Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||
| 04V527000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | from 04/01/2002 to 07/31/2003 | V (Vehicle) | 871473 | 11/22/2004 | ODI | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 11/01/2004 | 11/03/2004 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat may cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. if this occurs, the bulb may flicker and eventually become inoperative. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. the recall began on november 22, 2004. owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or gmc at 1-866-996-9463. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Gm recall no. 04087. customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||||
| 3170E | 10019186 | Ipc, interior lights and/or headlamps flicker. *ak fb2 | 02/16/2006 | ||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TAIL LIGHTS | |||||
| 3335 | 10017179 | Supplement to campaign 04087 / screws break in the tail lamp housing. *sc | 10/26/2005 | ||
| 04017A | 09/29/2004 | 10010181 | Tail lamp/stop lamp(s) may become inoperative. gm administrative message. *nm | 11/04/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | ||||||
| EA04021 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 08/03/2004 | 11/04/2004 | BRAKE LAMP FAILURE | 04V527000 | |
| Gm states that some brake/tail lamp bulbs can prematurely become inoperative due to malfunctioning brake/tail lamp sockets.on march 2, 2004, gm initiated a 6-year/72,000 mile special policy for 989,487 subject vehicles to inspect and replace the rear brake/tail lamp bulb socket assemblies.on april 4, 2004, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe04-032) based on consumer complaints alleging brake lights not operating when the brake pedal is depressed.on august 3, 2004 odi upgraded pe04-032 to an engineering analysis (ea04-021).by letter dated october 27, 2004 gm notified nhtsa that it will conduct a safety recall (nhtsa # 04v527) covering subject vehicles that were not already repaired under gm's special policy.my 2004 subject vehicles built after august 8, 2003 contain improved brake lamp assemblies and are not included in the recall.gm dealers will install the improved brake lamp assembly on subject vehicles built on august 8, 2003 and earlier.the action taken by gm is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | |||
| 08/29/2008 | |||
| I am a senior citizen i brought this car new. after one year i had to replace linc plate. over the years everything has gone wrong with this car. speedometer has not worked since aug. '08, gas gauge stopped oct. '11. instrument cluster since 2010 and gm knows this is a defected part. yet gm paid for this same defected part at their cost for the tahoe, but has not paid for the trailblazer. why? windows and doors do not unlock on command. window wiper(rear) stopped working-i replaced that part. a/c comes on my itself. thermostat failure. i think gm should stand behind their product. the only reason they would not is that they already know that they are producing substandard products that are not fit to be driven on the road. | |||
| 01/15/2011 | 5000 | ||
| Continuing failure of rear lighting (back-up, brake, driving, and turn). typically, i have to replace a bulb about every 6 weeks, and the entire left assembly has been replaced twice since the car was new. bulbs and sockets melt until they are inoperable. similar issue with front headlights, although only about once a year. old bulbs and assembly disposed of, but i'm sure more melted ones will be available soon. | |||
| 08/16/2010 | 110000 | ||
| My 2003 trailblazer ext lost its third brake light, which fell off (for the third time). the entire housing flew off, and it was lost. also, the passenger brake light will not work, even after replacing the control board and bulb. | |||
| 08/10/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| Headlamps keep going out and the connectors keep melting and burning the rear radio speakers go out the rear heat/air goes out the level 5 setting on the fan does not work these are not unusual complaints for this vehicle, there seems to be a standard being set with these issues. *tr | |||
| 08/11/2009 | 89500 | 1 | |
| Purchased a 2003 chevy trailblazer-ext lt in dec 2002 from the dealer, team chevrolet in pasadena. since purchasing the vehicle, there's been several recalls, one in particular that keeps recurring are the brake lights keep burning, the dealer changed both units but it keeps burning out. i got tired of taking it to the dealer, so i purchased new bulbs and looked into replacing them myself. however when i unscrewed the bulb, i noticed the bulb just didn't burn normally (like a home lamp) it looked more of an electrical issue, the lining of where the bulb is screwed in looked like it had white residue and it smelled smoky. also, don't know if its the shocks or suspension,makes odd noises. dealer said its fine, but the noise is still there.shorly after my engine light turned on...the dealer could not figure what was wrong after a 2 to 3 week and costly expense and time...they switched out the gas tank...come to find out, that wasn't the problem, the engine light turned on again, they said one of the pistons needed replacing...$$$ that was a big expense and time consuming... everytime i took it to them it, something was fixed, they charge, i pay, and the engine light would turn on, it got frustrating. till, they finally got it right. now my car sounds horrible (shocks/suspension noise got worse) when i go over city bumps or driving even small like hills, and mind you,which is driven by myself (female 124lbs) it shouldn't squeak or make noises, the brakes pedal makes a noise when i place my foot on it....yes it has 90k miles and it's an 8 year old car, but i kept up with the maintenances, i've taken it to the same dealer since it was purchased, only drive it to and from work....the car is in good condition, no hit/scratches/no tears.... i can't explain why.... are there any other recalls, the dealer isn't aware of??? for instance they were not aware of the gas tank recall..which they were charging me over $1200 to repair, how can i trust they are doing their job? *tr | |||
