Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact drove to his destination and inspected the vehicle. The contact became aware that the chassis was extremely rusted and had started to separate from the subframe. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
The frame in my Trailblazer has big holes rusting through it. A frame 100 years old will never rust through. The use of very cheap thin steel May result in a accident when the frame breaks in half. I find this unacceptable regardless of how old the car is the frame should never rust through
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. In March of 2008, the rear hatch glass suddenly shattered. The hatch had just been in use prior to the failure. The contact heard a popping sound and realized that the glass shattered outward all over her yard and driveway. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the repair would cost $1,200. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop and, with the assistance of her insurance company, the glass was repaired. In September of 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer because the rear windshield wiper malfunctioned. The dealer replaced the wiper motor. In December of 2008, she took the vehicle to a dealer because the tailgate was closing hard, grinding progressively worse, and the rear windshield wiper would still not work. The dealer repaired the failures; however, the wiper still malfunctioned. …
The indicated vehicle is my wife's. We bought it brand new on 09/26/2001. She has never towed anything and has city and highway miles. We have had numerous problems: instrument cluster, rear tailgate strap, right rear brake light, (3) solenoids, spare tire dropdown and deteriorated transmission lines. I have repaired all of the previous out of pocket (except for the strap and the spare tire dropdown). Now, my wife was on the way to the bicycle store in her truck, with the bicycle on the back. She was making a turn onto the main road when she heard grinding and squealing, and the speed dropped drastically. Luckily, it was around 10 am when there is not much traffic on the road. Reading numerous posts on this website, it is the same problem everyone has had, the transmission sun shell, and no reverse. …
After less than eighteen months of ownership and having not even taken a lengthy trip our ls has racked up more head aches than a little. Just a few months ago dealers wanted to charge over $600. For a repair of the "fan clutch" something that never happens to vehicles to our knowledge. I have owned GM products for many years; this will certainly be the last one! Now we are faced with our dealer advising us that the vehicle needs all rotors replaced, as well as pads, parking brake, etc. How could this be? Most vehicles get brake pads; this thing requires all the components be replaced due to rust! (sounds like Chevy is manufacturing a faulty vehicle) we are not going to settle for it. In fact we had recommended the product to fiends and family who bought three of them. …
Problems with air bag dash light, fast engine idle, air conditioner, rear hatch inner strap broke, etc... The airbag light was intermittent. The sir module was replaced, and there was poor terminal connection at the sir wiring harness, and was traced/repaired on the left side impact connector and the codes were cleared. The engine idled fast(especially at start up, and the fuel mileage was 13 mpg. The results of the evaluation and repairs were: passenger impact connector was loose(repositioned/connected), idle within specifics, the emblem had fallen off, the rear hatch inner strap had broken, the transmission seemed to take long to shift into gear(happened sometimes when cold), and the PCM needed to be reprogrammed(j6355 power train controller PCM). …
I was traveling down ih146 toward kemah, traffic so I turned in the turning lane so I could turn left at ih646 this car came out of nowhere ,hit my vehicle then I swerved into the other lane, checked my vehicle and seen that it was not damaged very bad. So I approached the young lady and asked her if she was alright and she said she was. Told her and showed her the damaged to my vehicle ,she asked for my insurance information and I told her that I had the old one ,but call me in 1 hour and I will give it to you; so I did , she showed me her vehicle and stated it was a old car; the plastic underneath was hanging down and I touched it and told her all she needed was to put some more screws to fix it on the right front side of her car and the front cover of her light was popped up just a little .I didn't think that I needed her information cause it wasn't a lot of damage done ;and she did …
Noises coming from underneath the SUV ,check engine light constantly came on and one night I was going around 55 MPH my 15 yr old daughter,we heard a loud pop it sound like we had hit something in the road so I stop to see what it was, we saw nothing but the squeaking sound from under the SUV got louder some day later jumped in the car started the car and there was that loud sound again only this time the SUV would not move in reverse I could hear some spinning like noise so I took it to a shop and I was told that the transmission was striped out in reverse, and that some shaft had broken or something, the mechanic also told me that he had several people come in with the same problem the same model Trailblazer 2002 what hurt me so bad is this was my first brand new car, I only had it for two years, and if I every buy another car it want be from GM, I also had problems with my tailgate …
When my mechanic put my truck on the lift yesterday to change the water pump, he noticed that the frame is so rotted that he advised me not to drive it.and for who knows how long, my wife and myself, who are both disabled, have been driving this, putting ourselves and the public at risk. When I brought it to a Chevrolet dealer, they just said, no recalls on it, sorry! So now I have to figure out a way to get my wife and myself to doctors appointments, shopping, and all the other things we need a dependable vehicle for. We can't drive this, or afford to fix it, and we have no money to buy another one. Did I mention that we are filing for bankruptcy because my wife was mis-diagnosed by a doctor, lost her job, and now is in a wheelchair? Or that our mortgage is going on 18 mos. …
The fiberglass cowling on top of the rear hatch fell off while driving, dangling only by the brake light cable. I had to cut the wire and remove the piece of body and light. Went to dealer asking about repair, they said it was caused by "use of the tailgate during winter conditions of snow and ice." they said "we see it all the time." I asked, since it occurs with high frequency, if it is covered by warranty, bulletin or recall and they said "no, GM considers this an owner/operator error." in other words, on this vehicle, a 4x4, the tailgate cannot nor should not be used, in the midwest, during periods of snow or ice? Alas, I am driving without the mandatory center brake light. Please remedy this situation with proper replacement. Sadly, I see this condition on the same make and model more often than not.
Related recalls
Structure › Body
Certain sport utility vehicles are missing welds on the rear floor plan.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds. If missing welds are found, GM will exchange the vehicle for an equivalent vehicle or provide a refund of the purchase price. Owner notification began October 4, 2002.
Body complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 3% of the model year's 1,149 complaints. The component named most often is body (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-273 (body, Oct 4, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.