NHTSA Complaint #10087024 — 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

1ST PROBLEM (EXACT DATE UNKNOWN, WINTER 2003-2004): THE "CHECK 4WD" LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT SAID GM HAD NO REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS COMMON IN TRAILBLAZERS, AND THEY SIMPLY RESET THE FUSE. THEN (MAY 2004): VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. WE TOOK IT IN AND THE MECHANICS SAID THAT ONE OF THE BEARINGS WAS BAD, AND THEY REPLACED THE BEARING AND REBUILT THE TRANSFER CASE. A MONTH LATER (JUNE) WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT TIME, ALL OF THE BEARINGS AND THE OIL PUMP WERE "SCORED." NOBODY SUGGESTED A REASON FOR THIS. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REBUILT AGAIN. NOW (6 WEEKS LATER) THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING OIL FROM AT LEAST TWO LOCATIONS AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REBUILT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT THAT THE REASON IS LIKELY THAT "EITHER IT WAS PUT TOGETHER WRONG AT THE FACTORY OR THE SEAL WAS BAD TO START WITH." IT SEEMS TO US THAT THE ENTIRE 4WD CAPABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED. WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THE ROADS DON'T GET PLOWED WITH ANY REGULARITY, AND WITH WINTER COMING, I AM GOING TO NEED THE 4WD, BUT I'M AFRAID TO USE IT. I ALREADY SPUN OUT ONCE LAST WINTER BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR IN A4WD BECAUSE IT'S BAD FOR THE CAR, SO I WAS DRIVING IN 2WD WHEN I UNEXPECTEDLY LOST TRACTION AND DID A 360 AND ALMOST WOUND UP IN THE DITCH. EVEN WITHOUT SNOW, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS CAR WILL GET ME "FROM HERE TO THERE" WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *JB