2003 Chevrolet Blazer

Routine

Owners filed 77 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
45,000 milesMedian miles at failure

48 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags9
702
Power Train › Automatic Transmission7
000
Fuel System, Gasoline4
000
Electrical System4
000
Air Bags › Frontal4
400
Structure › Body › Door3
000
Structure › Body3
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly2
000
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)2
100
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels04V132000
Filed Mar 18, 2004183,922 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 28, 2018CA

REAR ENDED A STOPPED PICK UP AT 45 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED BUT MOST WAS ON DRIVER SIDE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 11, 2018206,854 milesMI

1/10/2018, WHILE DRIVING ON I-96, SUV SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 72MPH. I COASTED VEHICLE TO A STOP IN THAT LANE, AS HEAVY TRAFFIC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PULL OVER. MY FAMILY OF FOUR WERE IN THAT SUV WHEN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 20, 2016NJ

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015 WITH 71,000 - THE BODY WAS VERY WELL KEPT INSIDE AND OUT. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION UNDER THE VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW INITIALLY. I HAVE ONLY HAD SAME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO ALREADY REPLACE FRONT ARM JOINTS BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED IN HALF AND MY TIRE WAS SITTING CROOKED AND IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF!! FUEL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY COMPLETED RUSTED THROUGH AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING OUT ALL OVER. THE DRIVER DOOR WAS CHECKED 2X AS IT DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY AND I CAN HEAR WIND GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING (NOT TO MENTION WATER POURING IN OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND DOOR CONTROLS), THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR (DESPITE BEING FIXED), THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON DESPITE BEING CHECKED - THIS TRUCK DESIGN IS TERRIBLE AND IT NOW RIDES AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUCKET OF BOLTS. I HAVE HAD MANY TRUCKS FROM GMC JIMMY, CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, ETC. - I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE THAT HAS GONE COMPLETELY SOUR IN SO SHORT A TIME. I HAVE ALSO READ THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE IN ACCIDENTS WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILING AND AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING - I AM SERIOUSLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND THOUGHT I WAS PURCHASING A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. I SEE THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS - IF THEY WERE INVESTIGATED BY CHEVY - WERE DEEMED "NO PROBLEM FOUND" AND SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. WHAT DO I

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 20, 2015175,000 milesOK

TAKATA INFLATORS: I HAD LEFT MY HOUSE HEADED TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM AND GOT ON I40 EASTBOUND, IT HAD SNOWED THE DAY BEFORE AND THE ROADS HAD BEEN TREATED AND WERE CLEAR FOR TRAVEL, I WAS TRAVELING ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE @ APROX 50MPH AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO DO UPCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO LET OFF AND RE APPLY THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS SYSTEM JUST STAYED ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END STARTED SLIDING HARD TO THE LEFT AND I STEERED AWAY FROM THE PULL. I SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE CENTER CONCRETE WALL AT APPROX. 40MPH WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR, WHICH CAUSED ME TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT THE PASSENGER REAR, I CONTINUED TO SPIN UNTIL I WAS FACING BACK EAST. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO CORE SUPPORT AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HORN. IT WAS A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING BUT MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF, THE ABS DID NOT RELEASE WITHIN WHAT I APPROXIMATE TO BE ABOUT 6 SECONDS AND THIS SO CALLED SAFETY DEVICE NEARLY KILLED ME. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 6, 201485,000 milesRI

AIRBAG RECALL. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 26, 2014138,300 milesOR

MY 03 BLAZER HAS HAD ITS AIRBAG LIGHTS ON FOR SOME TIME NOW AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF I GET INTO A CRASH MY AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY, I'M SCARED ALSO TO SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA OR BY GM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED BADLY. A RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 7, 2014OR

DRIVERS DOOR HINGES ARE LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DOOR LATCH AND DOOR FLYING OPEN. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 6, 2014115,000 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THAT THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 28, 201478,000 milesOH

WAS HIT BY RIGHT SIDE IMPACT BY A TRUCK WITHOUT BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT. IT WAS GOING 40 MPH. COMING DOWN HILL AS I TOOK OFF AT STOP LIGHT . PUSHED ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ! ALSO I WAS HIT ON FRONT RIGHT SIDE PANEL . IT LATER CAUSED MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO NOT DISPLAY THE LIGHTS ON WARNINGS . HAD TO REPLACE THE PANEL . THAT'S WHEN I WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AT ALL ! BUT FLASHES ON AND OFF AS YOU DRIVE. *JS

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 31, 201450,000 milesMI

NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. GM DEALER SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I PAID A LOCAL GARAGE TO INSTALL NEW BRAKE LINE. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN, 98,000, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LOST BRAKING ABILITY. I FIND THAT GM WILL SELL ME A SET OF BRAKE LINES FOR $500 AND I CAN HAVE THEM INSTALLED ANYWHERE I WANT TO. CONSIDERING THE CURRENT GM SITUATION WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH I THINK THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES AND FIX THEIR RUSTING BRAKE LINES. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 27, 2013174,500 milesMI