| 09/27/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have two problems: when driving at night, headlights go off, not way to see, other than put on brights. rim, broke to small pieces, had just gotten off i 95, was on off ramp when the car started making a very loud and scary noise, we had two small children onboard . had this happen while on i 95 we could have all been dead. *tr | |||
| 11/16/2007 | 98000 | 1 | |
| Every few days when i use the turn signal all lights will flash as if the hazard warning lights have been activated. this is exactly like the gm recall for the 2003 chevrolet trailblazer however my vin is outside of the recall. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2004 | 17327 | 250 | 10/18/2003 |
| Dt: left driver's side outside mirror is not holding the correct settings, and clicks constantly. the mirror is hitting against something, and turns completely to the ground. when using keyless entry the mirrors also turn to the ground. the mirror is changing by itself, and it is not going back to the correct setting. the mirror is always making a clicking noise and it is facing downward. there is no problem with the right side. the dealer replaced the right side mirror, and from then on the left side has not worked. consumer has taken vehicle to dealership 4 or 5 times to be checked. dealership insists the mirror is working fine. but as soon as the consumer leaves the dealership the mirror will work for a couple of hours and then stop working properly. consumer took the vehicle to the dealership and the mechanic didn't write down the problem with the mirror in his paperwork, and this happened more than once. *ak when shifting from park to reverse the vehicle jerked at times. the engine control module was reprogrammed. the consumer believes that the reprogramming resulted in poor fuel economy. the cd player made a hissing noise. when the brakes were applied they would grind. the 4-wheel drive switch shorted. windshield wiper motor failed. right side tag light bulb blew. *nm | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BACK UP LIGHTS | |||
| 04/24/2007 | 1 | 07/22/2006 | |
| When getting the oil changed for our trailblazer, they told us that the driver's side reverse light was out. when they went to replace it, they informed us that the entire area for the bulb was rusted out. we have noticed that moisture collects in both brake light areas when it rains or after a car wash. is there a recall for this? *tr | |||
| 03/14/2006 | 3 | ||
| 5 months after i purchased my 2003 chevy trailblazer i went out to start the car and it would not start. i took the car to the dealer the first time for this problem and various others and was told they could not replicate the problem. i replaced the battery and the car worked for approximately another 5 months and the same occurred. on both occasions the key was locked in the ignition and attempts at jump starting the vehicle failed multiple times. since the second time happened this morning i have yet to take it to the dealer. this car also has various other electrical problems sometimes the radio goes blank and gets stuck on one station as well as getting extremely hot (was told they could not replicate all of the problems but reprogrammed the radio so it would not get as hot). the dvd player just stops working (was told they could not replicate the problem). the blower motor for the rear air works sometimes and other times it doesn't (this was apparently fixed once already). the reverse lights stay on when the car is in drive (just happened last weekend). shall i go on? *jb | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS | |||
| 04/10/2006 | 1 | 12/31/2003 | |
| I have replace my tail/brake light several times since i purchase the vehicle. just this morning i have to go to chevrolet service department to get my brake light replaced. it cost me 14.79 to have it replaced. so i decided to research the recalls to see if there is a recall. i remember getting a letter earlier indicating that the light would be replaced free of charge for a certain amount of time. please let me know if this is correct. thank you, betty wilson. *jb | |||
| 03/02/2005 | 8000 | 8 | 01/04/2003 |
| Dealer was contacted jan 2005 to schedule replacement parts for rear lights as part of the recall. i was told that they could not do it without the recall notice number that was sent to me. called back a day later and gave the dealer the number from the recall notice. he told me that the parts would need to be ordered and they would call me. i received a third recall notice from chevrolet on 2/26/05 and called the dealer on 3/2/05 and spoke with a man in service. he told me that the parts were not ordered and that i would need to bring the car in for them to order the parts and then again when the parts come in. i have explained to him that i have replaced 6 taillight and brake lights within the last 6 months and why wasn't i informed of this when i called before. apparently they do not have a call back procedure for when they screw up. *ak | |||
| 04/24/2004 | 2 | ||
| Exterior brake lights operate inconsistently. we replace bulbs and then they still don't work or work for a short period of time. we are not sure if the bulbs are prematurely burning out or if the brake light component is faulty. at times, without warning, the car will have no brake lights. dangerous!*ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 150 | 1 | 07/15/2003 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trail blazer. safety defect in turn signals. received a letter from general motors, then contact received a letter from the dealer. the contact stated that she made call after call to her local dealer, and they have not called her back .incident date was june or july 2004. while driving on highway and going on a trip the contact noticed blinkers coming on and would not go off. no crash . no police report taken. no injury reported. *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||
| 11/14/2008 | 1 | ||
| Head lamps and sockets keep burning out. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 8 | 06/29/2003 | |
