The 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a spacious, powerful SUV that’s affordable and cheap to maintain. It might be a little too fuel-thirsty to serve as a daily-driver, but it’s just the thing for long road trips.
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – The roomy, powerful 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer’s original powertrain and transmission have held up surprisingly well over the years.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – An Extended model packs enough cargo you could just about park a compact car in the back. The seating is comfortable and spacious, but loses a couple points for cheap-feeling trim materials.
- Reliability 8/10 – If you can find one with under 150,000 miles on the odometer, it won’t take much more than regular oil changes to get it to 200,000.
- Safety 6/10 – You’ll feel safe in such a big SUV, but Insurance Institute for Highway Safety scores are mediocre and safety tech is outdated.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – The 2003 Trailblazer is a land yacht. 15/20 miles to the gallon, city/highway, isn’t the worst fuel economy we’ve seen in a full-size SUV, but it’ll have you wondering if you should walk for any trip under two miles.
- Value 8/10 – With pricing starting at under two grand, the biggest problem with the 2003 Trailblazer is that it’s hard to find a seller willing to part with one in good condition.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Edmunds had strong praise for the Trailblazer’s powerful engine but felt that the steering was a bit sluggish. They found the interior to be spacious but bland.
Consumer Reports‘ findings weren’t far off from Edmunds’, praising the engine and spacious third-row seating, while criticizing the slow steering and cheap-feeling interior trim. Additionally, they found the acceleration and fuel economy underwhelming.
Kelley Blue Book users found the Trailblazer to be low-maintenance and fun to drive, but added to the consensus that the acceleration could be better.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Have?
Electrical issues are the most common source of complaint for the 2003 Trailblazer, with recent reports pointing to deteriorating wire coating. This may not be atypical of older vehicles and is usually a simple matter of wear and tear, but be prepared to replace some wiring at some point.
The transmission has held up remarkably well over the years, but it has been two decades since the SUV first hit the market, so expect a few issues here and there. The most common powertrain complaints have to do with fluid leaks and the SUV locking up while in 4WD mode.
Cracked fuel tanks have led to leakage in a number of units. Drivers report being told that there is a recall in effect, but it is not on file on the NHTSA website, and many owners state that their VIN was not included. Rate of incidence here is low, the lack of a comprehensive solution, is worrying.
There are 9 recalls on file for the 2003 Trailblazer with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which isn’t bad for such an old vehicle.
How Long Will the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Last?
Older Trailblazers will cost around $500 a year to take care of, according to RepairPal. Of the more common repairs the most expensive will be an oil pump replacement starting at $1,480.
Most sources will estimate that the 2003 Trailblazer should last around 200,000 with adequate maintenance. With excellent maintenance you’ll do a little more, of course, and if the previous owner was lax, you might not hit that number.
Very reliable. There have been almost no issues. The only continuing issue is that the speedometer doesn't work but I use a GPS to track speed so that isn't an issue
So far my trailblazer has been reliable but I have only had it for about 2 months now. It does not have any major problems, the only problem with mine is the only air setting that works, the one that determines the amount of air/heat, is level 4.
We bought our Chevy trailblazer used and haven't had a single mechanical issue in almost 6 months of having it. H
It's very reliable. The only thing is small things like spark plugs need changing out, which is being replaced right now.
It is reliable,4 wheel drive works every time, gets me where I want to go and towing is good also. Have towed a boat and utility trailer with no problem
It is a reliable car the only thing it does consume a lot of gas. I did have to replace some parts but that's because I put in a lot of miles into it. The pieces aren't expensive but getting a mechanic to do the job is the problem.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is basic but adequate for a 2003 SUV, with an AM/FM radio, CD, and cassette player.
Safety features cover the usual for vehicles in this era: anti-lock brakes, full airbags, daytime running lamps. The higher trim levels were initially sold with a year of OnStar.
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer a Good Value?
If you’re looking for a 2003 Trailblazer in the 150,000 mile range, the SUV is pretty affordable. At the low end you can find an LT for as low as $2,369, while a Trailblazer LTZ can go up to $4,764. Since you’ll most likely get another 50,000 miles out of it, that comes out to less than a dime a mile, which ain’t bad.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
There are three different trim models available, with the LS and LT being offered in standard and EXT models. EXT being short for Extended, referring to the longer wheelbase and third-row seating. Onboard features are otherwise the same, but you get seating for seven instead of five.
