No offense but....

[tbmdsd]

Does anyone else feel that their Trailblazer is a piece of junk? I really have been disappointed overall with my 03 TB. I bought it with 161 miles on it and I have had in to the dealer 5 times. Damn thing has too many computers on it. The exhaust got replaced at about 38,000 miles because the catalytic convertor completed clogged up. There have been over 20+ items I have had issues with. The sway bar links are wore out, it burns massive oil, the tranny blew out fluid because I towed a trailer in hot weather, suspension sucks and is soft, windows scratch when you open them, the doors never close right unless you just about slam them,the rear trunk/cargo window pops open for no reason, the rubber moldings on the doors come off, the BFG Open Trail tires absolutely sucked and lasted 18,000 miles, the resale value of the vehicle blows; I can go buy an 05 for less than I owe on my 03, and the list goes on, and on. :( Sorry, I had to vent. Hope you all love yours. I do love the turning/steering radius though :)

[ENVOY2LOW43]

Geez, I feel sorry for you man! :(

[tbmdsd]

yeah it sucks, because I really like the look of the truck, the size etc. But am having doubts on Chevy's reliability. My wife's S-10 has been having problems too and it had 55,000 miles on it and it is a 2000 and she babies it. I had to replace the shift solenoids in the tranny, the ball joints, tie rods, and more. My family has had Suburbans for years and never had this number of problems. My 89 Suburban when I sold it had 340,000 miles on the original motor. I have seen about 6 suburbans in my family growing up. MY dad buys one about every 5-6 years or so. May go back to Nissan after I get my loan down so I am not so upside down on it. Oh well enjoy yours and watch your mileage 36,000 FACTORY WARRANTY ENDS

[Jman423]

I don't want to sound cocky, but I could care less what happens to mine, I have a waranty up tp 100,000 miles, so its all covered. And by then, anything that needed to be replaced would have been done already. I know its not the best attitude to have, BUT after the sh*t I went through with my last vehicle, its nice to know that I have a waranty. :m2:

[Tommy]

Sorry to hear you had all those problems.

I had a few issues with mine, but they were all fixed.

Window Scratching (TSB on it, glass replaced under warranty)
Spring inside of fold-a-way mirror broke (Mirror replaced under warranty)
CD mechanism in Radio Broke (Replaced under warranty)
My dealer gave me another year of free oil changes and a free inspection for next year.

Sometimes my doors don't close right too, but I have come to the conclusion and say to myself "hey, it's gm, push a little harder:m2: " :rolleyes:

I extended my GM warranty to 6 year/60,000miles the day I bought it.;)

[02EnvoySLE Guy]

Since I've had my truck, I've honestly had no truly notable concerns crop up. When I first got it the 4x4 Selector Switch was bad, as was the rear wiper switch. Past that, and one burned-out turn signal bulb, the truck has been perfect for me. No complaints. :m2:

[Dave]

My 03 has be relatively reliable with almost 36k miles on it. I had problems with the rear wiper twice, rear AC control once and turn flasher once. All of those problems are pretty much "Code 2" as we say in the aircraft maintenance world which means the aircraft can still fly safely.

[Black Ice]

I have a 03 too, and the only problems ive had are the tail light recall, issues with the door molding( dealer will replace when i make an appointment) and a few other issues, but other than that ive had no major problems with it and it was delivered to me with 137 miles on it, i now have about 23,000 in 2yrs...

[MoJoe]

I am use to owning American vechicles :D I have had repeat vehicles, same make model and year, one had issues the other was fine, just normal stuff. But at the same time, my Toyota's had issues also. So I chalk it up to poor Q&A, some are just bound to being lemons also. Look at the huge issues Ford had with their 03-04 6.0L Powerstroke. Some had major issues, others had none. That is why the warranty on a vehicle is one of the most important things now. :m2:

[sallen]

hey at least the dont just catch fire in your garage, lol i saw the info on the fords , the only thing ford is telling ppl is please dont park them in your garage, lol sad oh and i love my tb very reliable truck


shay

[tbmdsd]

Hey I still like my TB, I just never bought a brand new car(and will never again) and had so many issues. My subarus I bought with 100,000 miles on them when I got them, had less problems. Oh well, just have to upgrade the things that break with stronger aftermarket stuff

[Dacomputernerd]

hey at least the dont just catch fire in your garage, lol i saw the info on the fords , the only thing ford is telling ppl is please dont park them in your garage, lol sad oh and i love my tb very reliable truck


shay

LMAO!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

That would really suck! :laugh: :laugh:

[Neil Patel]

I go back and forth on how well my truck has held together. I must admit, it is much easier to focus on the truck's flaws then its pros. And I know I am one picky flaw finding bstrd. So far my TB has suffered from:

