1st generation (GMT360 midsize SUV) · GMT360 (GMT370 for EXT long wheelbase) · 8,645 complaints, 6,784 with mileage
Owners filed 8,645 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 6,784 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 46,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 70,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (26.4% of complaints, typically around 71,000 miles), the fuel system (16.4% of complaints, typically around 61,331 miles), the exterior lighting (9.0% of complaints, typically around 87,232 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2,279 | 26.4% | 71,000 | 50,000–100,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1,414 | 16.4% | 61,331 | 47,000–82,513 |
| Exterior Lighting | 781 | 9.0% | 87,232 | 50,000–125,000 |
| Power Train | 624 | 7.2% | 66,000 | 40,000–99,000 |
| Air Bags | 373 | 4.3% | 81,375 | 43,000–123,000 |
| Visibility | 364 | 4.2% | 69,000 | 38,000–105,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 356 | 4.1% | 97,240 | 71,000–131,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 343 | 4.0% | 52,000 | 25,000–75,000 |
| Fuel System, Other | 288 | 3.3% | 57,000 | 42,800–74,700 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 193 | 2.2% | 66,773 | 42,950–104,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,573 | 1,003 |
| 2003 | 1,160 | 884 |
| 2004 | 1,302 | 1,069 |
| 2005 | 1,905 | 1,577 |
| 2006 | 1,440 | 1,189 |
| 2007 | 965 | 806 |
| 2008 | 263 | 230 |
| 2009 | 37 | 26 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 26.4% of complaints (2,279 reports, 1,862 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 71,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
A single system taking 26.4% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The fuel system accounts for 16.4% of complaints (1,414 reports, 1,201 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,331 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 82,513 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 9.0% of complaints (781 reports, 581 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,232 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.2% of complaints (624 reports, 505 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 99,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 4.3% of complaints (373 reports, 273 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 81,375 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 123,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 4.2% of complaints (364 reports, 263 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 105,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 1,905 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 37. The median year sits at 1,231.
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around visibility equipment (4), the exterior lighting (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 8,645 complaints filed against this generation, 484 reported a crash; 329 reported a fire; 516 reported an injury; 44 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 5.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 46,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the fuel system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 61,331, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Blower motor resistor overheats and fails because of an inadequate cooling design, leaving the fan operating only on the highest speed setting. One of the highest-frequency complaints on the platform across all years.
Stepper motors behind the gauges fail, causing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges to read inaccurately or stop entirely. GM issued special coverage for affected clusters and a repair/reman industry exists specifically for this failure.
Fuel level sender inside the fuel pump module fails, producing an erratic gauge that sticks on empty or reads wildly wrong; remedy requires replacing the complete fuel pump module assembly. GM agreed to cover 50 percent of repair cost on 2005-2007 vehicles even though the failure spans 2002-2008.
Exhaust valve seat recession and valve damage on early Atlas inline-sixes, producing misfire, low compression on affected cylinders and rough running.
Transfer case encoder motor and selector switch failure producing a 'Service 4WD' warning and inability to shift between 2WD and 4WD ranges.
Front wheel bearing hub assembly and ball joint wear producing ABS faults, noise and steering play; a routine high-mileage failure item on GMT360.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V519000 | 2016-05-17 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights |
| 15V599000 | 2015-11-02 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 14V404000 | 2014-10-03 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 13V248000 | 2013-08-02 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 12V406000 | 2013-02-26 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |