Chevrolet Trailblazer 2002–2009 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (GMT360 midsize SUV)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20267,957 complaints, 6,412 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200266kmedian
- 200374kmedian
- 200467kmedian
- 200570kmedian
- 200667kmedian
- 200770kmedian
- 200872kmedian
- 2009—too few
The 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 66,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,264
- Recalls naming this year
- 13
Most reported on the 2002
- Transmission and driveline334 reports · median 66,000 mi
- Electrical system197 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system157 reports · median 54,000 mi
13 recall campaigns name the 2002: Latches/locks/linkages — doors; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 74,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,239
- Recalls naming this year
- 9
Most reported on the 2003
- Electrical system373 reports · median 83,000 mi
- Fuel system196 reports · median 71,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline152 reports · median 66,000 mi
9 recall campaigns name the 2003: Latches/locks/linkages — doors; Exterior lighting — turn signal; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 67,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,368
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2004
- Electrical system780 reports · median 65,000 mi
- Fuel system125 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Exterior lighting116 reports · median 85,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2004: Exterior lighting — turn signal; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 70,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,734
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2005
- Electrical system733 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Fuel system511 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Exterior lighting157 reports · median 70,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2005: Air bags — frontal; Visibility — windshield. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 67,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,347
- Recalls naming this year
- 8
Most reported on the 2006
- Fuel system546 reports · median 57,000 mi
- Electrical system305 reports · median 85,000 mi
- Exterior lighting141 reports · median 111,000 mi
8 recall campaigns name the 2006: Visibility — power window devices and controls; Exterior lighting — headlights; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 70,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 782
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2007
- Fuel system221 reports · median 53,000 mi
- Electrical system214 reports · median 77,000 mi
- Exterior lighting162 reports · median 114,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2007: Visibility — power window devices and controls; Exterior lighting — headlights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 195
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2008
- Electrical system66 reports · median 76,000 mi
- Airbag system34 reports
- Engine21 reports
The 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 28
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2009
- Exterior lighting13 reports
- Electrical system9 reports
- Airbag system4 reports
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2003 reports latest and the 2002 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2002 has had 1 more year on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 70,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 136,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 6,412
- Recalls
- 25
Most reported
- Electrical system33.6% of complaints · median 71,000 mi
- Fuel system21.7% of complaints · median 62,000 mi
- Exterior lighting10.9% of complaints · median 89,000 mi
Documented problems
- Hvac (blower Motor Resistor)2002–2009
- Instrument Cluster2003–2007
- Fuel System (level Sender)2002–2008
- Engine (4.2L Atlas LL8)2002–2005
Owners filed 7,957 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer; the electrical system leads with 33.6% of them, and half of the 6,412 that record an odometer reading came by 70,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 47,000 and 100,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, half of the 6,412 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 70,000 miles and 90% by 136,000 miles.
458 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 89 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Trailblazer reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Trailblazer 2002–2009 · 6,412 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 389 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 89 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 25,783
- 25%
- 47,000
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 99,920
- 90%
- 136,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 200 | 3.1% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 108 | 1.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 89 | 1.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 107 | 1.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 110 | 1.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 117 | 1.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 154 | 2.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 267 | 4.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 307 | 4.8% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 313 | 4.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 389 | 6.1% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 328 | 5.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 375 | 5.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 323 | 5.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 349 | 5.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 302 | 4.7% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 305 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 253 | 3.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 215 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 201 | 3.1% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 225 | 3.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 121 | 1.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 137 | 2.1% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 120 | 1.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 147 | 2.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 94 | 1.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 84 | 1.3% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 67 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 93 | 1.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 54 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 84 | 1.3% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 48 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 53 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 26 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 32 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 27 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 27 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 30 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 25 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 17 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 89 | 1.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Trailblazer problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Trailblazer 2002–2009
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system408 reports53,00027,000–78,000Engine and its cooling system: 408 reports, median 53,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 78,000 miles.
- Fuel system1,726 reports62,00048,000–83,000Fuel system: 1,726 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 83,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline711 reports66,00040,000–99,000Transmission and driveline: 711 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 99,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment417 reports68,00037,000–103,000Visibility equipment: 417 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 37,000 to 103,000 miles.