-Vertical scratches in the side windows and very noticeable chips in the wind shield
-Broken stabilizer bar links that are creating lots of noise
-A broken thermostat and leaking coolant pipe
-Minor oil leak on the driver side front axle
-Majorly warped brake rotors
-Wipers that chatter/vibrate
-4 wheel drive selector that intermittently fails to work
-Strong gasoline odors that fill the car when filling up all the way
-Diesel clatter when engine is cold
-Abrupt 1-2 shift when transmission is not warmed up
-Hesitating/loud clanking noise when transmission downshifting (2-1) at low speeds
-A whining (electric motor sounding) noise consistent with engine RPM
-Increasingly sluggish performance off the line
-Very hot to the touch CD player that will occasionally get confused and freeze up or spit CDs out
-A/C that is not always cold at a stand-still without recirculate on
-Squeaky rear hatch when opening/closing
-Mysteriously not starting or even turning over one day, but then starting out of the blue when a tow arrived.
-Mysteriously stalling on two occasions when giving an ever-so light gas.

So, with all these problems, what is good about the thing - aside from the obvious of price, style, space and comfort:

-All the little helpful features gm has thought of (auto headlights, chimes for E-brake, forgotten turn signal, low fuel, ignition safety, bright reverse lights (especially useful for giggles when being immature and fooling people into waiting for you to back-out of a good parking spot as you walk away), built-in features on even the lowest model radio, dual climate control, rear climate control, extra power points, little storage spots, rear windows that roll down completely, 10 sec door lock, the list goes on and on)
-Fairly decent highway acceleration
-Smooth ride (atleast it was before the tires went out of balance, rotors became warped and stabilizer bar mounts went bad)
-Tires that still have good tread after 45K and have stood up to many curb climbs
-Alignment that has stood up to many curb climbs
-Very good snow handling
-Couldn't get it stuck in the mud, although I do bottom way too easily
-Auto all wheel drive is handy in altering conditions
-Consistent gas mileage (17 mpg)
-A low cost maintenance schedule, even if you don't follow the oil change light
-Front and rear bumpers that have resisted all damage from getting sandwiched between a ford ranger and sierra, both with metal bumpers that suffered lots of damage, being rear ended by a jeep wrangler, pushing a Volvo 240 out of mud, and being backed into by a car.

Had I known about the scratched windows, smelly gas fill-ups, warped rotors and stabilizer links being such common problems that could have been fixed under warranty prior to 36K, I would have been mor insistant the dealer make fixes instead of buying into their normal wear and tear excuse. One of my major gripes is the 36K warranty, atleast cover the powertrain until 65K!!! A normal warranty should not need to be purchased with the vehicle as an option, and even if it is, it shouldn't be such an issue to get the dealer to make repairs.

I have been able to live with the problems so far, although I will probably break down and buy new rotors before they are worn and fix the stabilizer links since it has been sounding really bad. I guess I have to live with the sluggish acceleration. The A/C still works even though it is a little picky. The mysterious stalls and no-starts never occurred again and the intermittent 4 wheel drive selector has not left me driving in the snow yet. Little scratches in the windows don't really bother me. And as much as the transmission bothers me with its loud clanks, hesitations, poor gear ratios and lack of fifth gear, I still have decent faith in it since it is so beefy....atleast it is not slipping. I am fortunate to have this truck as a company vehicle, which is why I am probably not so angry about the issues, but if I paid 30K for it and were upside down on a loan, I would probably have a different opinion. Overall, the trailblazer has been reliable, and I think it will be into the 100K plus mark so long as the transmission clanks and whining noises that many others seem to have are normal and not promises to future repairs.

END OF NOVEL

[IceN]

dang an i thought patels only bought hondas

[Neil Patel]

Like I said, I didn't purchase it. Although if I had a Honda Pilot I'm pretty sure my gripes would be reduced to being stuck driving a girl's SUV and not being able to do 2WD only donuts/fishtales in the snow.

[tbmdsd]

I go back and forth on how well my truck has held together. I must admit, it is much easier to focus on the truck's flaws then its pros. And I know I am one picky flaw finding bstrd. So far my TB has suffered from:

-Vertical scratches in the side windows and very noticeable chips in the wind shield
-Broken stabilizer bar links that are creating lots of noise
-A broken thermostat and leaking coolant pipe
-Minor oil leak on the driver side front axle
-Majorly warped brake rotors
-Wipers that chatter/vibrate
-4 wheel drive selector that intermittently fails to work
-Strong gasoline odors that fill the car when filling up all the way
-Diesel clatter when engine is cold
-Abrupt 1-2 shift when transmission is not warmed up
-Hesitating/loud clanking noise when transmission downshifting (2-1) at low speeds
-A whining (electric motor sounding) noise consistent with engine RPM
-Increasingly sluggish performance off the line
-Very hot to the touch CD player that will occasionally get confused and freeze up or spit CDs out
-A/C that is not always cold at a stand-still without recirculate on
-Squeaky rear hatch when opening/closing
-Mysteriously not starting or even turning over one day, but then starting out of the blue when a tow arrived.
-Mysteriously stalling on two occasions when giving an ever-so light gas.

