Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On August 26, 2015 we purchased a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer from wali's auto sales in enola, pa. It had 93,907 miles on it and appeared to be in good condition with a clean car fax. We traded in our 1996 Chevrolet suburban and received $1700 in trade in value purchasing the Trailblazer for $5722.70 including tax and transfer fees. Brakes and ball joints had been replaced prior to our purchase along with a transmission line. We took the vehicle for an alignment as soon as we purchased it. We drove the vehicle approximately 200 miles and then on September 17th left home with intentions of driving the vehicle to stowe vermont. At 11:30 am on the morning of September 17th (approximately 2 hours into our trip) the vehicle lost power and brakes close to scranton, pa. The engine caught fire and within 7 minutes the vehicle burned up. The VIN number was not readable. …
While driving my vehicle in December 2015 I received a "service engine soon" display. I took the SUV to a service center who informed me my fuel tank was cracked & needed to be replaced. They ordered a new tank but have not been able to obtain the part. While researching the situation, I found record of an NHTSA investigation (action # pe07014) conducted in 2007 for the same problem, involving the same make, model & year as my vehicle in which GM was supposed to send letters to owners & repair the fuel tanks free of charge. I never received the notification and reached out to GM customer service to find out why, file a report and expressing my grave concerns regarding the safety issues of driving a vehicle in this condition. …
Fuel tank inlet check valve fracture - Chevy Trailblazer (2003) I received the attached notice for special coverage in November 2015 for my Trailblazer's fuel tank inlet check valve that fractures and allows for fuel to seep out of the tank. Sounds pretty dangerous to me. I took my vehicle to the local Chevy dealership and sure enough, my vehicle was affected and the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The replacement fuel tank part was ordered by the dealership in November 2015 and the replacement part has still not come in, 6 months later. I've called the dealership, as well as GM/Chevy corporate at least 20 times over the past 6 months and the update I received today from the dealership was the part 'May come in September 2016 or it May not'. I can't drive the vehicle during this time due to this dangerous gas leak repair. This is wildly unfair. …
Takata recall yes I was smelling fuel coming from the inside of the cab of my vehicle every morning well starting it up and it would remain so I looked into it and it was on a recall but they told me that the recall had expired and there's nothing they could do about it I don't think something as serious as this should have a limit on it because of the gas fumes constantly entering the vehicle I'd sometimes get dizzy and lightheaded causing me to pull over to leave the vehicle so I can get fresh air not mentioning always afraid of something sparking and possibly catching the truck on fire I have taken the truck to the dealer and they tell me like I said the recall has expired I am reaching out to you to help me get this corrected hope to hear from you very soon thank you for taking this time to read my complaint my name tracy o'brien live in palmdale california I cannot provide pictures …
In 2018 we were having a fuel pressure issue and discovered that the icv had cracked around the gas tank. When I researched the issue I found there was a special coverage warranty for the issue and called the nearest Chevy dealership. They told me that the coverage had expired a month earlier and they wouldn't honor the coverage but if we wanted the car fixed it would be over$1000. We're not the first owner of the vehicle and im sure that's why I never received the notice of the special coverage. Considering this is an issue with the fuel tank and I have children in my car, I'm not understanding why this special coverage expired in the first place. People buy used cars all the time and if the dealership didn't catch it before selling the car it's unfair to put the expense on the new owner when it's a defect caused by the manufacturer's choice in unreliable parts.
The area around the fuel tank filler neck, where it connects to the fuel tank, is leaking. This is a common issue with 2002 - 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer ext's and GMC envoy xl's. It is covered under general motors special coverage program #14423 for 15 years or 150,000 miles. My Trailblazer now has 180,000 miles on it and I have been smelling gasoline fumes in the area of the filler neck for a long time, but I didn't know where it was coming from. I just found out about this program and checked the filler neck area and found the leak. Because the vehicle's mileage is outside the mileage limit of the program, GM will not cover the replacement of the fuel tank and filler assembly. I am stuck with a vehicle that May be hazardous to drive, but I have no choice.
I bought a used 2003 Chevy Trailblazer 6cylinder 4w with those156000. Well shortly after buying it I had my windows rolled down in a drive thru and smelt gas. I didn't think much of it until a few weeks later I noticed that I had a leak of some sort and it had the gas smell but within another week my gas mileage per tank of fuel went down drastically and I noticed I had puddles under my vehicle instead of a few drips now. The smell of gas is overwhlming it gives me headaches when I drive. I'm afraid it's going to start a fire. It constantly drips gas now when I ddrive you can seexa trail leading to me. I wish I nevercwould have bought it. It's so unsafe for my children with glad leaking out.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was a fuel odor emitted in and around the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was fuel spilled around the fuel tank and the regulator was leaking fuel and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,243.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving 20 MPH, smoke appeared under the hood of the vehicle and entered through the defrost vents. The flames spread through the hood and then underneath the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire and stated that the fuel injector was the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and they stated that the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact wanted to know what caused the fire. There is a recall for the faulty fuel injector for the 2002 models, but the 2003 models were not included. The current and failure mileages were 79,500.
I have filed a prior complaint and the number is #10695487. I contacted general motors and have never been treated so terrible in my life. The person on the phone told me to either take it to a dealer ( with no help from GM to check it) or get over it and hung up. I am still having the fuel leaking and with no help from GM I will not be able to fix it. I would like to have it fixed because in my mind it is a defect on GM part and they do not want to own up to it. Please help with this issue.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
Odi has received reports that the fuel pump module leaks fuel and or vapor underneath the vehicle.GM states, the failure mechanism is corrosion of the fuel pump module flange which May lead to a fuel leak.corrosion of the fuel pump module flange is the result of the vehicle operating in a corrosive environment.odi has upgraded this pe to engineering analysis (ea07-009) to further assess this issue.
Fuel spillage during refueling
This investigation was opened on the model year (my) 2003 Chevrolet trailblazer.based on GM's information request (ir) response, odi added to its analysis the my 2003 GMC envoy and Oldsmobile bravada vehicles.these vehicles share the same vehicle platform (GM 360/370) and fuel fill components.incident summary numbers reported above include these vehicles.epa regulates the fuel dispensing rates at filling stations…
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
During the course of this ea investigation, odi observed that the majority of the complaints (88%) and warranty claims (94%) were reported for vehicles that are registered for use in the salt belt region of the us.this area includes 20 states in the northeast, mid atlantic and the midwest regions and the district of columbia.consumers in the salt belt region reported to odi that they could smell fuel vapors in their…
Fuel System complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 180 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 20% of the model year's 901 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though it has 8 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 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 2 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.