| Headlights become inoperative when driving: when driving at night the headlights stop working i have been forced to pull over and wait until the lights become operative. i have discussed this problem with my local dealer and he stated that there was know visual reason that he could find on why this was happening he advised that i should bring the car in the next time it happened, this presents a problem because if the lights fail in the day light hours i wouldn't be able to see the failure only at night can i visually see that my headlights have failed. the headlight failure can last for minutes to hours i have been driving on the highway at 65 mph and my headlights completely fail. *tr | |||
| 09/12/2007 | 71700 | 1 | 08/22/2005 |
| My 2003 chevy trailblazer has a third brake light across the top hatch .while driving down a busy highway it was flying like a wing on the back of my vehicle luckily dot falling completely off but when i stopped it came crashing down onto my window of hatch luckily not breaking all i could do is break it completely off so it would not fly into someone's windshield behind me i work with a lady with the same make and model and hers flew right off her latch causing it to smash luckily no one was behind her. i also have it in the shop due to rusty corroded hoses that went to transmission causing all fluid to drain almost burning up my transmission no indication lights ever came on other than it skipping a little luckily a service engine light came on a week later i took it to garage and just in time. unfortunately even with power train warranty this problem is costing me 500.00 out of my pocket no fault of mine wheel wells and brake drums have been beaten due to lots of rust build up and doors that were recalled and fixed three times still not working right also front headlight replaced twice in two years causing me to be pulled over twice as i did not realize the problem of my lights going out frequently. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2007 | 1 | 01/01/2005 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trailblazer ext. the contact has had both headlights replaced on her vehicle and now they fail to illuminate. when it gets dark outside, the headlights would normally activate automatically, but they fail to activate any longer. the dealer and the manufacturer have not been contacted. the vin, engine size, and failure mileage were unknown. the current mileage is 120,000. | |||
| 11/04/2004 | 21178 | 1 | 08/11/2003 |
| My right front headlight was burned out, and upon investigation, i discovered that the plug and bulb socket had melted along with several inches of wire. it was repaired after some back and forth discussion with the chevrolet dealer. i thought this incident was strange, but thought it was a random incident until i read on a web forum that this appears to be a common occurrence.*ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TAIL LIGHTS | |||
| 03/12/2004 | 21000 | 9 | 05/10/2003 |
| 2003 chevrolet trailblazer - purchased in may of 2003 off of the sales floor - around 5 miles on it - truck began squeaking - took it in, they said bad break pads, changed them out and gave it back (2 days without truck) - squeaking still there - took it back in - service tech said the front spindle was bent - told me i couldn't drive it it was unsafe (5 more days without truck) - at the same time they take truck to body shop because rear hatch won't shut it too is bent - same with the hood (hmmmmmmmm!!!!) - rear wiper motor then busts (now i'm erked) - driving down the highway at 55 and truck shuts off - no power steering almost wreck it seems the gas gauge is not accurate!!!!!!! - then blower motor won't shut off without taking fuse out ... no heat in rear heaters, climate control doesn't work (yet a few more days without truck)- the last straw - my 9 month old truck has a broken transfer case and the 4-wheel drive went out - of course the 4-wheel drive went out on a steep hill in the middle of winter - not acceptable in alaska not acceptable in a new truck!!!!!! - had to get out of a defective truck so now we are stuck with a brand new tahoe that is $10,000+ upside down! you decide who is wrong in this case! *ak | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 150 | 1 | 07/15/2003 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet trail blazer. safety defect in turn signals. received a letter from general motors, then contact received a letter from the dealer. the contact stated that she made call after call to her local dealer, and they have not called her back .incident date was june or july 2004. while driving on highway and going on a trip the contact noticed blinkers coming on and would not go off. no crash . no police report taken. no injury reported. *ak | |||
| 07/22/2005 | 48557 | 1 | |
| Took trailblazer into champion chevrolet and they replaced turn signal module due to short circuit . hazard flashers come on when driver moves turn signal lever up or down. spoke to chevrolet regarding possible recall and was told my vehicle was not part of the recall because the recall involves vin#'s with the last four digits ending in 362 and mine ends in 361. i believe there may be other customers with this same issue and this causes a safety problem. *nm | |||
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL - FLASHER UNIT | |||
| 03/02/2005 | 8000 | 8 | 01/04/2003 |
| Dealer was contacted jan 2005 to schedule replacement parts for rear lights as part of the recall. i was told that they could not do it without the recall notice number that was sent to me. called back a day later and gave the dealer the number from the recall notice. he told me that the parts would need to be ordered and they would call me. i received a third recall notice from chevrolet on 2/26/05 and called the dealer on 3/2/05 and spoke with a man in service. he told me that the parts were not ordered and that i would need to bring the car in for them to order the parts and then again when the parts come in. i have explained to him that i have replaced 6 taillight and brake lights within the last 6 months and why wasn't i informed of this when i called before. apparently they do not have a call back procedure for when they screw up. *ak | |||