NHTSA Complaint #10187872 — 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

1. OTHER THAN SEVERAL RECALLS FOR A FAULTY TAIL LIGHT, WHICH STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON 2002 TRAILBLAZER DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2005.*AK 1. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON ABOUT THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 MY 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER WITH 47,427 MILES SUDDENLY GROANED LOUDLY AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AT A SPEED OF ABOUT FIVE MPH. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT MY DEALER AS HE FELT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HIGH ENOUGH MILEAGE TO WARRANT TRANMISSION FAILURE. I CONTACTED TILLERY CHEVROLET IN MORIARTY, NM WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SPOKE WITH MR. GLEN TILLERY. HE ASKED IF I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PACKAGE. UPON HEARING I DID NOT PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PACKAGE MR. TILLERY GAVE ME THE APPROXIMATE PRICE FOR HIS DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I FELT HIS PRICE WAS HIGH AND THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES FROM MY HOUSE WHICH WAS TOO FAR TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN ITS CONDITION. I RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND TOOK MY TRAILBLAZER TO BUDGET TRANSMISSION IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. BUDGET LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH I AUTHORIZED. WHEN I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SUNSHELL. THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $1,813.68 3. THE REPAIRS INCLUDED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.