So, with all these problems, what is good about the thing - aside from the obvious of price, style, space and comfort:

-All the little helpful features gm has thought of (auto headlights, chimes for E-brake, forgotten turn signal, low fuel, ignition safety, bright reverse lights (especially useful for giggles when being immature and fooling people into waiting for you to back-out of a good parking spot as you walk away), built-in features on even the lowest model radio, dual climate control, rear climate control, extra power points, little storage spots, rear windows that roll down completely, 10 sec door lock, the list goes on and on)
-Fairly decent highway acceleration
-Smooth ride (atleast it was before the tires went out of balance, rotors became warped and stabilizer bar mounts went bad)
-Tires that still have good tread after 45K and have stood up to many curb climbs
-Alignment that has stood up to many curb climbs
-Very good snow handling
-Couldn't get it stuck in the mud, although I do bottom way too easily
-Auto all wheel drive is handy in altering conditions
-Consistent gas mileage (17 mpg)
-A low cost maintenance schedule, even if you don't follow the oil change light
-Front and rear bumpers that have resisted all damage from getting sandwiched between a ford ranger and sierra, both with metal bumpers that suffered lots of damage, being rear ended by a jeep wrangler, pushing a Volvo 240 out of mud, and being backed into by a car.

Had I known about the scratched windows, smelly gas fill-ups, warped rotors and stabilizer links being such common problems that could have been fixed under warranty prior to 36K, I would have been mor insistant the dealer make fixes instead of buying into their normal wear and tear excuse. One of my major gripes is the 36K warranty, atleast cover the powertrain until 65K!!! A normal warranty should not need to be purchased with the vehicle as an option, and even if it is, it shouldn't be such an issue to get the dealer to make repairs.

I have been able to live with the problems so far, although I will probably break down and buy new rotors before they are worn and fix the stabilizer links since it has been sounding really bad. I guess I have to live with the sluggish acceleration. The A/C still works even though it is a little picky. The mysterious stalls and no-starts never occurred again and the intermittent 4 wheel drive selector has not left me driving in the snow yet. Little scratches in the windows don't really bother me. And as much as the transmission bothers me with its loud clanks, hesitations, poor gear ratios and lack of fifth gear, I still have decent faith in it since it is so beefy....atleast it is not slipping. I am fortunate to have this truck as a company vehicle, which is why I am probably not so angry about the issues, but if I paid 30K for it and were upside down on a loan, I would probably have a different opinion. Overall, the trailblazer has been reliable, and I think it will be into the 100K plus mark so long as the transmission clanks and whining noises that many others seem to have are normal and not promises to future repairs.

END OF NOVEL

I have experienced 90% of what you have described. If you couldn't get it stuck in the mud then you weren't very deep. I was stuck for 3 1/2 hours because of the low ground clearance; I got high-centered. My accelereation got better when they replaced the catalytic convertor because it was 80%full/clogged, but 6 months later it seems to be more sluggish again. Also must not be the stock tires on there, mine burned off in 18,000 miles. The BFG Open Trail tires suck. I just ordered new front stabilizer links and still need to get the backs too.

[itstrick]

Wow, this was not the posting to read after just buying a trailblazer. ha. Now that I have read some of the items that have gone wrong I have a couple of questions,

-The whipers when turned on kinda spaz and stumble around like they dont know if they should be on.
-This problem I have been reading about with the catalytic convertor, this seems to happen on alot, i have 44k on mine and Wondering if i should take it to the shop to have it looked at. :worried:

[jnicklo]

98k Miles and I've only had to do routine things like replace the battery, tires, alignment etc.

I dunno...maybe this is a result of GMC being a slightly higher grade than Chevy (better materials?) but I've had NO PROBLEMS with my Envoy.

Either that or I've been lucky. :m2:

[itstrick]

Well I suppose we will see where the road takes us (get it road takes us) yeah that was bad I know I know. Say jnicklo how is that Volant cold air intake treating you? noisy? improve mpg? I am thinking about switching mine out eventuly...

[Envoy Fan]

Wow, this was not the posting to read after just buying a trailblazer. ha. Now that I have read some of the items that have gone wrong I have a couple of questions,

-The whipers when turned on kinda spaz and stumble around like they dont know if they should be on.
-This problem I have been reading about with the catalytic convertor, this seems to happen on alot, i have 44k on mine and Wondering if i should take it to the shop to have it looked at. :worried:

Has the truck had the wiper motor recall completed? If unsure, take VIN to dealer and ask. They can print out all warranty work for you, if you don't know what all has been done to the truck.

[itstrick]

I called down to my local dealership and they had said "all 4 recalls have been done" I was thinking 4? I thought there was alot more than that.

[bmm354]

I called down to my local dealership and they had said "all 4 recalls have been done" I was thinking 4? I thought there was alot more than that.

Recalls apply only to certain years, build dates, VIN spreads, or even by plant. Apparently only 4 apply to your truck. You might hear about a recall in the news but in reality it might only apply to 1,000 vehicles. That's not many considering over 100,000 TBs were sold in 2002. Speaking of obscure recalls there's one for 46 early-build XL versions that might be missing some welds under the rear floor plan. I doubt any of these were actually sold, but GM was replacing any that were sold under the recall.

Added up since 2002, yes the TB has had a few recalls.

[itstrick]

Thats still crazy. I suppose I could start a new thread asking help on what is going on. with these winshield wipers.

[jimmyjam]

Well, unlike missing welds, the wiper problem was a design flaw in the assembly that allowed water to get in, short the wires, cause corrosion. So I would think that a recall for a design flaw in a part wouldn't be as obscure as recalls for missing welds or something like that.

My '02 does the same thing, wipers are jerky when not going at full speed. But I'm too lazy to get over to a dealer. Also need the brake light recall done, mine has jarred lose a few times and there is crustyness on the contacts from the bad connection.

Does anyone know if the dealer can just give me the recall part and let me install it myself if I sign a waiver or something? I really don't want to sit at the dealership for 3 hours for them to do something simple like change the brake light assembly.

[NorthRainer]

All of the problems that everyone is describing are TSBs that GM has posted. If you look on a website like alldata.com and search your vehicle you can see the TSBs that GM has posted for your particular vehicles.

Here is the Link
http://www.alldata.com/recalls/index.html

[Envoy Fan]

All of the problems that everyone is describing are TSBs that GM has posted. If you look on a website like alldata.com and search your vehicle you can see the TSBs that GM has posted for your particular vehicles.

Here is the Link
http://www.alldata.com/recalls/index.html

Costs $24.95 for a year subscription to actually see the TSB info.

[ghoster]

Or you could just look at the list of TSB's that are posted here (http://www.trailvoy.com/index.php?tv=tsbs) in the resources section.:m2:

[homertime]

Owning 2 TB's myself, and a 3rd in the family, we have had the least amount of problems with these trucks then any other vehicle.

First just try to remember that sometimes when these things are built, there are a few bad apples in the bunch - this is true of anything mass produced, in your unfortunate circumstance, you got the bad one.

I've never had any "serious" problems, more just general, rattles, clunking, and door squeaking, all covered by warranty and fixed in an appropriate manner.

It stinks, but just keep in mind there are some people with more serious issues with their car.

I had a ford exploder sport 1999 - across 16 months had over 19 warranty related problems requiring it to be in greater then 1 day. This did not include oil changes and the 7 recalls (including the firestone tire recall). I am someone who in a bad year drives 15,000; I turned the truck in with 19,000 in 16 months after the brakes failed for the 3rd consecutive time. Of the 19 warranty concerns over 6 included issues that regarded safety and the trucks operation (breaks failing, oxygen sensor shutting off causing the truck to repeatedly stall, windshield wipers failing - coincidentally in a torrential downpour).
Since no single problem (other then the brakes) were not repaired properly 3 consecutive times, nor was the truck in the shop >1 month at a time, it was not considered a Lemon.
There's always one bad one in the bunch, and on occasion it's yours... I had mine but luckily it wasn't a TB, and fortunately no one got hurt due to its problems.

I can only hope the same for you, that though you have many concerns, that your truck remains in a very safe operating condition

[MTPockets]

IMO, you cant beat a trailvoy for:
1) Size
2) Comfort
3) Versatility
4) Fairly easy to work on
5) Tough drivetrain
6) Awesome value when bought used

What's horrible about them?
1) Body panel and interior fit/finish
2) Shoddy assembly
3) Quality of sheet metal, plastics, rubber, glass

I can't figure this out as some chevrolet's are assmebled well, have better fit/finish and are better put together in general. Their trucks are done well, my BIL's malibu maxx is decent, even that new HHR has almost a 'toyota' build feel to it.:confused: I think the general wanted to max out their profits on the TB's during the SUV hayday, so that slapped them together as cheaply as possible & priced them as high as they could. They gotta get out of this mode!

Joel

[c_jck]

same here man,,...
though i'll get better trucks,..but after got mine, something is there too:rotfl:
just push u'r pedal and get to go,...and no probleem:raspberry

[johnner1999]

my 2005 Ascender has been pretty good to me so far (knock on wood) I only have about 14k miles on her though since I bought it new last Thanksgiving 2005...

For its size (I use to have a Rodeo, and my wife has a Montero Sport) it rides better then some cars IMHO, MPG is low but much better then my Rodeo and my wife's truck. I can drive it from CT to DC and back same week-end with little fatigue. Mine looks more like an Envoy inside and IMHO looks very high-end.

The drive-train seems to have good selection from 2wd mode to auto to full time 4x4 (I'm still a little fuzzy about what happen in auto mode - I have read the previous posts)

It does suck when anyone has major car problems (I had them with my last Rodeo - a 2004 model I owned it for about 1.5 years if that and it was in the shop 94 days!!!)



just my 2 cents

[ScarabEpic22]

John- To answer your 4WD question, the A4WD mode is sensing mode. The 4WD clutch is applied, but the transfer case is sending 0% power to the front wheels until it detects the rear wheels slipping. Then, it automatically applies the clutch to engage the front wheels enough to stop the rears from spinning. After the rear is not spinning anymore, it reverts back to 0% apply.

Reduced gas mileage because of A4WD mode is due to the fact that the front axles are connected to the driveline but not being powered until slippage.

[05tbext]

What causes the scratches on the windows? My driver side has them. It's still under warranty so I'll see if they'll fix it.

[MTPockets]

What causes the scratches on the windows? My driver side has them. It's still under warranty so I'll see if they'll fix it.

It's mostly due to super crappy glass quality, but stones/debris get caught in the soft felt of the outside window guide and scratch the window every time you raise/lower the window. As far as I know, replacements will scratch up over time as well.:no:

Joel

[StvsDenaliXL]

just like homertime said, sometimes there are some bad apples in the bunch...I bought 05 Envoy Denali almost a year ago (the same week they were introduced) and I think it was one of the ones manufactured (don't know what number it is or build date:confused: )....and I think I may have gotten a bad apple (per say)....because I already had a tranny problem (defective parts, fixed under warranty), an ignition assembly switch replaced (also under warranty), and a prob with the exhaust (which really was the fault of the tech that repaired the tranny)...only have about 15k and I haven't seen any other 05 Envoy Denalis that have had these such problems (yet)..I'm happy I have the extended warranty and know if any other probs arise I'll be ok....but all in all I love my EV....I've had prev cars with major probs (too many to account:rolleyes: )...and they were all Fords:mad: ....but the Toyota Celica, Honda Accord, Olds Bravada, Saturn, and yes even my 77 Fiat, never had as many probs as the Fords....Sorry that you've had many probs with your TB, but I wouldn't give up on TB's because of this one, I would give them the benefit of the doubt, but lets say if you bought 3 TB's and experienced all the same probs as the first, then I would say give up :duh: (this was my experience with Fords). Not all GM vehicles are the same (as you already know with your Suburbans)...but not all are built the same, so keep your head up and work on yours, and if you really want give up on your TB, I wouldn't give up on all TB's:D:m2:

[dntnvme]

I truly understand your frustration :yes: . I had a 02 SLT, bought in DEC and in the shop in Jan, Feb, March :duh: , and finally in april I hired a Lemon Law Lawyer and GM bought the old back :yes: , and gave me a great deal on the new 05 I have now :yes: . The new one has been a dream, no problems :hail: .

[RozmerJJ]

I have to agree wth the "No Problems" posts. I have 2 TB's, an 02 with 89K on it and and 05 with 30K and have not had a single problem with either one. The only repairs that have been done are to the 02 and other than recalls I have new tires and brakes plus routine maint. itmes. I loven them both! :)

[MajesticLT03]

I just bought an 03 LT with 34k miles on it last week.. so far after a week of driving and a full tank of gas it has been trouble free..


the only thing that may be a problem is that the drivers side window motor occasionaly squeaks when it goes up and down.. maybe 40 to 50% of the time.

[John Skiba]

61,000 thousand miles and nothing major on the 02 Envoy SLT

In fact, I'm kinda afraid to take it into the dealer for the recalls. I've always been a GM guy and the biggest issue I have is the GM service departments, they have always been horrible and still are!!!

Anyways, I've had the following...

