What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer?

Power train complaints are named most often, followed by the electrical system and the engine.

Does the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact shows 13 recalls for 2002. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.

Is the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer reliable?

Owners filed 1,249 complaints with NHTSA. Those are unverified reports, so check service records on any car you consider.

How many complaints name the engine?

174 complaints name the engine group.

What is the gas mileage of the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 1,249 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer^[1]. The power train group is named most often, with 330 complaints^[2].

1,249owner complaints^[1]

13recalls^[3]

15–16MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of this SUV. Here are the groups named most often, biggest first. - Power Train. 330 complaints^[2]. Owners describe the drive system changing modes by itself while moving, warning lights that stay on, and repeat dealer visits that did not settle it. - Electrical System. 195 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe wiring faults that knock out lights, odd noises when starting, and smoke from under the hood after a short. - Engine. 174 complaints^[6]. Owners describe the engine stalling while driving, sometimes with no warning, and a few say the engine had to be replaced. - Exterior Lighting. 153 complaints^[7]. Owners describe brake lights going dark, often found only because another driver pointed it out. - Fuel System, Gasoline. 124 complaints^[8]. - Visibility. 109 complaints^[9]. - Air Bags. 103 complaints^[10]. - Brakes. 55 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2002 TrailBlazer is necessarily included.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch (05V494), October 2005. About 98,007 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury.^[12]
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights (04V527), November 2004. About 871,473 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking.^[13]
Seat Belts (04V201), April 2004. About 261,801 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.^[14]
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer (04V046), February 2004. About 581,394 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility.^[15]
Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual (03V250), July 2003. About 1,707,825 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names.^[16]
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash (03V096), March 2003. About 314,300 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names.^[17]
Power Train › Automatic Transmission (03V075), March 2003. About 511,167 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: steering problems.^[18]
Structure › Body (02V273), October 2002. About 46 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.^[19]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (02V121), August 2002. About 136,511 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, steering problems, loss of power.^[20]
Air Bags › Frontal (02V222), August 2002. About 133,221 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, an air bag that may not work as intended.^[21]
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (01V334), October 2001. About 78,004 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[22]
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (01V283), September 2001. About 895 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[23]
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm (01V126), April 2001. About 30,476 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash.^[24]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
TrailBlazer 2WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	14 / 20 / 16	$4,200
TrailBlazer Ext 2WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[25]	14 / 19 / 16	$4,200
TrailBlazer 4WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[26]	14 / 20 / 16	$4,200
TrailBlazer Ext 4WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive^[27]	14 / 19 / 15	$4,450

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR None^[28]	n/a	n/a	n/a	3	n/a

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR None^[29].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
TRAILBLAZER 4DR SUV 2WD^[30]	192 in	74 in	72 in	113 in	4,442 lb
TRAILBLAZER 4DR SUV 4WD^[31]	192 in	74 in	72 in	113 in	4,627 lb

How 2002 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each TrailBlazer model year. The 2002 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2002	1,249	13
2003	1,214	9
2004	1,342	2
2005	1,466	2
2006	1,297	8
2007	732	5
2008	193	0
2009	27	0

NHTSA's counts for the TrailBlazer show 1,249 complaints and 13 recalls for 2002^[3]. Among the 14 model years listed, 10 have fewer complaints than 2002 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2021 (0) and the most are for 2005 (1,466)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2002 TrailBlazer?

The 2002 TrailBlazer has a long complaint record, with 1,249 reports on file^[1]. Power train, electrical and engine problems lead the list^[2]^[5]^[6]. Recalls also exist for this year, and the count is in the by-year fact^[3]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a guide to what to check. If you are shopping for one, ask for service records and have a mechanic look closely at those systems.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer?: Power train complaints are named most often, followed by the electrical system and the engine^[2]^[5]^[6].
Does the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact shows 13 recalls for 2002^[3]. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.
Is the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer reliable?: Owners filed 1,249 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Those are unverified reports, so check service records on any car you consider.
How many complaints name the engine?: 174 complaints name the engine group^[6].
What is the gas mileage of the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer

2002 this page
2003 1,214 complaints, 9 recalls
2004 1,342 complaints, 2 recalls
2005 1,466 complaints, 2 recalls
2006 1,297 complaints, 8 recalls
2007 732 complaints, 5 recalls
2008 193 complaints, 0 recalls
2021 0 complaints, 0 recalls
2023 0 complaints, 0 recalls
2025 0 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer

Other Chevrolet models from 2002

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 598 complaints, 2 recalls
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 196 complaints, 0 recalls
2002 Chevrolet S10 Pickup 214 complaints, 0 recalls

All Chevrolet models

Similar cars from 2002: suvs

2002 Nissan Xterra 157 complaints, 5 recalls
2002 Toyota 4Runner 225 complaints, 1 recall
2002 Toyota Land Cruiser 12 complaints, 0 recalls
2002 Toyota Sequoia 666 complaints, 6 recalls
2002 Dodge Durango 423 complaints, 4 recalls
2002 GMC Envoy 557 complaints, 15 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 1,249 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer (106 mention a crash, 37 a fire, 99 injuries, 4 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
330 complaints name the power train component group (8 crashes, 4 fires, 18 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet TrailBlazer model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for TrailBlazer 2WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
195 complaints name the electrical system component group (8 crashes, 21 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,076). NHTSA vehicle records
174 complaints name the engine component group (8 crashes, 8 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,500). NHTSA vehicle records
153 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (2 crashes, 8 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,000). NHTSA vehicle records
124 complaints name the fuel system, gasoline component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,500). NHTSA vehicle records
109 complaints name the visibility component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 42,500). NHTSA vehicle records
103 complaints name the air bags component group (66 crashes, 1 fires, 62 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,288). NHTSA vehicle records
55 complaints name the brakes component group (14 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,320). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 05V494, filed October 27, 2005: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Doors › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 04V527, filed November 1, 2004: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights. NHTSA recall database
Recall 04V201, filed April 28, 2004: Seat Belts. NHTSA recall database
Recall 04V046, filed February 4, 2004: Visibility › Windshield Wiper / Washer. NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V250, filed July 15, 2003: Equipment › Other › Owners / Service / Other Manual . NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V096, filed March 19, 2003: Electrical System › Wiring › Interior / Under Dash. NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V075, filed March 6, 2003: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
Recall 02V273, filed October 4, 2002: Structure › Body. NHTSA recall database
Recall 02V121, filed August 23, 2002: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 02V222, filed August 9, 2002: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 01V334, filed October 17, 2001: Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive). NHTSA recall database
Recall 01V283, filed September 5, 2001: Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive). NHTSA recall database
Recall 01V126, filed April 12, 2001: Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for TrailBlazer Ext 2WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for TrailBlazer 4WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for TrailBlazer Ext 4WD, 4.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 19 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: rollover 3 stars. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TRAILBLAZER 4DR SUV 2WD: length 192 in, width 74 in, height 72 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,442 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TRAILBLAZER 4DR SUV 4WD: length 192 in, width 74 in, height 72 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,627 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: problems, recalls and fuel economy