- Electrical system2,677 reports71,00050,000–99,000Electrical system: 2,677 reports, median 71,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 99,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting866 reports89,00050,000–125,000Exterior lighting: 866 reports, median 89,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 125,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system410 reports96,00072,000–133,000Fuel and propulsion system: 410 reports, median 96,000 miles, middle half 72,000 to 133,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2,677 | 33.6% | 71,000 | 50,000–99,000 |
| Fuel system | 1,726 | 21.7% | 62,000 | 48,000–83,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 866 | 10.9% | 89,000 | 50,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 711 | 8.9% | 66,000 | 40,000–99,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 417 | 5.2% | 68,000 | 37,000–103,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 410 | 5.2% | 96,000 | 72,000–133,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 408 | 5.1% | 53,000 | 27,000–78,000 |
| Airbag system | 405 | 5.1% | 81,000 | 43,000–123,000 |
| Fuel system, other | 340 | 4.3% | 56,000 | 42,000–74,000 |
| Body structure | 231 | 2.9% | 74,000 | 35,000–112,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 33.6% of complaints (2,677 reports, 2,214 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 71,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 99,000 miles.
A single system taking 33.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The fuel system accounts for 21.7% of complaints (1,726 reports, 1,469 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 83,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 10.9% of complaints (866 reports, 649 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.9% of complaints (711 reports, 589 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 99,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 5.2% of complaints (417 reports, 304 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 103,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 5.2% of complaints (410 reports, 332 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 72,000 and 133,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2002–2009 Trailblazer
Hvac (blower Motor Resistor) 2002–2009
Blower motor resistor overheats and fails because of an inadequate cooling design, leaving the fan operating only on the highest speed setting. One of the highest-frequency complaints on the platform across all years.
Instrument Cluster 2003–2007
Stepper motors behind the gauges fail, causing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges to read inaccurately or stop entirely. GM issued special coverage for affected clusters and a repair/reman industry exists specifically for this failure.
Fuel System (level Sender) 2002–2008
Fuel level sender inside the fuel pump module fails, producing an erratic gauge that sticks on empty or reads wildly wrong; remedy requires replacing the complete fuel pump module assembly. GM agreed to cover 50 percent of repair cost on 2005-2007 vehicles even though the failure spans 2002-2008.
Engine (4.2L Atlas LL8) 2002–2005
Exhaust valve seat recession and valve damage on early Atlas inline-sixes, producing misfire, low compression on affected cylinders and rough running.
Four-Wheel Drive 2002–2009
Transfer case encoder motor and selector switch failure producing a 'Service 4WD' warning and inability to shift between 2WD and 4WD ranges.
Front Suspension 2002–2009
Front wheel bearing hub assembly and ball joint wear producing ABS faults, noise and steering play; a routine high-mileage failure item on GMT360.
Before you buy a 2002–2009 Trailblazer: the 3-minute check
Generated from 6,412 mileage-tagged complaints, 25 recall campaigns, 6 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 25 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check hvac (blower motor resistor) on 2002–2009 cars. Blower motor resistor overheats and fails because of an inadequate cooling design, leaving the fan operating only on the highest speed setting. One of the highest-frequency complaints on the platform across all years.