- 4x4 switch replaced under warranty (intermittant)
- engine fan clutch (went out at about 58k, did it myself... talking about one single item that will kill your trailvoys performance instantly and make it sound like a freight train!)
- front brake pads (don't fool yourself use GM OEM pads! Last the longest, don't squeek and minimal dust)
- regular maintainence (battery, oil, trans filter and fluid)
- Silverstar 9006 bulbs go out quite frequently compared to OEMS
- tail light bulbs

Aside from that, it's been and incredible truck and one very quick SUV. I don't know why guys say these 4.2L are slouches, they're not. Oh and it normally gets about 280+ miles to the tank (16 gals or so used) mixed city/highway (70+% city) even with the 4.10 gears!

[ScarabEpic22]

61,000 thousand miles and nothing major on the 02 Envoy SLT

In fact, I'm kinda afraid to take it into the dealer for the recalls. I've always been a GM guy and the biggest issue I have is the GM service departments, they have always been horrible and still are!!!

Anyways, I've had the following...

- 4x4 switch replaced under warranty (intermittant)
- engine fan clutch (went out at about 58k, did it myself... talking about one single item that will kill your trailvoys performance instantly and make it sound like a freight train!)
- front brake pads (don't fool yourself use GM OEM pads! Last the longest, don't squeek and minimal dust)
- regular maintainence (battery, oil, trans filter and fluid)
- Silverstar 9006 bulbs go out quite frequently compared to OEMS
- tail light bulbs

Aside from that, it's been and incredible truck and one very quick SUV. I don't know why guys say these 4.2L are slouches, they're not. Oh and it normally gets about 280+ miles to the tank (16 gals or so used) mixed city/highway (70+% city) even with the 4.10 gears!

I agree with you man, the I6 really gets some power to it as it ages. Mine feels really fast now, much more so than a year or so ago. The mods I have done probably have helped a little, but I think the engine is finally showing what it can do.

[MTPockets]

Wow! I didn't realize you could get the 4.10 gears with the 4.2L. I bet they haul A with 4.10's. They are a bit more mild on 3.42's.

Joel

[bullethole]

Guess I'll jump in here. My 03 LTZ has had it's problems. Other than the recalls they have been pretty minor. I have the "crazy mirrors" that have a mind of their own. Just replaced the fan clutch which seems inevitable on any truck made before July 05. Bought my oem ac-delco on ebay for 40.00. It is $300.00 plus at the dealer. My speedometer is not working but other than that it has performed flawlessly. I have 89k on the clock and I average 23mpg on the hiway, 18mpg around town. So far the engine, transfer case, transmission, and differentials are smooth as silk and no leaks. Only mod is a K&N air filter. Checked the front brakes the other day and at least 30% of pad is remaining. Will replace soon with ceramic and new rotors. Rotors are too cheap and easy to not replace at this mileage.
Only real complaint is the seat. It sits like a concrete park bench. Most uncomfortable leather bucket seat I have ever had the occasion to sit in. Why they could not put a Tahoe seat in there is beyond me. I wrote to Chevy about this but of couse never heard a word back. I have heard they monitor these boards. Maybe some will see it there. Finally, I wish everything worked as well as my wife's 94 Accord 210k and still going strong.

[Spong]

I haven't had any problems yet (only 1042 miles) but I have noticed a few things. The suspension is waaay too soft. I'd install some HD Bilsteins myself if the front wasn't the stupid coil on shock setup. I've also noticed the body seems to flex alot. It's like it's not very rigid. Even my old Jimmy feels more solid.

Otherwise I love the engine. I get a SEG on my face everytime it roars to life :D Also, so far the mileage is decent for not having many miles on it. I'm excited to see what it's like after about 10k.

I also agree the TB is a good size. Not too big and not too small. We almost bought a new Tahoe instead (with rebates the price would have been close) but decided on the TB because with 2 small children we really didn't *need* to have something larger.

I also purchased a 100k/72mo bumper to bumper warranty because I didn't want to be stuck with a repair bill just after the factory warranty ended!

[wookiee2cu]

I've had my '02 LTZ for almost a year now and I really haven't had any problems at all. One thing to note is that I have only put about 5,200 miles on it in that year, mainly becuase I live about 1.5 miles from work so I don't have to drive a lot. When I got the vehicle, there were a few recalls performed and that was about it. I just had the 30k service done (it was actully done at 35k because some Chevy dealer told me the next service was at 35k, not 30k). Other than that I have not had any problems. The suspension is a little soft (have some bumpy roads by my place) and the only thing that really annoys me is when it is raining out, if I even just have the window cracked while I'm having a smoke, the water just pours right in. I will need to get some window visors.