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SEIZURE AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED TO VEER TO THE LEFT WHERE I CLIPPED SEVERAL CARS THAT WERE HEADED NORTHBOUND AND HAD STOPPED DUE TO THE REALIZATION THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER CONTROL. I THEN PROCEEDED OVER A TREE LAWN AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I HIT A DODGE RAM PICKUP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSHED THAT VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR THAT WAS NEXT TO IT. BOTH VEHICLES ENDED UP SIDEWAYS AND MY VEHICLE ENDED UP SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. POLICE WERE CALLED AN PARAMEDICS ARRIVED. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE USED TO EXTRACT ME FROM MY VEHICLE. I WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I SUFFERED BURST FRACTURES OF L1, L2, AND L3. I ALSO SUFFERED AN EVULSION FRACTURE OF MY LEFT ANKLE. THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT I WAS TRAVELLING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THAT THE VEHICLES WHICH WERE NORTHBOUND WERE JUST CLIPPED. THE AIRBAGS ARE BOTH STILL WITHIN THEIR CASES AS NEITHER DEPLOYED. I WOULD EXPECT THIS OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AS THAT SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED BUT THE DRIVER BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR EVEN EXPRESSED TO MY WIFE THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS HAVING A SEIZURE AND WAS NOT CONSCIOUS SO I CANNOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN WHAT IS IN THE POLICE REPORT. THE REPORT IS #370763 ISSUED BY THE TOWNSHIP OF CLINTON, MICHIGAN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT COPARD AUTO SALVAGE,

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 11, 2011155,984 milesNJ

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. REPLACED BRAKE SWITCH, ALL TAIL LIGHTS. MECHANIC INVESTIGATION SHOWS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO BE CAUSE OF PROBLEM AS IN PREVIOUS RECALL FOR MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON 2002 BLAZER. REQUESTING INVESTIGATION AND ADDITION TO THE RECALL. *KB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 6, 201112,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ONGOING FAILURE IN WHICH THE FUEL GAUGE CONSTANTLY DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED DUE TO THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE FAILURE WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 29, 20118,000 milesMI

MY 2003 CHEVY BLAZER HAS HAD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS TAKEN INTO MORAN CHEVROLET IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI ONCE FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BAD VEHICLE GROUND. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. THE ONLY WAY I CAN AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS IS TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL-UP. *TR

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Mar 1, 2011194,000 milesPA

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE, 194,XXX MILES, 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER LS 4.3 AUTOMATIC, 7 5/8 3.42 REAR. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Nov 1, 2010263,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGES. THE FAILURE WAS 263,000.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 20, 2010110,000 milesWV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE FRAME BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS HAD FRACTURED. HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OR RUST OR CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Apr 18, 2009110,318 milesCA

I OWN A CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 2003, AND I RAN INTO A RECALL PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION FOR GM'S RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES WITH A DEFECT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V046000 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2004 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 581,394 I CALLED MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, COURTESY CHEVROLET IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR FIXED SINCE THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT ON GM'S PART. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND MY CAR FALLS IN THE RECALL CATEGORY, THE STAFF AT COURTESY CHEVROLET DID NOT FIX MY CAR ON THEIR EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM AS ONE OF THE CARS WITH A DEFECT/RECALL: RECALL: A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IS A SITUATION IN WHICH MOST VEHICLES PRODUCED IN A PRODUCTION OR TOOLING RUN HAS A SEVERE ENOUGH FLAW IN A COMPONENT OR GROUP OF COMPONENTS IN THAT CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT MODIFICATION OR REPAIR COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH OF THE DRIVER AND/OR OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS TYPE OF RECALL IS KNOWN AS A NATIONAL RECALL. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT GM, A CORPORATION LOOKING TO GET THE ECONOMY BACK ON ITS OWN TWO FEET, IS NOT WORKING WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE A GREAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. I PAID $540.00 IN ORDER FOR MY PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED AS A CUSTOMER OF GENERAL MOTORS, DUE TO POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE WHILE TRYING TO SOLVE MY MECHANICAL PROBLEM, I REGRET BUYING A VEHICLE FROM GM. *TR

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jan 28, 200950,999 milesMI

RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER 2 DOOR DROPS WHEN OPEN AND LIFTS UP WHEN CLOSED. SAME SITUATION AS MY 2004 FOUR DOOR BLAZER. UPPER AND LOWER HINGE PINS AND BUSHINGS FAILED CAUSING THE DOOR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 30, 200844,000 milesFL

I WAS OUT LATE IN A DESOLATE AREA-NO HOUSES-NO STORES. I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER SO BAD I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING. I WAS TERRIFIED, I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN-FEMALE ALONE. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE ONCE IT WAS PARKED. MY MECHANIC WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PICK IT UP. THE DEALER WOULD NOT. IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. IT COST ME $466.26. I WAS TRULY TERRIFIED. *TR

20 of 77 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20261000Routine
202531100Routine
202445100Routine
202342200Routine
202249110Routine
2021133110Routine
2020217300Above average
2019186200Routine
20085000Routine
20079000Routine
200619010Routine
200515020Routine
200450100Routine
2003 — this page77100Routine
2002246260Above average
2001326352Fatalities reported
2000589472Fatalities reported
1999436090Above average
199871631513Fatalities reported
19977687284Fatalities reported
19961,15311322Fatalities reported
19951,22411260High concern
1994620776Fatalities reported
19935117121Fatalities reported
1992278691Fatalities reported
19912227150Above average
199032470Routine

Compare every Blazer year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 18, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.