From its debut in 1999 and throughout the 2000s, the Chevy Trailblazer was one of Chevrolet’s most popular vehicles. The nameplate was used in North America between 2001 and 2008 before being replaced by the Traverse in 2009. Today, we will take a trip back in time to discover more about this vehicle, its sales history, and common issues that drivers experienced. We’ll also look at extending the vehicle’s life by replacing the cylinder heads and why and when you might choose to do this.
Trailblazer Overview
The Chevrolet Trailblazer started its life in 1999 when it became available as a high-end option within the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer models. It stayed this way until it became a standalone option, offered on the North American market from 2001 to 2008. As its own vehicle, it had a 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine and was awarded the 2002 North American Truck of the Year award. The engine itself received a lot of praise, praised as one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines between 2002 and 2005.
After 2009, the Traverse took over the Trailblazer, as the Traverse offered a crossover SUV instead. For the Asian and Brazilian markets, the car saw a redesign, and production of this new model started in 2011. Since then, it’s continued to be developed for the overseas market, adding new technology to make it a competitive vehicle to this day.
Historical Sales North America
During its time on the market, the vehicle sold over 1,626,000 units in North America. Sales began in 2001 with 115,103; the following year, this figure doubled to 249,568. Sales remained around the same level until 2006, when they started declining to 178,493 and dropped to 22,287 in the vehicle’s final year of sales. As you can see, it was a very strong seller for Chevrolet over its time on the market, which is why there are still many of these cars in circulation on the used car market today.
Customer Reviews Chevy Trailblazer
Customer reviews for the Chevy Trailblazer vary based on the model year the customers purchased them. The most reliable model years and most favorable reviews came in 2006, 2008, and 2009. The vehicle typically offers drivers at least 200,000 miles and is rated average for reliability in most surveys. However, the vehicle’s overall design is criticized to this day, with the poor quality of the interior materials and overall build often noted by both drivers and industry professionals. Fuel economy is also low with the Chevy Trailblazer, making it a car that needs a fair amount of care and attention to enjoy driving it for many years.
Common Problems with the Chevy Trailblazer
While the Chevy Trailblazer had strong sales figures throughout its early life, there were many complaints and concerns about this vehicle at that time as well. Many drivers and reviewers commented that the ride is very clumsy, making it less than ideal for long highway journeys. It is better suited to short trips at low speeds, and poor fuel economy is a common complaint from vehicle owners. A concerning issue we’ve heard many times about the vehicle is that its safety score is poor due to its build and crash-test results.
On top of these major issues, the fit of the vehicle and its overall finish and aesthetic are very poor, especially when compared to modern vehicles today. The wind noise is louder than you would expect when driving, and, as a driver, the safety belts are more uncomfortable than you might imagine. The newer models for the overseas market typically see fewer complaints, thanks to the advancements in technology we’ve seen over the years. Still, the older models show their age at this point for the expectations of modern drivers.
Replacing Cylinder Heads on a Chevy Trailblazer
One way to extend the life of your Chevy Trailblazer if you are experiencing issues with the engine is by replacing the cylinder heads. Replacing the cylinder heads is something that many people opt to do to either improve performance or extend the life of the vehicle as it starts to age. It’s cheaper than buying a new vehicle entirely and is a good option if you cannot buy the Chevy Trailblazer on the new car market in your home country. You can DIY this task or work with a professional mechanic to replace your cylinder heads. Either way you go, the work will set you back a fair bit of money, but it’s still much cheaper than a new car.
Cylinder heads often fail as a result of overheating. Overheating can be caused by head gasket failure, coolant loss, or a restriction to the flow of the coolant. In worst-case scenarios, you might find that your cracked cylinder head can damage the entire engine, but in most cases, you can just go ahead and replace the cylinder head by itself. If you are wondering what parts to use when fixing your engine or cylinder heads, you’ll want to look for the engine casting numbers. The manufacturer adds these marks on the block or head of the engine. The numbers are added to the die-cast mold, allowing you to select the correct parts to replace your cylinder head.
While the Chevy Trailblazer has not been sold in the North American market for nearly 15 years, the company has worked to keep this car alive worldwide. As you can see, there were many concerns and issues surrounding the safety and functionality of the Trailblazer during its life, but it was still a strong seller for the company and loved by many of its drivers. Thanks to the developments in technology we’ve seen over the years, the new models experience fewer issues and are still sold worldwide today. By replacing the vehicle’s cylinder heads, you can work to extend the life of your vehicle and keep driving it for many years.
Buy New and Refurbished Cylinder Heads from Clearwater Cylinder
Clearwater Cylinder Head sells cylinder heads for many vehicles, including the Chevy Trailblazer. Please call Clearwater Cylinder Head at 1-800-572-1963 to order new or refurbished Trailblazer cylinder heads.