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2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer: whining or grinding noise

15 of the 1,149 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer describe whining or grinding noise.

owner complaints
15
of this car's complaints
1%
typical mileage
72,000
recalls
3
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls and 63 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Whining or grinding noise by model year

  • 2008
    2
  • 2006
    2
  • 2005
    5
  • 2004
    1
  • 2003
    1
  • 2002
    15

What owners say

Filed May 24, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 112,000 miles · FL

While highway driving with cruise control engaged I heard a loud whining sound and experienced a sudden loss of power. I was almost hit from behind several times before I could get the vehicle over into the right lane. When I took the vehicle to my mechanic I was told the cooling fan clutch assemble had failed. I have had this fan replaced three times now and am not at all pleased that this vehicle has not been recalled for this problem. I have read that this is a "common" problem on this vehicle that can cause a severe accident. I have receipts for the repairs but have no way to upload them.

Filed Mar 30, 2013 · Transmission · 162,417 miles · IN

We just left the house to take the kids to get so food and we made it like fifty yards from the house and the tranny made a popping sound and so we stopped and tried to go and it wont move either way so I pull it back to the house and I start it up and the tranny is whining and I put it in reverse nothing happens so I put it in drive and it goes forward but wont shift.

Filed Jan 28, 2011 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · IN

I'm driving down the road with traffic behind me. Suddenly my RPM jolt up to five a horrible noise comes from engine and I loose all power. If I even touch gas a little RPM jump to five and transmission whines very loud. Car behind me slams on brakes to avoid hitting me. I throw on cautions and have to push my car off road while cars are trying to ger around me at ten at night on my way home from work. I have to have my husband load our three kids in his tiny eclipse well after bedtime to drive the 40 minutes to come get me and pay 150 dollars to have car towed off side of road back to my house. Where it now sitting with blown transmission and broken transmission lines.

Filed Jun 22, 2009 · Transmission · 142,002 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet trailblazer. While attempting to place the vehicle into reverse, it failed to move and a whining noise was coming from the engine. Through online research, the contact found the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v283000 regarding the transfer case, but the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact feels that this is a safety issue because the vehicle cannot operate in reverse. The current and failure mileages were 142,002.

Filed Dec 4, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MN

Transmission all of a sudden starting not going into gear and there was a whining sound. The reverse went out and it skips from 1st gear to 3rd. It will cost about 1300 to repair but I have not done it yet, as I cannot afford it. This seems to be a major issue for many trailblazers due to a defective sun shell part and really should be recalled.

Filed Jun 13, 2008 · Engine · 72,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet trailblazer. The contact stated that her engine has been ticking and making whining noises during acceleration, and performing very poorly. The service engine soon light illuminated intermittently. The contact took her vehicle to her local mechanic and they stated that the engine needed to be repaired. She was able to locate a dealer's special policy related to service bulletin number 060603. The dealer and the manufacturer informed her that a diagnostic would be needed to determine the cause of the failure, which would cost approximately $2,800. The contact stated that she takes her vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance as specified by the manufacturer. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000 and current mileage was 75,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2007 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · VA

I was driving down the road (fortunately in a 25 MPH zone) when the transmission made a loud clunk then whine, after which the engine revved and I lost any ability to change gears. After stopping the car, I found only the reverse was not working - the other gears will shift over 3000 RPM. I have been told it is a faulty sunshell gear in the transmission.

Filed Nov 2, 2007 · Transmission · 91,545 miles · VA

I had several instances of the engine revving up before the vehicle would shift. These were usually when the engine was cold so I assumed that was the problem. However 5 days ago the transmission went out. The engine revved really loud, the tach number went way up, suddenly the vehicle clunked & jerked into gear it then made a whining noise & when I got home (drove it real slow & not far from home) there was no reverse. Chevrolet says there is not a problem with these transmissions & they have not received very many complaints on this problem. My transmission repair shop told me this is the third one in 3 weeks with the exact same problem. Chevrolet is refusing to do anything about this. There are numerous web sites full of postings of people with the same problem.

Filed Sep 5, 2007 · Transmission · 31,718 miles · IN

Pulling onto the highway, when transmission popped and began to whine. Reverse gear lost and stuck in 1st gear. Took to dealer where diagnosis was failed (stripped) reaction sun shell. Fortunately vehicle was traveling at low speed. Concerned that failure could have occurred on the highway at greater speed. This vehicle was never used for towing or subjected to any abuse whatsoever. This is a common failure in the 2002 models built during a certain time period. Dealer gave some cost concession on transmission replacement, but unwilling to admit component weakness. Called gm customer assistance line with no additional support.

Filed Jul 2, 2007 · Transmission · 60,834 miles · PA

As my wife was pulling out of an intersection the trailblazer may a loud sound and then started making a loud whining sound that got louder as she drove and had no power and would not shift and then lost reverse. I contacted gm after I found that several people have had the same problem they told me to take it to a gm garage and have it diagnosed and they would be in contact with me they finally told me that they could not help me because 1st I did not buy from a gm dealership, 2 I did not have my service and maintanance done by a gm garage and 3 because I was a second owner of the trailblazer. So intern I had to pay $2730.27 to get the transmission replaced.

Filed Dec 12, 2006 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · CA

While driving my 2002 chevy trailblazer, I heard a loud chunk in the transmission and then a whining noise and loss of power. There is no reverse and the transmission slips when going through the gears, it finally engages but takes some foot work.

Filed Nov 29, 2006 · Transmission · TN

I was driving my car home when the car would no longer accelerate. All it would do is make a loud whining noise when the gas pedal was pushed. With less than 70,000 miles on the car and regular maintenance, there should not be an issue with the transmission. I nearly had a wreck just trying to get off the exit ramp and to the nearest auto shop.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmissionReported March 6, 2003 · 511,167 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.
Risk
These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
Remedy
Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or hummer at 1‑866‑486‑6376.

Recall number 03V075000 · Recall details

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)Reported October 17, 2001 · 78,004 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive. The calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high speed gear engagement.
Risk
If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park" and a crash could result without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will update the transfer case control module calibration to increase gear engagement. Owner notification began november 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782.

Recall number 01V334000 · Recall details

Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)Reported September 5, 2001 · 895 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles (4 wheel-drive). Some of these vehicles were built with a range shift collar in the transmission transfer case that contains cracks.
Risk
This condition could result in a complete fracture of the range shift collar and subsequent loss of vehicle forward and reverse gears, and the inability to maintain "park" position. This increases the risk of a vehicle crash resulting from unintended movement of a parked vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the transfer cases and update the control module calibration. Owner notification began september 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782.

Recall number 01V283000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer whining noise

Is whining or grinding noise a common problem on the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer?

15 of 1,149 owner complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer (1%) mention whining or grinding noise. The model year with the most reports is 2002.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer?

There are 3 recalls and 63 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Wipers 64Headlights 60Transmission failure 56No deployment 55Stalling 53Fuel smell 52Fuel leak 40Check engine light 36Loss of power 29Won't shift 29Seat belt 28Grinding brakes 27Fire or smoke 24Fuel gauge 23Fuel pump 23Airbag light 21Jerking 20Ball joint 19Engine failure 18Won't start 16Brake failure 12Knocking 12Harsh shifting 12Slipping 11Tire blowout 11ABS 9Door locks 9Power steering loss 8Adaptive cruise 7Overheating 6Steering lock-up 6Sudden acceleration 6Hesitation 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Trailblazer

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