Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
The car rmp goes high when accelerating it's a common problem with the cooling fan which the company is aware of it but aren't held reliable! It's a shame that nhtsa hade many complaining about the issue but aren't holding the manufacturer responsible this could of hade me and my family in an accident!
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving at approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and smoke appeared from the hood. The vehicle suddenly caught fire. A police and a fire report were filed and no injuries were reported. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the engine was replaced. On another occasion, while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the contact attempted to change lanes and another vehicle attempted to make a u-turn resulting in the contact crashing into the driver side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The hood caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by an individual. A police and a fire report were filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, a smoke odor emitted into the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked when the contact discovered black smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated that although the key was not in the ignition the headlights would not go off and the vehicle sounded as if it was trying to start without the key in the ignition. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department came and filed a report. Prior to this incident the contact stated that while stopped at a red light with the brakes engaged, the engine rpms increased and the vehicle jerked without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 192,000.
Electrical under dash shorting out. Causing accessory plug to shoot sparks as well as causing dash lights to go out, and front panel to stop working. Ac electrical quit working after. 4wheel drive shifts randomly in and out of 2 and 4 wheel drive, causing the transmission to get stuck in neutral. Motor solenoids and sensors keep failing and shorting out due to electrical issues. Vehicle unsafe to drive.
I was coming to a stop light my brakes did not want to work , then they did. I stopped my vehicle, my lights in my dash went out within a few seconds smoke started to roll from under my hood and cover my windshield. I immediately got out of the vehicle, and called 911. The vehicle was not running at this time, it stopped running. A bystander stopped to assist, he looked from the passenger front tire view and stated he seen flames that appeared to be blue. He wanted to lift the hood but I advised him not to do so, due to my job training I knew oxygen promotes fire. We got away from the vehicle, saint albans fire arrived on scene, the flames were out by the time they arrived, the car continues to smoke. The vehicle was moved to a lot, the key was put in the ignition by the fire department the dash lights did not work even with just turning the battery on. …
I was driving my '02 Chevy Trailblazer on the interstate. The vehicle slipped and fishtailed a bit and I pressed the brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. When the vehicle came to a stop, I tried to accelerate forward, but it would not move. The vehicle had not turned off on its own. I manually shut off the engine and restarted the vehicle and proceeded to move onto the shoulder of the interstate. I then noticed smoke and a small flame coming from under the hood near the front passenger tire/wheelhouse. The flames got bigger and soon it spread to the entire engine. The flames started near the right passenger wheelhouse and moved to the left driver wheelhouse. In about 20 minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. I have no idea how or why a fire started. I looked at forums online and many vehicles like mine have caught on fire while driving.
While driving 40 MPH, the engine light illuminated, then the vehicle stalled. This caused the consumer to lose control of the vehicle, hitting a wall. The consumer had the vehicle towed. The dealership tried to repair the vehicle 7 times, but did not resolve the problem. The air bag also failed to deploy during the accident. The PCM failed due to a circuit inside, fluid leaked from the power steering hose, the engine revved high and was loud when the vehicle was started, the consumer saw sparks under the hood fuse block at the same time the gauges fluctuated and shorted, the right rear tail lights were inoperative, and the fuel gauge made a whirring sound when the vehicle was started.
While highway driving with cruise control engaged I heard a loud whining sound and experienced a sudden loss of power. I was almost hit from behind several times before I could get the vehicle over into the right lane. When I took the vehicle to my mechanic I was told the cooling fan clutch assemble had failed. I have had this fan replaced three times now and am not at all pleased that this vehicle has not been recalled for this problem. I have read that this is a "common" problem on this vehicle that can cause a severe accident. I have receipts for the repairs but have no way to upload them.
I was attempting to brake at 60mph. As the vehicle slowed it suddenly accelerated despite my applying the brakes as hard as I could. Finally, I was able to stop by shifting into neutral while still braking hard. I stopped just inches from the stopped vehicle in front of me. This was a harrowing few moments and if I had been unable to stop or slowdown the result could have been tragic. My guess is that this is an issue with some sort of electronic accelerator assist or some computer problem which has to do with engine speed or braking.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet trail blazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began to decelerated. The contact stopped the vehicle and smoke and flames were billowing from under the hood. The flames were extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Engine complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 160 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 14% of the model year's 1,149 complaints. The component named most often is engine (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though it has 12 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 8 fires and 4 injuries to engine & cooling 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.