2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer LXT from North America - Comments

I have a 02 Trailblazer with 66k miles and have the same fan clutch issue. The "roaring" actually started last winter when I would start the truck up in the morning and then continue for a mile or so. I figured it just needed to warm up. I didn't notice it too much through the summer, but I did notice the ticking noise. The "roaring" started again not too long ago and is now constant. I stopped by a local shop (with friendly & honest employees) and was informed that my fan is stuck in high mode because the clutch is failing. Their estimate was around $375 (with a 2 day wait for the part to come in) and the dealership's was $600 (Oh yeah bring it right in, we'll fix it today)! Yeah right! I think I'll wait the 2 days.

I went on-line to find the part to order when I came across this site. This is absolutely ridiculous! I really try to stick behind American made products, but it is very difficult when the American company is not sticking behind its consumers. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL!

I have had several problems with my TB, but this tops it.

It is pretty embarrassing to drive around in a vehicle that sounds like an airliner.

I have a 2003 TB. At 27k Fan Clutch went out. At 48k, Broken piston Skirt - I had to replace then engine. At 50K, I have to replace the drivers side wheel bearing assembly. It hums when correcting to the right. Also Headlights are flickering and the Ammeter bounces. Bad Alternator? Don't know. This one could be my fault, so I am going to check all of my grounds when I change the wheel bearing and change the Serpentine belt. I have been Chevy all the way, but the gas is the cheap part of driving this vehicle. I can't afford to put all of the parts into it.

I have a 2003 TrailBlazer with 82,000 miles on it. The clutch fan always made a clicking noise from time to time, usually at idle. I never thought much about it until it seemed to do it more and more, and finally did it almost every time it idled. I just picked it up from the dealership and had to pay $600 to have it replaced. The replacement fan is $350.00, just for the part! Based upon this bulletin board, it seems to be a common problem that GM should address by way of a recall.

I have a 2003 ENVOY XL with 53,000 miles and just like everyone else here I am experiencing a fan clutch problem. What annoys me is that there was no warning. All of a sudden from one day to the next I got this loud engine noise. As for GM's role in all this, of course they know about it, but they are making good money on repairs that they see no need to recall.

2003 Trailblazer LTZ - Went to return the Lease - Fan Clutch needs repair - $500.00 plus labour is what I was told - Thanks GM, but I'm buying a Nissan SUV next.

I am Appalled with how many people are having this problem. My 2003 Trailblazer started making the jet engine noise today and is not accelerating like it normally does, I have 58,000 + miles. I took it to the dealer and I am waiting to hear those words “FAN CLUTCH” I think I might actually loose my mind if they do not repair this free of charge after reading all of these complaints. A RECALL is a must if so many people are having this problem.

I have already placed a call to GM after reading these complaints; I was given a case # and told to call back once a certified GM dealer diagnosed the problem. I bought a GM with the impression that they were reliable, I pray they do not prove that to be untrue.

Very disappointed.

I to am having problems with my 2002 TB, which I purchased a little over a year and a half ago. Aside from the recent jet engine sound (which I've been told is the fan clutch) my interior dashboard lights stopped working causing several lights, including my mileage light, to go out. I was told it would cost $700 to fix the cluster. I did some research online and found that in 2002 a recall was done to remedy the interior lighting issue. So I called GM to see what my options are and am waiting to hear back. So far the rep has been great at keeping me posted.

Bottom line is I'm not paying for either. My truck has less than 60K, it is paid for, and I spent an extra $500 last year to get new spark plugs. GM will remedy this problem! Especially since I see that hundreds of others are having the same issue with the same type vehicle around the same mileage. What I find even more astounding is that most of you, like me, bought their used TB recently. Absolutely amazing.

I will go through the proper channels to get this hunk of junk fixed and them I am trading it in. If GM doesn't come correct I will look into a class action lawsuit. The fan clutch needs to be recalled and the 2002 recall done on the interior lighting needs to be reinstated SINCE IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM!!! Lawsuit info http://www.lawcash.com/settlement/how-class-actions-work.asp.

So I guess I'll add my TB to the list. I have a 2002 with 95K miles. I've had very little trouble over the years. I had the rear tail light replaced twice and the tie rods replaced under an extended warranty. Now I'm having the fan clutch problem. It's amazing to me with this many people having the same problem a recall wasn't established. My guess is that GM knows most of these vehicles are out of warranty. I guess I'm just going to get if fixed and move on.

I replace the fan clutch on my 03 Envoy XL this past weekend and truck has never driven better. All this for $300. For those of you out there with fan clutch problems, go to ZBRA. com and purchase the fan clutch there for $138 plus shipping and take it to a local mechanic to install. My mechanic charged me $150 to install. Don't take it to a dealer. They will charge you atleast $500.

March 7 2007 I also had the roaring noise and thought the transmission was bad. Went to my independant mech. He scopped it and said it indicated a fan clutch problem. I have only 52000 miles on 2003 Trailblazer. This should be covered by warranty.

Like many, we have a similar issue with the Clutch Fan. The vehicle is an 2003 Trailblazer. It began two weeks ago, when the weather was in the teens, as a intermittent click. The problem has become more severe - when the vehicle is started, cold or hot, the fan is fully engaged. We're in southern Indiana, I'll post another when I obtain more information on how to remedy this issue under a budget. March 9, 2007.

