROL ARMS, AND TENSION BELT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

FLASHER MODULE, TRANSMISSION LEAK EVENING AFTER REPLACEMENT, UPPER CONTROL ARMS GOES OUT AFTER REPLACEMENT.

I'VE NOTICED THAT MY FRONT END WAS LOWER THAN USUAL. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE GIVING IN. I TOOK MY CAR TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES AND TO ALSO GET A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THAT IS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUT BASE THAT IS WELDED ONTO THE CHASSIS WAS ROTTING OFF. THE MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT I WAS A VERY LUCKY GUY BECAUSE AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING MY COMMUTE, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH SINCE I MOSTLY USE THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY TO COMMUTE TO WORK. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL HE ACTUALLY SHOWED ME ALL THE ROTTED PARTS AND I WAS IN DEEP SHOCK ONCE I SAW WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME. I'M THANKFUL THAT THE CARS STRUT WAS LEANING ON THE INNER FENDER FRAME PREVENTING IT FROM COMPLETELY FALLING TO THE GROUND. I ASKED THE MECHANIC HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE HAPPEN AND HE EXPLAINED THAT SINCE WE LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE IT SNOWS, THE SALT THAT IS APPLIED ON THE ROADS GETS TRAPPED INTO THE SLOTTED HOLES OF THE CHASSIS AND DETERIORATES WITH TIME. IT IS UNKNOWN OF THE TIME OF WHICH THE CHASSIS HAD BEGUN ROTTING.

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (DASHBOARD). ALL GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY QUITS WORKING, ON STARTUP, SITTING RUNNING OR IN MOTION. TACHOMETER NEVER READS CORRECTLY. CAN OCCASIONALLY GET GAUGES TO RESET BY CLICKING IGNITION BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN RUN AND START POSITIONS. I KNOW OF 5 OTHER VEHICLE'S THAT ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

FRAME HOLDING FRONT SUSPENSION RUSTED. *TR

2003 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER. NOTICED VERY ODD WEAR PATTERN ON FRONT TIRES. FRONT END OF CAR SEEMED "LOOSE". NO ACCIDENT, CAR JUST HARD TO STEER ACCURATELY. TOOK TO DEALER. BOTH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. FRONT STRUTS WERE SHOT. DEALER REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS AND STRUTS. I'M A LITTLE OLD LADY WHO DRIVES IN TOWN - ONLY 65,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND FRONT END IS GOING OUT. POUR QUALITY! DEALER SAID FRONT END WORN BECAUSE CAR HAS 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND IS HEAVIER THAN PASSENGER CAR. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD. REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. NO HELP ON 60,000 MILE FRONT TIRES COMPLETELY SHOT IN 17,000. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM SNAPPED ON MY 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LTZ. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF IT HAPPENED 2 DAYS PRIOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING OUT OF TOWN ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. A NEW CONTROL ARM HAS TO BE INSTALLED. I HAVE THE DEALER SAVING THE OLD PARTS INCLUDING THE BOLT. I FOUND THE BOLT HEAD AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER-EXT LT IN DEC 2002 FROM THE DEALER, TEAM CHEVROLET IN PASADENA. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS, ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT KEEPS RECURRING ARE THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING, THE DEALER CHANGED BOTH UNITS BUT IT KEEPS BURNING OUT. I GOT TIRED OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, SO I PURCHASED NEW BULBS AND LOOKED INTO REPLACING THEM MYSELF. HOWEVER WHEN I UNSCREWED THE BULB, I NOTICED THE BULB JUST DIDN'T BURN NORMALLY (LIKE A HOME LAMP) IT LOOKED MORE OF AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, THE LINING OF WHERE THE BULB IS SCREWED IN LOOKED LIKE IT HAD WHITE RESIDUE AND IT SMELLED SMOKY. ALSO, DON'T KNOW IF ITS THE SHOCKS OR SUSPENSION,MAKES ODD NOISES. DEALER SAID ITS FINE, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE.SHORLY AFTER MY ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON...THE DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS WRONG AFTER A 2 TO 3 WEEK AND COSTLY EXPENSE AND TIME...THEY SWITCHED OUT THE GAS TANK...COME TO FIND OUT, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN, THEY SAID ONE OF THE PISTONS NEEDED REPLACING...$$$ THAT WAS A BIG EXPENSE AND TIME CONSUMING... EVERYTIME I TOOK IT TO THEM IT, SOMETHING WAS FIXED, THEY CHARGE, I PAY, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN ON, IT GOT FRUSTRATING. TILL, THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT. NOW MY CAR SOUNDS HORRIBLE (SHOCKS/SUSPENSION NOISE GOT WORSE) WHEN I GO OVER CITY BUMPS OR DRIVING EVEN SMALL LIKE HILLS, AND MIND YOU,WHICH IS DRIVEN BY MYSELF (FEMALE 124LBS) IT SHOULDN'T SQUEAK OR MAKE NOISES, THE BRAKES PEDAL MAKES A NOISE WHEN I PLACE MY FOOT ON IT....YES IT HAS 90K MILES AND IT'S AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR, BUT I KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCES, I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE SAME DEALER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, ONLY DRIVE IT TO AND FROM WORK....THE CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION, NO HIT/SCRATCHES/NO TEARS.... I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY.... ARE THERE ANY OTHER RECALLS, THE DEALER ISN'T AWARE OF??? FOR INSTANCE THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE GAS TANK RECALL..WHICH THEY WERE CHARGING ME OVER $1200 TO REPAIR, HOW CAN I TRUST THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SWAY BAR WAS LOOSE BECAUSE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THE BAR. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND DECLINED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT PAID $307 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/24/08. *JB

WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT GOING BAD.HAVE TO REPLACE.*CN

FRONT END NOISES. SQUEAKS AND POPS FROM SUSPENSION. *TR

2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. UNSAFE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS WHEN TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANIMAL IN ROAD. UNSAFE REAR END SWAY. *TR

FRONT END MAKING POPPING AND CREAKING NOISES WHILE OPERATING. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT CAME OUT CAUSING THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO ALSO COME OUT RESULTING IN A CUT ABS SENSOR WIRE AND A BENT STRUT AND FINALLY A AXLE THAT RIPPED OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE WHICH DESTROYED THE CASE COVER. *NM

2003 TRAILBLAZER FUEL LINE AND FUEL PUMP RUSTED AND BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL. *TS THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 800.00 DOLLARS. THE FILLER NECK WAS LEAKING AT THE FUEL TANK. THE FRONT PINION AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS WERE REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT REAR SWAY BAR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SWAY BAR LINK WAS LOOSE AND THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

2003 TRAILBLAZER - REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT PRESENT WHEN STARTED. WOULD ACCELERATE TO 15MPH. RATTLE OR GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING OR DRIVING OVER BUMPS. DROVE TO BEATY CHEVROLET KNOXVILLE TN TUES, 2/7/06. REPLACED THROTTLE ASSEMBLY & ADVISED NOISE WAS FROM MISALIGNED HOOD. TRAILBLAZER PICKED UP ON FRI, 2/10/06. PAID $200. EXT WARRANTY DED. GAS EMPTY STOPPED TO FILL UP. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED FUEL GAUGE PAST FULL MARK, APPEARED TO BE POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN. NOTICED TACHOMETER REGISTERED 6500 RPMS. CALLED BEATY CHEVROLET. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED. NEXT DAY FUEL GAUGE APPEARS CORRECT. AFTER A WEEK REFUELED AND NOTICED FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECT AGAIN. NOTICED STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED & VEHICLE SMOKING. CALLED TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS ON 2/28/06. WAS UNABLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENT RESCHEDULED FOR TUES 3/9/06. BEATY INFORMED THAT IT MUST BE GUAGE SENSOR AND NOT RELATED TO PREVIOUS REPAIR WORK SO ANOTHER $200. DEDUCTIBLE WOULD BE DUE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT FUEL ODOR NOR SMOKING. I DISAGREED WITH THE $200 CHARGE DUE TO VEHICLE BEING DEFECTIVE WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON THE FIRST VISIT. BEATY CHEV. SAID THEY DID NOT LOOK AT THE TACHOMETER NOR FUEL GAUGE WHEN THEY SERVICE VEHICLES SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM. LOL .. I CALLED GM WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT WAIVE THE $200 AND SAID THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY THOUGHT GM WOULD WAIVED BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE GUAGE SENSORS. HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THEY DID NOT CHECK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS BEING REPAIRED THE FIRST VISIT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING REDUCED POWER THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, GUAGE MALFUNCTIONS, AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RECALL AND REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS THEY HAVE PAID. VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING GRINDING NOISE AND NOW SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. I NEED HELP AND ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE TO OFFER. *NM

I HAVE A TRAIL BLAZER,CHEVROLET 2003 FOR WHICH I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BUSHINGS/LINKS OVER 6-7 TIMES. THE PART IN REFERENCE IS MADE IN A MATERIAL "CALAMINE"??? WHICH IS NOT A METAL AND BREAKS EASILY. THERE IS NOT A CAMPAIGN ON THAT PART, YET I KNOW SEVERAL TRAIL BLAZER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LINKS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION CAME OUT IN IRON OR SOME TYPE OF METAL. I AM TOTALLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB