Problems with 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

We own a 2003 chevy trailblazer and the gauges constantly mess up. some my speed, oil gauge and rpm seem to act normal, then all of a sudden the gauges start misreading or the speedometer will go down to zero. this is a major safety issue. i can't tell how fast i'm going and i don't understand why there is no recall on this problem. i have read numerous post with people having the same issues. its not safe for anybody not to know how fast their going. gm needs to initiate a recall and cover the cost for this problem. what has to happen to someone for a recall to take place, why not be smart and prevent a safety hazard before someone is hurt. this is a manufacturer fault, not an operator fault. numerous dealerships have told us this is a manufacturer fault. *tr

The lights melt the harnesses in the front lights frequently. more than 2 times a year the tail light neef constant replacement from faulty wiring. the wires are not big enougb to handle the load. it happens at any time it wants doesnt matter if its sitting in park or driving.

This is just the most recent of electrical problems i have had with the 2003 trailblazer lt. since the vehicle reached about 47000 miles i have had repetitive electrical problem: ac went out, radio went out, replace alternators three times batteries 4, refusal to start, some power vampire sucking out the power, and now i am driving along and the entire instrument cluster stops working. i get to the grocery store and shop then come out and it is working again. then the next day, none of the gauges are working from the time i started it. i called chevy at 1-800-222-1020 and was informed there is no recall, but i see this is a common problem according to on-line complaints. [xxx], at chevrolet said they can't do anything until it is seen by a dealer. i have evaluation appointment set for 3/4/2013. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *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

Car is a 2003 chevy trailblazer the ignition key is still stuck in the car. there where no warning lights that anything was wrong with the car. brakes failed after 7 months of having the car , i had to go to an outside company to fix car. also when hitting brake lights it comes on as hazard lights. car started to shake when turning on a/c took to dealership i was told to contact someone else that can fix the car. also the only way for me to start the car and turn the car off is by unhooking the battery due to key being stuck in the ignition i went to dealership to get car fixed or replace and dealership was bankrupt. please help i really feel that i got a bad car or a recall car. *tr

Vehicle: 2003 chevy trailblazer ext lt v6 rear wheel drive issue: speedometer and tachometer failed. driver unable to determine speed at any time while driving. needles for console cluster stuck in position and do not change while accelerating or de-accelerating. *tr

Summary: multiple gauges on the instrument panel are malfunctioning. the tachometer is reading 5,000 rpm when the vehicle was in park, and 7,000 rpm when going 15 mph. when i turn the car off the gauge sits at 2,000. the speedometer is clicking up (not a smooth transition to the correct speed). and it showing a lesser speed then i am going. when i turn the car off the speedometer shows it is going 10 miles per hour but will slowly drop down to zero. both of these malfunctions could are a huge safety concern. i had to pull over on the highway while the instrument panel was showing 7,000 rpm, afraid i was going to break down and ruin my car. *tr

as i was driving the speedometer just stopped working properly. now it just dont move at all. this is a problem that has happened to my mothers 2003 trailblazer too. *tr

Speedometer and/or tachometer stop working or are inaccurate. especially during cold or rainy weather. problem happens more often as time goes by.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated that the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who stated that the ignition failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the warning indicators illuminated and the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 130,000. updated 08/11/14*lj the ignition switch failed three times. updated 08/19/14

Speedometer does not give true speed sometimes and sometimes it will be right, sometimes speedometer will be at 50 mph when the vehicle is not moving. turning. switch off and on. speedometer needle will go back to zero. techometer dose not work sometimes. have cheked on line complaints about this problem there are alot of complaints with the same problem. there should be a recall on all these vehicles. *tr

After putting the drivers window down at a fast food drive thru it would not go back up. this was in january, very cold in michigan. dealer said moisture must have gotten into switch and the whole module had to be replaced. i asked if that means the doors can't be opened when it was raining, he said yes they can but for some reason gm has a lot of drivers door window switches going bad on the trailblazers. the cost to have it replaced was $430 which we paid seeing how only the dealer can program the new switch. it's now one year later and the same switch has gone bad again, i called the dealer but were over the 12,000 mile warranty. it will cost another $430 to replace again. *tr

When driving my vehicle that speedometer on the rpm does not work, and now i was told that the computer was messed up. i have replaced the battery, and then the fuse under the seat gets really hot, and something needs to be done about it. i have even got a ticket for speeding and my speed o meter was set at 65 and i was told by the highway patrol that i was going 75. *tr

I had gone to a friends house with my boyfriend and our 10month old daughter the car was working great on 12-31-11 at around 5pm we parked the vehicle. on our way home at about 10:45pm we got on the road car drove fine we jumped on the fwy it was foggy and really hard to see we were on the 54 fwy in san diego approaching the 805 south there is a high on ramp we were going about 55 to 60 and all of a sudden i pushed on gas and lost all power to vehicle it sounded like i was in neutral and because it was up hill and curved very difficult to see us with just hazard lights on. i was praying thinking someone was going to take us out. every car would swerving around us and honking we finally pulled over to the side of the fwy off of the ramp and turned off car turned it back on and it gave us enough power to get to the street exit. once there again did the same and at that point we parked and left car on the side of the road after calling a friend to pick us up since we didn't want our baby out on the street that late and on new years. i have also had several other problems ac only works on 5 back passenger panel makes clicking noise when on and back ac works when it wants to. also rpm gauge doesn't function, car alarm is very faint when place on. i have 3 other children and 1 car and now don't know what to do since we depend on the car. we have had small problems with this car and about 5 to 6 months ago my car engine started knocking and had to be replaced however ac already wasn't working and neither was the rpm gauge. when we replaced the engine the car ran great had a lot of power and everything. this was the worst experience of my life and i thought we were going to die. *tr

I have bought many chevy vehicles but with all the problems im having with this truck im not sure i will purchase another. last year my transmission was giving me problems and there was a recall on it and my truck was not covered under the recall also same was with the tail lights. this year i am having problems with my wipers during rain storm i went to turn them on and nothing. i couldnt see so i had to pull over until the rain had let up(2hrs later). i am just speechless when it comes to these "recalls". it seems that myself nor anyone i know ever falls on these lists, you would think with all the money we are paying to purchase these vehicles that someone would want to make sure they keeep our business. *tr

The problem that i have with my truck is an electric problem involving the light relays, which i ad to replace several times due to them being damaged, leaving me without lights. my main concern is that i drive at night often and i am in danger when i have the lights on and off. i did research on several forums where same-vehicle-owners have experienced the same issues. *tr

Panel cluster failed with red blaring emergency light stays on and causes vehicle lights to stay on. also causes vehicle not to shift properly. all dashboard component indicator fails which hazardous to safety of individual. *tr

After exiting a freeway at 70 mph, came up on a redlight and 45 mph zone. stopped at the redlight and the noticed the speedometer was still registering 70 mph. the gauge moves but won't set to 0 mph when stopped. remains at or around 70 mph when parked or stopped. *tr

Cpsc#i11a0455a. 2003, 2005 chevrolet trailblazer. consumer stated he has electrical problems with burned connections at headlights and blower motor resistors. *ln the consumer stated one of the 2003 chevrolet trailblazers head light connectors burned, the other 2003 and 2005, the connector for the ac blower resistor burned. *jb

Speedometer stopped working. after vehicle was turned off it started working again. researched internet and i found the this is a known problem with this vehicle. after talking to someone about it and they have a 2003 tahoe they have the same problem. if chevorlet is aware of this problem something should be done about it. we spend alot of money on vehicles and this should not happen. i don't feel this is a wear and tear issue. *kb

Vehicle stopped at light hit from rear. *tr

My 2003 chevy trailblazer does not start. there is no specific time, place, or event that leads to the vehicle not starting every couple of weeks the vehicle just doesn't start. i will let the truck sit for an hour or so then attempt to start it, then it does start. i have taken it to the dealer and they couldn't duplicate the issue i was having. i did some research online and others have suggested it could be the battery, temperature sensor, ignition switch, or starter. i have replaced all but the starter but the problem persists. i have been told that the starter is good so i am at a loss as to why the problem keeps occurring. *tr

Tachometer quit working first, then speedometer. this is an obvious safety concern. dealership previously indicated it will cost about $1,000 to fix. there are a lot of complaints but there is no bulletin or recall on this so gm refuses to do anything. a speedometer should no go out on a car, no matter how many miles and if it is not an isolated instance, there needs to be a recall. why is there a recall on other gm models but not the trailblazer? *tr

Temperature gauge reads higher than it should and gas gauge fluctuates. *tr

When starting the vehicle, it periodically will not start, lose all power, key gets stuck in the ignition without ability to return ignition to off position. there is a sound (like a high voltage sound coming from a transformer) and eventually resets itself, until 2 days ago. it would not reset itself, resulting in it being towed to a repair center. they indicated it was the alternator and battery and after changing both, the service engine soon light came back on and the high voltage sound has returned. there are times the rear wiper will turn on without my touching anything and times where the rpm gage will get stuck.

Was previously contacted by an "[xxx]" from washington, dc to retrieve the power window module that had caught fire. i was going to turn the part over to nhtsa. i am in dc at the us postal service hq on mon/wed/th. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I am the original owner of a 2003 chevy trailblazer. when i first purchased the vehicle in the month of october/2002, i didn't experience any problems until maybe the fourth year, going on its 5th; right before the warranty was about to expire. the first problem i encountered with the vehicle was the transmission. it didn't want to change gears properly. because of the 5 year warranty, the dealership was able to fix that problem, at that time. today, i continue to experience transmission problems: with a loud noise, a struggle in horse power and a vibration when i am at a complete stop. i have spent so much money on other electrical parts as well. i have purchased over ten light bulbs for rear brake lights that continue to malfunction. i recently replaced a relay because the head lights would constantly go out after the vehicle was turned on. i replaced the fan clutch and water pump because they both went out. i also replaced a battery and two starters. for the past few months, my vehicle smells like fuel everytime i turn it on. i am asking that your department look into all of these claims. it appears that almost everyone that owes a 2003 trailblazer has been experiencing the same issues, but yet; no one is doing enough to protect all those consumers who have been grateful to this country in purchasing american made vehicles. a sincere thanks. *tr

While driving, the speedometer will rise and fall erratically. i have been told by my mechanic that the instrument cluster is bad and needs to be replaced. upon internet research, i have found this is a common problem with gm truck and suv models in the years 2003-2006. trailblazer is the only model that gm has not covered in a recall for this part malfunction. how can it be safe to drive and not know what speed i am traveling at? i have an appointment with chevrolet tomorrow. they will not fix the problem until their technician can diagnosis it...and charge me an extra $99.00, even though the problem has all ready been diagnosed by certified, experienced mechanic. at the time this first occurred, the speedometer registered 115 mph; my husband estimates he was driving 25-30mph. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated that the speedometer would display an improper reading. the vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer and they informed that the instrument cluster panel needed to be repaired. the failure mileage was 105,000 and the current mileage was 115,000. the consumer stated the speedometer no longer works and the estimated repair cost was $ 500 updated 07/22/11.*jb

My instrument cluster malfunctions on a regular basis. the speedometer tachometer and gas gauge all go crazy and register information that is no where near accurate. the speedometer says 60 when sitting still, and gas gauge needle is at 5:00 when there is a half tank. if you start the vehicle and quickly turn it off enough times, the gauges will eventually get back to normal for a few miles,. then go back to strange numbers and process has to begin all over again, don't know if the temp gauge is accurate or not. *tr

Safety issue!!!! i own a 2003 chevy trailblazer. my speedometer started acting up a couple of months ago and got worse this month. sometimes the needle starts at 50 or 70 mph instead of 0 and moves up from there. it will say that i am doing over 120 mph when i am only going about 45. other times it will stay on one number at not move at all. two weeks ago i turned on my car and the needle was pointing straight down to the odometer. i bought a new battery and that did not help. we unplugged the battery for 30 min and it rest everything. two days later i was having problems again. we researched the problem on line only to find out that a very large number of trailblazers were having this problem and that we needed to call gm. i did. the part has not been recalled even though the person i talked to knew exactly what the problem was 5 min into our conversation. she told me i had to take my trailblazer tot he dealership to confirm. i called the dealership and the service guy i talked to also knew what the problem was in less than 5 min. i took the car in and continued to be in contact with chevy to seek financial assistance. i was transferred up to the next step where a very rude man denied my claim because of the mileage on my car. i had to pay for the entire thing and they would not provide me with the parts that they took off my car. the service guy a the dealership said their was a core charge on my part so he had to send it into chevy so they could rebuild it. not knowing how fast i was going and knowing that my other gauges were going to fail as well (since they are all connected to the cluster) is a major safety concern for me. it does not take match research on the internet to determine this is a major issue that chevy is not taking care of. *ln

My speedometer broke on my 2003 chevy trailblazer. sometimes it is parked & i am going 50 mph -- sometimes 70....i haven't had it fixed yet - but has heard of several people having the same problem. i feel gm should do a recall -- this is a dangerous thing. *tr

Front headlights will not work, and are wires are burnt, air and heater will only blow on the floor setting even if put on a different setting, when you turn ac on the back windshield wiper comes on. when starting the car there is a loud clicking that sounds like it is coming from the dash. if stopped just for a few seconds while at a stop light or stop sign the temp will go from normal to 260! as long as you are going at least fast enough to push air through the grill it won't run hot, but if you are in town and traffic it will run hot and will not cool off unless you either stop and let it cool off or get to where you can go fast enough to push the air! the car will lock while it is running and in park. it will lock and the keyless remote will not open it. there have been times i have pushed brake in and the alarm system would go off. when stopping at a stop light or slowing down the car will try to die and at times had actually died for no reason. i believe there is a major electrical problem with the 2003 trailblazers and someone needs to do something about. this is not safe and should not be tolerated! i am worried that it is going to catch on fire with me or my children in it, and i should feel safe in a vehicle! this car is a hazard to not only me and my family but anyone that is on the road beside us, because it is eventually going to catch on fire and i just pray that no one is hurt or killed due to this neglect by chevrolet!! *tr

Instrument cluster on 2003 chevy trailblazer. rpm gauge started doesn't register correctly now the speedometer is not funtioning either. *ln

The speedometer on my 2003 chevrolet trailblazer is inaccurate. it will read various speeds at all times. from a stand still, it will read anywhere between 10 to 80 mph. *tr

Stepper motor in my 2003 chevy trailblazer with approximately 146000 miles went bad. does not read correct fuel level. dealer stated that fuel sender unit was working that the whole instrument cluster needed to be replaced. have seen online that many trailblazer owners are reporting similar issues. was told many other gm vehicles with same instrument clusters have failed and were replaced via recall. *ln

2003 trailblazer instrument panel inoperative. goes in and out but does not show accurate speed or gauges. *tr

Fuel guage reads past full when not, fuel gauge reads empty when full speedometer reads 114 when at stop, needle points down when at highway speed nothing done to correct failure at this time. *tr

The problem is this. i went to go somewhere at 5 am it was 44 degrees and raining. a light came on that said "ice on the roadway" another light came on that said "engine power reduced" so here i am going under 5 miles per hour on the freeway. its 44 degrees and no ice. it has been doing this every since i bought it new in 2003. i have told them every time i take it in for a lube and oil change but they ignore me because they do not know how to fix it.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed that the speedometer indicated that the vehicle was traveling 80 mph. a few days later, the speedometer functioned properly. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. the failure mileage was unknown.

I own a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. my cluster started to malfunction in november 2010. i purchased the vehicle in july 2010. the odometer doesn't work at all, and the speedometer spins and spins around, which doesn't register the correct speeds. while searching the internet and this site, this is a common problem that happens with these vehicles that chevrolet is not fixing. this should be recalled so that chevrolet can properly fix this problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated the fuel gauge was defective as it gave inaccurate readings. the dealer was contacted who stated the failure was not a safety issue. the manufacturer was contacted who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 72,000 and current mileage was 74,000.

2003 chevy trailblazer 2wd, ltz - instrument panel is failing. began with the speedometer, which does not accurately reflect the correct speed 100% of the time. now, the oil gauge is not working properly and the fuel gauge is off as well. i checked with chevrolet directly (800 222 1020) and was told that there is not a recall for this issue. however, for the same years, the silverado, avalanche were recalled! if it's an issue across chevy trucks, then the trailblazer should be recalled as well. *tr

Speedometer on my 2003 chevy trailblazer does not calibrate to zero when starting vehicle. this is causing erroneous speedometer display when operating the vehicle causing serious safety issues. i have read several other complaints of the exact issue. a recall should be issued to correct the problem while the number of deaths reported for this issue is still 0. does someone need to die before the problem is addressed? *tr

The speedometer in my 2003 trailblazer rarely reads correctly. i am not able to tell how fast or slow i am going. this is the only gauge that is not functioning properly, the other gauges work fine. i feel this is a safely issue and should somehow be covered by a recall because so many people have issues stated across the internet with this same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph the speedometer displayed that he was traveling 100 mph. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Tl * the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated that the instrument cluster malfunctioned while driving 25 mph. the speedometer would not read accurate speeds traveled and the fuele lvel indicator would not read accurate fuel levels. the contact stated that there were numerous complaints found online regarding the instrument cluster failure and stated that the manufacturer should issue a recall. the contact stated the failure was a major safety issue. the failure mileage was 82,000.

Tachometer quit working then 3 months later the speedometer quit working. *tr

The instrument cluster on my 2003 chevy trailblazer is malfunctioning. specifically, the speedometer doesn't work correctly. *tr

I have a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer with 146,000 miles on it. about 3 years ago when there was only around 50,000 miles on it the tachometer stopped working. now the speedometer is acting up and showing i am going 85 when i am going approximately 50 miles per hour, or showing 30 when i am completely stopped. from what i have been reading on other posts on the internet this is a very common problem with these vehicles and i am wondering why you have not recommended a recall on this problem, i personally love my truck, but it would be nice if chevrolet had to stand behind this, just as we stood behind them with a bailout! *tr