- Check instrument cluster on 2003–2007 cars. Stepper motors behind the gauges fail, causing the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges to read inaccurately or stop entirely. GM issued special coverage for affected clusters and a repair/reman industry…
- Check fuel system (level sender) on 2002–2008 (cost–share on 2005–2007) cars. Fuel level sender inside the fuel pump module fails, producing an erratic gauge that sticks on empty or reads wildly wrong; remedy requires replacing the complete fuel pump module assembly. GM agreed to cover 50 percent…
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 47,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the fuel system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 62,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Trailblazer problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi39% below | At 90k mi69% below | At 120k mi84% below | At 150k mi93% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 50,000–99,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 48,000–83,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 50,000–125,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 40,000–99,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 37,000–103,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 72,000–133,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 27,000–78,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Trailblazer 2002–2009 · 6,412 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 39% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 69% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.4% of reports (89) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2002–2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer recalls (25)
NHTSA records 25 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around visibility equipment (6), the exterior lighting (3), the airbag system (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Sep 2015 · 2006–2007 · VisibilityThe protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy vehicles, and 2006 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT vehicles. Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch…
What can happen. The protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire, even while the vehicle is unattended.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new driver's door switch module, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300…
Aug 2015 · 2006–2007 · Exterior LightingHeadlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x…
What can happen. Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at…
Jul 2014 · 2006–2007 · VisibilityA short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door master…
What can happen. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside…
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. An…
Jun 2013 · 2006–2007 · VisibilityA short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The defect. General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door module…
What can happen. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside…
The free fix. Owners will be contacted and dealers will test the driver's door module. If the module is functioning properly, a protective coating will be applied. If the module is not functioning properly, it…
Aug 2012 · 2006–2007 · VisibilityA short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The defect. General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, SAAB 9-7x, and Isuzu Ascender vehicles, originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut…
What can happen. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside…
The free fix. Parts for this recall are expected to available in March 2013. GM will notify Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC owners when parts are available. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300…
Oct 2006 · 2005–2006 · Air BagsIf the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it…
The defect. Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat…
What can happen. If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. In either case, in the event of…
The free fix. Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (gm) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated…
Dec 2005 · 2006 · EquipmentA misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result…
The defect. Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle…
What can happen. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on march 31, 2006. Owners may contact…
Oct 2005 · 2002–2003 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the door is not latched properly and it goes unnoticed, it may open while the vehicle is in motion.
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles have a rear side closure latch that may not latch or unlatch due to corrosion caused by road splash, such as water and road salt. These vehicles were originally sold in or currently registered in the following states…
What can happen. If the door is not latched properly and it goes unnoticed, it may open while the vehicle is in motion. If an unbelted occupant fell out of the vehicle, personal injuries could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will install a seal along the lower part of the rocker panel to prevent intrusion of corrosive material, and inspect the rear side closure latches. Functional latches will be cleaned and…
Oct 2005 · 2006 · SteeringIf this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required.
The defect. Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose may fracture and leak fluid.
What can happen. If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC…
May 2005 · 2003–2004 · Exterior LightingThe driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially…
The defect. On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than…
What can happen. The driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially warn others of an impaired vehicle operating condition increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on…
Feb 2005 · 2005 · VisibilityIf a crash occurs, the windshield may not be retained, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'Windshield mounting.' The windshield urethane bead may not have adhered to the body in certain areas during the cure process.
What can happen. If a crash occurs, the windshield may not be retained, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the windshield free of charge. The recall began on march 10, 2005. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Nov 2004 · 2002–2004 · Exterior LightingAn inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. An inoperative brake lamp will not convey the driver's intention of stopping to drivers in following vehicles, and an inoperative rear turn signal lamp will not convey the driver's intention to turn…
The free fix. 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, Oldsmobile at…
Apr 2004 · 2002 · Seat BeltsIf this were to occur, the safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, and could…
The defect. Certain light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." One of the two sensors in the driver's and front passenger's seat belt retractors could be inoperative. The…
What can happen. If this were to occur, the safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, and could result in injury to the occupant.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the driver and front passenger safety belt retractors, and replace them if necessary. Owner notification began on june 24, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at…
Feb 2004 · 2002–2003 · VisibilityDepending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in…
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles have windshield wiper systems that will not turn on, cease operation while in use, fail to turn off/on by themselves (moisture sensitive wiper system), or have continuous windshield washer pump operation because the presence of…
What can happen. Depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will cover the windshield wiper module vent hole with a patch. Also, the wiper motor, circuit board, and electrical connector will be inspected to signs of water intrusion and/or corrosion…
Jul 2003 · 2002–2003 · EquipmentThis does not meet the requirements of the standard.
The defect. Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the…
What can happen. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the…
Apr 2003 · 2003 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf braking performance is reduced, a crash could occur.
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a left-front brake pipe with a circumferential score at a random location along the length of the pipe as the result of the manufacturing process. If the brake pipe partially or fully fractured, brake pedal…
What can happen. If braking performance is reduced, a crash could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the left-front brake pipe. 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…
Mar 2003 · 2002 · Electrical SystemThese vehicles do not comply with the standard.