The entry-level LS features:
- Cloth seat trim
- Manual air conditioning
- Power windows and door locks
- PASSLock theft deterrent
- Full color-keyed carpeting
The mid-range LT adds:
- Remote keyless entry
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Premium cloth trim seating
With the top-of-the-line LTZ, you’re also getting:
- Leather seats
- Automatic air conditioning
- 17″ aluminum wheels
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
What Engines Come In the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
- In the standard models you’re getting a 4200 SFI inline-six Vortec engine delivering 275 lb.-ft. of torque and 275 horsepower. This is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and can be configured in rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
- With an Extended model you can go with the standard i6, or you can upgrade to the Vortec 5300 V8, which goes up to 325 lb.-ft. of torque and 290 horsepower. Your transmission and configuration options are the same in either engine.
What Colors Does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
You’ll have to search far and wide to find anyone who’s unhappy with the 2003 Trailblazer’s spacious cabin, although the cheap-feeling interior materials have earned some knocks.
After twenty years of service, the real question is whether the suspension has held up. The NHTSA has just 47 suspension complaints on file in total, meaning that the suspension system will probably outlast the transmission, so there are no worries here.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Have?
With the seats up, you get 41 cubic feet of storage space in a standard 2003 Trailblazer. You can just about double that by putting the seats down for 80.1 cubic feet.
Extended models actually have less room in the back, offering just 22.3 cubic feet of space with the seats up. But that goes up to 100.2 with the seats down. There are pickup trucks that don’t offer that much space for the load. Whichever model you go with, you’ll have no problem with basic packing and hauling.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The Trailblazer was actually introduced in the 90s as a trim line for Chevy’s S-10. The 2003 was part of the first proper generation, launching with the 2002 model and retiring with the 2009 edition, when the SUV would go on hiatus until the 2021 model year.
2002: The Chevy Trailblazer launched with a four wheel drive system, independent front suspension, and a factory equipped detachable towing hitch.
2003: Chevrolet added larger 22-gallon fuel tanks to the 2003 model, and they added child-seat anchors to the EXTs.
2004: They dropped the LTZ trim level for 2004 but made no fundamental changes to the SUV.
2005: The Trailblazer got a visual redesign for 2005 with revised badging and some chrome interior accents. The seats were redesigned for improved comfort, as well.
2006: Chevrolet addressed road noise complaints in 2006 with improved sound insulation. The SUV got some visual tweaks to the front and rear fascias, as well.
2007: For 2007, Chevrolet added dual-zone air conditioning to the LT trim level. A few under-the-hood tweaks supposedly produce a 5% improvement in fuel efficiency.
2008: Side curtain airbags were standardized for 2008.
2009: Bluetooth phone connectivity was added for 2009.
How Does the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Compare to the Competition?
The 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee prices in around the same range as the Trailblazer, with a Laredo coming in at a fair purchase price of $3,737. Jeeps have a reputation for being high-maintenance, and the 2003 Grand Cherokee will run you around a hundred bucks more than the Trailblazer in annual upkeep.
A 2003 Ford Explorer generally sells for much less than the Trailblazer or the Grand Cherokee, with a fair market price around $2,895 for an XLT, although it’s not as roomy as a Trailblazer.
2003 was a good year for SUVs, and you won’t have to look too long to find one in decent shape. All three of these models have something to offer, but the low maintenance costs and extra space make the Trailblazer a clear winner if you’re looking for a family vehicle.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Yes, it runs really well and has held up wonderfully over the years. It gets decent gas mileage and gets me where I need to go. It has a ton of miles on it and has only needed a little bit of maintenance worked on it
It is good for me, with my son. Its spacious. It is also pretty decent on gas, I do not drive it far though.
Definitely yes. I absolutely love mine. Very dependable, good on gas and safe. Plenty of room for children and adults for vacations or grocery shopping.
Yes it's a good vehicle. Everything thing original is still on it, such as a stepper to help the driver or passenger get inside the vehicle.
Yes, I haven't had any severe problem with it at all. Vehicle handles nice and is very good in snow when 4 wheel drive is engaged
Yes it's a great vehicle, it's convenient when you have a large family. The one I have is three rows, so it carries about 8 people. I went everywhere in that car.