I also have the faulty fan clutch on my fully loaded 2003 4wd Trailblazer LT, the good news is that you can DIY the new fan clutch, fairly easily (a.k.a. an 8hr job if you include 1-5hrs stress/cursing/liquor breaks, several cracked knuckles, and a fair to even mechanical aptitude/lack of commonsense, but possession of Chilton Manual). Fairly easily means you have to have above average competency when dealing with automotive repairs/parts replacement, know when to look for an instruction manual or when to call your dealership and use your AAA tow to get the job done. Now the bad news

1. the wrench part # 46406 is the GM certified fan clutch remover/installer, that can be substituted by a universal kit (can be rented at auto-zone)

2. the PCM (power-train control module) may need to be reprogrammed after installation (This I can't verify because I have not yet replaced my fan clutch on the trailblazer yet, but could someone please email me and let me know if it had to be reset, if it does then I'll replace the part in the Chevrolet dealership parking lot so I can get their useless ("good-wrench" more like good-wench) mechanics to reset it once I finish the repairs, anyone else need to replace a fan clutch on a 2002-2003 trailblazer/envoy in Nashville, TN? Email me we can try and arrange to replace them all in the parking lot on the same day so we can watch them push our truck's into the shop. Nfiltrated@hotmail.com).

I have a 2002 Trailblazer LT purchased new in September, 2001. I brought this vehicle in for its first scheduled maintenance on 11-21-01 at 2700 miles. On that date I brought in a list of 10 items needing attention. Number three on the list read as follows: "Determine why car sounds as if in low gear for first few blocks when starting out on some mornings. This happens very rarely - perhaps once every two weeks. The car is not actually in low gear, it just sounds that way and then suddenly sounds normal after driving for a few blocks - very disturbing." The dealership's response: "road tested vehicle and no noise, checked engine and all checked OK, no problem found." This jet engine sound would continue intermittently in good weather and bad, when engine was warm or cold. Fast forward to 3-1-04 when I brought car in for another service at 32,000 miles while car was still under 36,000, 3-year warranty. I complained once again of engine sounding as if in low gear periodically whether engine cold or not. Dealership's response: "did not hear unusual noise. Could be fan clutch noise in cold weather." When I picked up vehicle I told service manager that disturbing sound was not dependent on cold whether and reminded him that problem has been continual since car was brand new before any change in weather. Please note in the dealership's response that they recognized that the possible cause of problem was the FAN CLUTCH!!! Thank you for pointing this out prior to the vehicle's warranty expiration.

On 3-14-05 with vehicle at 47,000 miles, Trailblazer was brought to dealership once again with complaint that problem was worsening. As usual the response was "road tested and no problem found.

Fast forward to 3-8-07 when problem became chronic and I took Trailblazer to a private mechanic who identified problem as definitely being a bad fan clutch. I thanked the mechanic for isolating the problem and asked him not to make the repair as I would bring the vehicle back to the dealership yet again and have them fix it as it was a problem that existed since the Trailblazer was under warranty with a documented history to prove it.

On morning of 3-9-07, I spoke with service manager before any work commenced on Trailblazer. I said I expected dealership and/or GM to pay for 100% of repairs as fan clutch has been a problem since the beginning and repair ticket documentation proved it. He responded that vehicle now has 76,000 miles on it and therefore out of warranty and best GM would do is pay for 50% of repair. I was alarmed by the response and explained that his own mechanic wrote that the possible cause was a fan clutch back when the car had only 32,000 miles on it and under warranty. Why wasn't it fixed then, I asked. The answer provided was that it wasn't conclusive that it was the fan clutch at the time. Apparently, it only becomes conclusive to the dealership after warranty??? How convenient is that? My hands were tied and I said I would reluctantly pay for 50% of the repair work. I also said I would pursue this matter with GM Customer Service and, if necessary, the Better Business Bureau. At the end of the day I went back to the dealership and paid my half - $270.

Today, 3-10-07, GM customer service called back and said they would only pay the 50% already mentioned by the dealership since the car was out of warranty. All of the facts above made no difference. I asked to speak with the GM Customer Service supervisor. She provided the same broken-record response. I asked for her supervisor's name and/or phone number. She said that that was proprietary and she had the final say on GM Customer Service's response. Since she would not let me contact her supervisor, I asked that she have her supervisor talk to me or call me later. She said that this could not be done. She suggested that I write GM CEO Richard Wagoner at P.O. Box 33170, Detroit, Michigan, 48232-5170. Maybe I will, but I said I would have a a much better chance bringing my complaint to the BBB.

I believe the reason GM is not coming clean on its fan clutch problem is because they realize most people will pay for the repair themselves and will not go through the aggravation of fighting for what is fair. Paying off a few claims here and there is cheaper for GM than a multi-million dollar recall. Save your receipts, you may see a class action suit in the future and have a good shot at getting reimbursed for your fan clutch repairs.

I also have a 2002 TB that I bought used and am financing and it started making the jet engine noise a few months back, then went away for about a month and what do you know- it's back and louder than ever. I have already replaced the trans and neither one of my rear windows are functioning unless of course you peel the packing tape off that is holding one up. Talk about embarrassing, and I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for Chevy to fix them. Anyone else have the window motor issue?? I can't wait to get it off of my hands!!!

Add me to the list, a couple of days ago my 2003 Trailblazer with 93,000 KM on it started sounding like a 737 on take-off. No engine light at this time, but I am expecting it. Took it in to the dealer last night and based on my description they too feel that it is the Fan Clutch.

Boy was I surprised to see the number of complaints on this forum about it. I am going to call the dealer today, and mention that this seems to be a common problem, and see if I can at least get the 50% deal from them. $800 Cdn. is a bit much for my blood.