I'm very happy with my LTZ and get compliments from my friends about it being a nice vehicle and being loaded with features. I have no complaints about this vehicle. :)

[Rob]

I bought my 2003 LTZ new as a demo in July 2004. It had 7K on it and I paid just about $24k for it. It has every option but the DVD player. I've been very happy with it. I had a few issues taken care of during the warranty - wayward mirrors, warped rotors, and the recalls. That's about it. I've also had a few odd electrical problems, but they were corrected by either shutting down and restarting or disconnecting the battery for a minute or two. The automotive equivalent of a computer reboot I guess. I have about 37K on it now and no complaints.

[Black-Syth]

Wow! I didn't realize you could get the 4.10 gears with the 4.2L. I bet they haul A with 4.10's. They are a bit more mild on 3.42's.

Joel

Yep, that's what I gots.

I purchased the truck brand new in 2002, and it's been in the shop quite a few times. The transmission mostly, but a couple of other things, too. Fuel pump, transfer case, windshield sprayers, and a few other minor details.

For paying a little bit over $40k for a truck, it's not worth it. Even with the options, it's not worth $40k.

My main complaint is how poorly it retains any value, and with 55k miles on it, I can sell it for about $13,000 or trade it in for $10,000, which is pretty terrible.

Also, as a final note, the truck is nice, though, and I like it quite a bit. Oh, and yes, it does haul some ass with the 4.10 gears, terrible mileage, though.

[jay boy]

How terrable?

[MTPockets]

..My main complaint is how poorly it retains any value, and with 55k miles on it, I can sell it for about $13,000 or trade it in for $10,000, which is pretty terrible...

Yep. I think my 2005 LS 4x4 MSRP'd for ~$28K. I bought it w/ 17Kmi for $17900.

Joel

[2002SLT]

My main complaint is how poorly it retains any value, and with 55k miles on it, I can sell it for about $13,000 or trade it in for $10,000, which is pretty terrible.


$10,000 trade value? :eek: I just traded my Envoy, that snickered at $38,500 in 2002, with 59,000 miles, for $14,500. It's kind of funny math, but here goes. My SS invoiced at ~$38,500. The paperwork shows that I paid $40,500 and my trade-in was $16,500.

I'm sure there are better deals to be had, but I just wanted an SS, with less than 10 miles, at dealer invoice price. Besides, it was the only red one in the area that I could find. :D

Unless there's something seriously wrong with your LTZ, you should be able to do better than $10,000 in a trade. Unless, you're trading it in on a Ford Focus. :rotfl:

[MTPockets]

...you should be able to do better than $10,000 in a trade. Unless, you're trading it in on a Ford Focus. :rotfl:

I know dealers play games, but your trade value should be the same if you are trading it in towards an Aveo or a Tahoe. You have to do your homework or you will take a beating. kbb.com, edmunds, NADA, blackbook, a search of autotrader.com, etc... are ALL a must to determine your trade-in value. If you cant get at or close to those values, you walk. I've found a few dealers lately that just pop your trade info into the kbb website & offer what kbb says. When I recently bought my TB, they supposedly called their "auction" contact to determine the value of my 2002 rodeo. That offer turned out to be more than kbb value ($10200). Point is, don't ever take less than what you research online.

Joel

[Mason]

My 06 has a little less than 4k and I hope I do't have the problems you guys are having.:)

[bigd1951]

I've had a few problems with my 03, but other than that, it's great. Wouldn't want to have anything else. Except maybe a TB SS...:hail:

[jjsryd]

I bought my 04 TB used with a little over 52K miles. I absolutly love my TB. The only think wrong was that the rear wiper was not working. you could hear the motor working but no movement. I tolf the salesman about it and he just said to bring it in tomorrow. I am not that kind of person who likes to wait on salesman, so i popped off hte cover and found that the nut was really loose. so i just hand tighted it and it worked fine till i got home. I have not had another problem with it since.

p.s.

The salesman just scratched his head as the other salesman commented on how easy that was to fix.:thumbsup:

[Spong]

I jumped on mine this morning to make it through a stoplight turning left and man did it feel like sh*t!! Very limp, sloppy handling. :no: It's pretty sad that my 6 year old Jimmy is more stable around corners. :worried:

Time to look into some handling improvements.

[MTPockets]

..Very limp, sloppy handling. :no: It's pretty sad that my 6 year old Jimmy is more stable around corners..

Much of it depends on what you are used to. Having owned various other trucks & SUV's, I think my TB handles very nicely- much better than most. I thought the previous version of the blazer/jimmy/envoy's handled horribly. Clunky and unstable.

Joel

[Spong]

Much of it depends on what you are used to. Having owned various other trucks & SUV's, I think my TB handles very nicely- much better than most. I thought the previous version of the blazer/jimmy/envoy's handled horribly. Clunky and unstable.

