[2002 TB LS]

I never knew the trailblazer and bravada existed until I purchased mine early 2020.

Don't get me wrong I love my TB and is the perfect size for me. But I watched a good amount of YouTube videos and looked at a few threads on the forum in regards to problems.

Is or was the trailblazer that bad making it a POS to own? Almost like some are good and some are not.

 

[Diamond193]

Best vehicle I ever owned. 8 years and still going

 

[2002 TB LS]

Best vehicle I ever owned. 8 years and still going

Mine been good. Suppose a rebuild tranny, had to install new cat.

Major problem for me is I Got a coolant leak from the timing cover bolt. But not enough that's causing any puddle on the ground.

 

[flyboy2610]

No matter what vehicle you buy, there will be issues. Even with brand new vehicles. You just have to fix them as they come up.

 

[2002 TB LS]

No matter what vehicle you buy, there will be issues. Even with brand new vehicles. You just have to fix them as they come up.

True. I only ask because a lot of people who have repair articles and videos mention the TB is Junk.

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

True. I only ask because a lot of people who have repair articles and videos mention the TB is Junk.

Here's the problem as I see it ...

When things go good, nobody goes to websites to see how good they have it --- it just doesn't happen.

But --- when things go bad - then they hit the ol' Google and YT looking for someone to help cry in their beer over the POS they feel they have because somehow it ceased motivating.

It's a perception-thing --- people like to complain unless they can't find something over which to have a communal cry.

 

[NJTB04]

Don't forget, you really don't hear about these running great, vast majority of the videos/posts are problem fixing. Alot of these cars run very well you just seldom hear about it.

 

[2002 TB LS]

Don't forget, you really don't hear about these running great, vast majority of the videos/posts are problem fixing. Alot of these cars run very well you just seldom hear about it.

That's true and again I don't see that many TRailblazers of any other versions now or even in the past.

 

[2002 TB LS]

Here's the problem as I see it ...

When things go good, nobody goes to websites to see how good they have it --- it just doesn't happen.

But --- when things go bad - then they hit the ol' Google and YT looking for someone to help cry in their beer over the POS they feel they have because somehow it ceased motivating.

It's a perception-thing --- people like to complain unless they can't find something over which to have a communal cry.

Agree. I really don't see many trailblazers or other versions of them on the road. Even finding them in different colors besides the super common pewter.

But the comment above is pretty accurate, how many trailblazers even still run.

 

[Diamond193]

I see more older ones on the road then the newer ones.

 

[pdcomm]

I see a pretty fair amount of Trailblazers on the road . Not all seem in the best condition , but , they are there .

 

[2002 TB LS]

I never seen the isuzu version. Frankly an isuzu is super hard to find now and that in the Los Angeles area. Even when you google search all you'll find is an isuzu truck dealership.

I know they used to be popular around the 90s but guess died down sometime.

I wonder if a lot of people got rid of these during the cash for clunkers era?

 

[chem_man]

In my opinion, the Isuzu Ascender (at least the 2004 version), looks really, really similar to the 2004 TrailBlazer. Biggest difference was the headlight assemblies. I used to work with a guy that purchased a 2004 Ascender and if it had been the same color as my TrailBlazer, it would have been extremely difficult to tell them apart.

 

[2002 TB LS]

In my opinion, the Isuzu Ascender (at least the 2004 version), looks really, really similar to the 2004 TrailBlazer. Biggest difference was the headlight assemblies. I used to work with a guy that purchased a 2004 Ascender and if it had been the same color as my TrailBlazer, it would have been extremely difficult to tell them apart.

Hopefully I can see one in person. Not many Isuzu's on the road around here. Toyota, chevy, ford is the ultra common brands on the road here.

 

[Ravalli Surfer]

Ya know ---- once you actually OWN and DRIVE a TB --- then you start seeing them all over the place - at least here in Montana where 4WD is a must.

But I see a hatbox full of them every day - same as I see a lot of Chevy Squares now that I have (partially) digested the name of "SQUARE" for them .......

... and I have a 1989 Isuzu Amigo - rare as hen's teeth - especially the '89 --- but when you have one then they seem to multiply like feral rabbits.

 

[chem_man]

🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

 

[keenxxx]

I drive a 2003 Blazer 96k miles (not TB) my father-in-law drives a 2003 Isuzu Ascender 66k miles & my wife drives a 2002 Lexus ES300 with 210k miles. Guess which one has had the least amount of repairs?

I will say maintenance, driving style and the climate, in which the vehicle resides, makes a difference on longevity..

 

[JimbosToys]

Ya know ---- once you actually OWN and DRIVE a TB --- then you start seeing them all over the place - at least here in Montana where 4WD is a must.

But I see a hatbox full of them every day - same as I see a lot of Chevy Squares now that I have (partially) digested the name of "SQUARE" for them .......

... and I have a 1989 Isuzu Amigo - rare as hen's teeth - especially the '89 --- but when you have one then they seem to multiply like feral rabbits.

I second this. I bought one (2006LS) as a knock around car for trailer hauling and light offroading (4wd). Never heard of them until I bought it. Has turned out to be a great vehicle (5k miles so far). Now I see them all the time! And yes, most of them pewter like mine.
The,design is pretty clean. Has kind of a sensible, efficient, German feel to it. Not real fancy (mine anyway), not a luxury SUV, but that is not me.
I was amazed (and concerned) how sophisticated the engine is. 275? Hp from a 4 2 six? VVT? Fuel injection? Independent hi energy ignition? Pretty advanced. I just hope all those sensors and computers stay the course.

 

[Jexnell]

As with any vehicle, research goes a long ways. Don't just buy the first one that comes along. If you like Trailblazer/Envoy etc look around and find a good example. So much easier now a days with vehicle history reports availability.

I have a 2 owner Envoy Denali with 175k that drives like new. Has had all major maintenance done when needed, has front wheel bearings changed twice, all new springs/shocks, many sensors changed.

Still it tries to snap your neck on each gear change.

 

[Denali94]

My wife bought her 2006 new, she still loves this vehicle. Aside from normal maintenance the only repair required was replacing the high limit AC switch, thermostat, and the vapor cannister purge valve. We did buy an Equinox in 2016 and relegated the TB to the second house. That lasted about six months and we sent the Equinox to the farm and brought the TB back as her daily driver. Did I mention that she loves this vehicle? We are sellng one of the houses so one of her cars must go - anybody interested in a 2016 low mileage Equinox? I have tried talking her into a new Blazer or Tahoe but she wants her TB.