ChevroletTrailblazer 2WD2002Overview/chevrolet/trailblazer-2wd/2002/base/

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Trailblazer 2WD.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2WD pairs a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine that requires 7 quarts of 5W-30 API oil to achieve EPA estimates of 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined mpg. Within the model's complaint history spanning 1999 to 2026, this early iteration emerges as a notably problematic vintage, accumulating 1,292 owner complaints and 13 recalls with a heavy concentration in the power train. While it does not reach the peak complaint volume of 1,733 seen in 2005, its tally sits far closer to that high-water mark than the single complaint recorded in 2014, signaling to researchers that drivetrain durability is the primary concern for this specific year.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter and spark plug are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeENVOY, TRAILBLAZER LS 4WD P245-70R16;BLAZER P235-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J, 7-J, 7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179
Engine air filter19239713
Fuel filter19368932 discontinued
Spark plug25334145 discontinued
Battery88866305 alt 88866121
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12593774
Thermostat12561155 alt 12620112

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.7 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height72 in
Wheelbase113 in
Curb weight4442 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-981
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum48.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum54.0 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs / 38 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs / 38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0003 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in / 0.004 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1110 ft. lbs., step 2: 180110 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miTransfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2WD lead in one area — the power train, 276 of 1,292 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 01V-334 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 110 of the reports describe a crash and 39 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

13
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,292
Owner complaints
110 involved a crash · 39 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,292 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train276
Electrical System110
Fuel System, Gasoline105
Engine & Engine Cooling102
Exterior Lighting100
Air Bags77
Visibility68
Seat Belts30

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 13 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V527000Exterior Lighting:Brake LightsReported 01/11/2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438…

01V334000Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)Reported 17/10/2001

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. 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…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Trailblazer 2WD. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Trailblazer 2WD take?

7 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Trailblazer 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 13 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Trailblazer 2WD get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.