NHTSA Complaint #10213976 — 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

THE FAILURE INVOLVES THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DEVICE THAT SHIFTS THE CAR INTO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. THE FOUR-WHEEL IS ENGAGED BY SELECTING 4WD WITH A DASHBOARD SELECTOR SWITCH. THE SWITCH WILL SHOW A LIGHTED INDICATOR MOVING FROM 2WD TO THE 4WD. THIS INDICATION IS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS A SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH SEVERAL SHARP TURNS GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN THE VEHICLES SELECTOR SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE 4WD POSITION AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWN IT WAS ENGAGE IN THE 4WD MODE. HOWEVER THE INDICATION WAS FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY ONLY IN 2WD. THE SELECTOR SWITCH ENGAGES AN ACTUATOR THAT CAUSES A FORK TO MOVE THE GEARS IN THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE INTO OR OUT OF 4WD. THE RESULT OF THE FALSE INDICATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING IN 4WD WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY IN 2WD CAUSE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO BREAK TRACTION AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO START INTO A SPIN WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE ROAD AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE GAVE A FALSE INDICATION OF BEING IN 4WD WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY IN 2WD. *TR