Joel

On my Jimmy I've installed HD Bilsteins, larger rear sway bar and all poly bushings so it handles pretty good for a 4x4 SUV. I'm used to the Jimmy and my Bonneville so by comparison the TB is pretty limp. Maybe I need to find a wrecked SS and steal the ZQ8 parts? :undecided :undecided

We did have a 2001 Blazer LT before the Bonneville and as I recall it handled pretty good. We traded it with 27k miles so it still wasn't real worn yet.

[Big_Uso]

I love my TB... First time i seen one, I fell in love... I guess its the overall look, but when i took it for a test drive I WAS SOLD... hehe... I have no problems with it, other then it looking so plain... no mods atm, i'm gonna wait and see what i can put into this bad boy later on

[wareagle8006]

I think that since it was a new vehicle they didnt quite get all the bugs out, in 02 and 03. But my 04 has been everything but perfect, I took it in once before the warranty ran out, cause the chek light was on. said it was running rich, it still comes on from time to time, if i stop at a cheap gas station. I towed a 4000 lb trailer from alabama to nevada, through the mtns, and desert thru snow and rain, never once had a problem. i do have a minor prob tho, two of the button lights on the radio went out. But al in all I LOVE MY TRAILBLAZER, I eat fords for lunch, and imports for desert.

[prerogative]

02 Envoy SLE 4WD, tow & off-road packages, 49K miles
GMO in May 01', just under $25K delivered early July (GMO - $3K GM Card); delivery delay due to control arm recall (cancelled 1st camping trip)
Problems:
- 1st month: 12V trailer feed not connected at fuse box, stripped Neg post on 1st visit, discovered after towed from camp site - all fixed 2nd dealer visit (new battery)
- 2-3rd month: reprogrammed to address hesitation and shift anomaly; few minor things fixed
- ~1yr had electrical problems due to known door boot issue of collecting water. I went through river up to mid-door trim on driver's side; carpet a little wet, but kept water out well; flaky electrical problems (instrument panel/radio) went away after everything dried out, made note to stay out of deep water
- Just prior to 3yr warantee mark: handful of TSB's and maybe a recall or two, dealer was great about everything I asked for (AllData printouts for ~8 items, including all 4 rear hatch pistons)
Outstanding Recalls: wiper hesitation at times, tail lights (never had a problem)
Maintenance: oil/filter @3K; K&N @12K, cleaned @34K; brake/steering fluid & 1/3gal dex-cool @27K; 2 Serp belts; brake pads/rotors @39K; tires @27K (blew one out on curb, got deal on all 4); all fluids & gas filter @45K; haven't aligned front-end yet

Again - No complaints for a new model year, and new engine (1st GM I6 since 1985). I beat the crap out of the vehicle for nearly 5 years. Off road regularly - been towed twice: mud up to doors; high-sided culvert leaving one wheel on ground (smoothed out a few things under vehicle), made note of how low the oil drain plug is; bottoms harder than Z28 after air-born, extra weight and short wheelbase doesn't help.

Drove a TBSS last week - ohhhh, ahhhh: the only thing I didn't like was not having 2HI option, since I need AWD or 4WD; the gearing was nicer than expected for 4.10 - mellow and very usable at low RPM.

The Envoy had treated me well, and don't have a real need for new vehicle. My only complaint is pulling the 4,800 lb camper (3-4x/yr). I don't care about gas costs due to low mileage, and I'm favoring a full-size SUV instead of getting a similar (faster) TrailVoy.

[Bears]

im just gonna buy a fiat next time

[todddchi]

Mines been pretty good. Early '03 LS TB.

- Tore the Delco out at day 5 and put in h/u, amp, subs.
- First problem was a loose sway bar link at 20k - warranty.
- 4wd switch buggered out at 30k - warranty. Taillamp recall handled at the same time.
- Before warranty I had them fix the rear hatch handle surround seal. Mine was half-assed installed. Looking at various TB's I think this operator was retarded, because many of them are messed up.
- Front brakes at 38k (I did them).
- A/C accumulator switch at 40k. That was really scary but in the end it took $15 and 5 minutes to fix my A/C.
- Tires at 45k (2005 take-off wheels and tires for $400 @ eBay)
- Fan resistor at 50k.

My paint is pretty tore up, and I have lots of surface rust on the e-coated parts. But then again I live in Detroit and it's a daily driver.

Week ago I took off the body side molding and "chevrolet" emblem. I'm thinking about using some fusion paint on the lower sill trim.

All in all, mine has been very good, but I know several people with '02's, and the first EXT's, that have had major issues.

Avoid the first model year of any body style / engine setup and I think you'll be ok.