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards no. 101, "Control location, identification, and illumination" and no. 208, "Occupant crash protection." These vehicles have an intermittent condition…
What can happen. These vehicles do not comply with the standard.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster. Owner notification began may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Mar 2003 · 2002–2003 · Power TrainThese overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
The free fix. 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…
Feb 2003 · 2003 · Air BagsThis could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver.
The defect. On certain MINI vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
What can happen. This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…
Oct 2002 · 2002 · StructureIn a crash, missing welds could degrade performance of the third row seat and safety belt anchorage and…
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles are missing welds on the rear floor plan.
What can happen. In a crash, missing welds could degrade performance of the third row seat and safety belt anchorage and occupants could receive greater injuries.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds. If missing welds are found, gm will exchange the vehicle for an equivalent vehicle or provide a refund of the purchase price. Owner notification…
Aug 2002 · 2002 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fitting becomes disconnected while the vehicle is in motion, the engine would stop due to inadequate…
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles, a fuel filter fitting can become disconnected. If this were to occur while attempting to start the engine, a no-start condition would result and fuel would be pumped out the fuel filter onto the ground.
What can happen. If the fitting becomes disconnected while the vehicle is in motion, the engine would stop due to inadequate fuel supply and cause a loss of power steering assist. If an ignition source were present…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel filter quick connect retainers. Owner notification began september 20, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…
Aug 2002 · 2002–2003 · Air BagsPieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate…
The defect. Certain passenger, MINI vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
What can happen. Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on…
Oct 2001 · 2002 · Power TrainIf the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park" and a crash could result…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park" and a crash could result without warning.
The free fix. 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…
Sep 2001 · 2002 · Power TrainThis condition could result in a complete fracture of the range shift collar and subsequent loss of vehicle…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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 free fix. 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…
Apr 2001 · 2002 · SuspensionA separation could result in loss of vehicle control, resulting in a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Under certain circumstances the front lower control arm brackets may fracture. This fracture could result in separation of the front lower control arm from the frame.
What can happen. A separation could result in loss of vehicle control, resulting in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the left and right front lower control arm brackets. Owner notification began by telephone on april 4, 2001. The followup letter to consumers was mailed may 3, 2001. Owners who…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 7,957 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 386 (4.9%)
- Fires
- 254
- Injury reports
- 295
- Fatality reports
- 14
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Trailblazer problems by model year
The 2005 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,734, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2009 the fewest, 28. A typical year drew about 1,252.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,264 | 859 | 66,000 | Transmission and driveline (334) | 13 |
| 2003 | 1,239 | 982 | 74,000 | Electrical system (373) | 9 |
| 2004 | 1,368 | 1,130 | 67,000 | Electrical system (780) | 2 |
| 2005 | 1,734 | 1,441 | 70,000 | Electrical system (733) | 2 |
| 2006 | 1,347 | 1,140 | 67,000 | Fuel system (546) | 8 |
| 2007 | 782 | 671 | 70,000 | Fuel system (221) | 5 |
| 2008 | 195 | 170 | 72,000 | Electrical system (66) | 0 |
| 2009 | 28 | 19 | under 30 reports | Exterior lighting (13) | 0 |
What Trailblazer owners reported
The contact owned a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a second vehicle. During the crash, no air bags in the vehicle deployed. The contact sustained neck, shoulders, and back injuries and was transported to the…
2005 · 168,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to operate as needed and the vehicle nearly crashed. Additionally, the contact reported that the rear of the vehicle lifted significantly and made a popping sound while driving. The vehicle…
2005 · 109,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH at nighttime, the low-beam headlights started flickering, and then became inoperable. The vehicle decelerated and veered to the side of the road. The contact engaged the high-beam headlights and continued driving. The contact stated…
2007 · 133,000 miles · Exterior lighting
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the driver's side power master window switch had failed and failed to roll up the windows. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had caused a significant amount of water to leak into the vehicle. The vehicle…
2007 · 214,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 6,412 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built