Opinions Please...2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer

[jgillott]

Ok, to make a long story short, my wife and I have been looking for a replacement for her 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee for almost a year now. Believe me, we have looked at and driven everything out there in the SUV and truck market. I even tried to get her into a new CTD, but she wouldn't bite. Her GC isn't running at all now, and I'm getting a lot of pressure to buy something soon. (Any of you married folk know what I'm talking about here... :-{} )



Anyhow, she has her heart set on a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS 4x4 that we looked at today. It is a fairly basic model with the 4. 2L I6, 4-speed auto, and a 3. 42 posi rear. The quoted price from the dealer is invoice minus $5500 cash back from GM, so at least the price seems pretty fair.



Does anyone have any positive or negative feedback on the Trailblazer? Do you know of any specific problems that I should be aware of?





Thank you in advance for your help.



Justin

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

I would say go for it. I know a few people with trailblazers and envoys with no major issues. The only real issue I can remember is a broken horn... . but that's a different story. My friend is a little overzealous in traffic!

 

[fkovalski]

My sister and her family have an Envoy. Ever since new it has had problems with the battery being drained if left unrun for 4 or so days. They would always have to have it jumped until next lengthy sitting. Dealer couldn't figure it out (it was purchased new. ) Two weeks ago when they were driving, the damn thing just stopped completely! Dealer was able to trace it back to a faulty ignition switch! So far it is doing OK now. This is all I have heard of any problems. Otherwise, they like the vehicle as far as it suiting thier needs.

 

[snowracer69]

My Mom has a fully loaded 2002 LTZ Trailblazer. Every option available. They got it at a Hertz dealer used w/ 13k on it or something. It now has nearly 40k on it and they haven't had one problem. There was a recall a while back on something minor and it was fixed w/o incident.



She likes it, it has a quite a bit of power, and it's a nice cruising rig (quiet, smooth, comfortable (the leather buckets help w/ that!)). It is however smaller than most other SUV's inside, so not really a great 4 person traveler. Kids after abotu age 12 may be cramped in the backseat.

 

[Tony T.]

Trail Blazer

My mom has a 03 an as far as I know has not had any problems with it. I usually always ask her how every thing is going with the vehicle since I went with her to do the test drive an deal on it. The only thing she was not liking at the time was the floor shift auto, since then she has got use to using a floor shift an loves it now. My wife has the Jimmy now, smaller than the Trail Blazer, when it comes time to trade we will be looking at the Trail Blazer for her future ride.

 

[mazdarotary]

A guy I work with had a 03 Envoy(same as Tralblazer),and it was a total POS. He had transmission problems,transfer case problems,and a lot of electrical gremlins. He loved the car,but couldn't deal with the problems so he traded it in on a 04 Toyota highlander. He loves the Toy even more than the GMC,and does not regret trading the Envoy in. He may have had a bad one,because there is always a bad apple,but I figured I would let you know about his problems.



Chris

 

[MKinner]

i would not recommend the chevy trailblazer. i have a good friend that keeps up to date on new vehicle that come out and he says that trailblazer owners will get to know their mechanic very personally. the same gos for the buick suv. i also have personal experience with a number of GM dealerships in more than one state and the service that i have received has just sucked. service not done right with truck, truck comes out of the shop with scratches, etc. personally, the only "american" vehicle i would buy is a ford powerstroke or a dodge cummins. anything else will be foreign. i would at least check with consumer reports before making your decision. they seem to have a lot of good info.

 

[datablitz]

i just think the interior is uncomfortable, front or rear.

and its ugly

 

[KBennett]

A good friend of my wife's had the first year model, 2002 I think.

Lots of recalls and problems so she finally traded it in on a Chevy truck.

When she got home there was another recall in the mailbox!

I don't know if they got all the bugs out but I would be really concerned about their reputation.

 

[fox]

My wife drives a 96 GC. She loves it and it has been good to her. Only issue is the e-locks quit. They were fixed by us.

Our sec. had a 97 g-caravan and traded it for a 03 trail blazer.

It has been in foe several issues-mostly 4wd.

She lost 50% of the mpg. I know it isn't a fair compare.

She won't have it much longer.

12-14 mpg

4wd 4-5 times

e-locks 2 times

Radio 1

And i think the trans has been gone thru.

35,ooo miles

 

[jgillott]

My wife drives a 96 GC. She loves it and it has been good to her. Only issue is the e-locks quit. They were fixed by us.

Our sec. had a 97 g-caravan and traded it for a 03 trail blazer.

It has been in foe several issues-mostly 4wd.

She lost 50% of the mpg. I know it isn't a fair compare.

She won't have it much longer.

12-14 mpg

4wd 4-5 times

e-locks 2 times

Radio 1

And i think the trans has been gone thru.

35,ooo miles

Yea, my wife has a love hate relationship with the GC. When it is running fine, she absolutely loves it. The problem is, ours is just plain worn out. It is in that expensive fix every month thing.



I thank you all for your opinions so far, please feel free to keep them coming.



Justin

 

[mike r]

Throw in 1 goat and 1 chicken and I'll give you $1. 99, no more, no less! :-laf

 

[jgillott]

Throw in 1 goat and 1 chicken and I'll give you $1. 99, no more, no less! :-laf

At this point Mike, I'd have to pay you to take the thing..... lol



Seriously, the problem is, there just isn't an SUV out there right now that gives us everything we are after. Lately, Sara and I have been thinking about just buying a new QC CTD and be done with it. So basically, we would be settling to buy anything else.

 

[Tony T.]

Choose what suits you the best.

Well looks like you got some good reviews an some bad. Which is typical of any brand or make of vehicle. I myself have owned all the Big Three an a couple of the Japanese models. All around have had pretty good luck with all in the time frame that I owned them, nothing major mind you, but routine parts an such that will fail. No can't afford to trade every year or two either. The CTD I have now, well I thought my uncle was going to dis-own me because I bought a DODGE. Yeah he owned 2 Dodge's back in the 60's an had nothing but bad luck with them both, in his opinion there "junk" an always will be his opinion. He did ease up a little when he discovered it had a Cummins in it though. Any make you get there will be "lemon" here or there among the crowd. Just choose what suits you the best an hope you got a good one. They all have their problems. Can anyone say the Dodge is perfect,not from what I read on this website, I can't, same goes for the Chevy an Ford websites etc.



Good Luck what ever you choose



Tony

 

[mike r]

Liberty CRD

Its coming soon, so just wait a little longer buddy. Oo.

 

[EBottema]

Well, I have driven the TrailBlazer. Its got good power and being an I6, its a good engine. The damn thing rights and handles better than the Mercedes SUV. . I would question longevity if anything with a GM "plasticy" product