2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT

Above average

Owners filed 261 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT years to avoid. Which Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
64,000 milesMedian miles at failure

213 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.

Most common 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT problems

132 of the 261 complaints (51%) are about the electrical system.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System86
010
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel46
000
Fuel System, Gasoline · fuel system19
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission10
000
Fuel/Propulsion System · fuel and propulsion system9
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration7
000
Exterior Lighting · headlights7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System · engine6
000
Steering5
000
Engine5
010

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights04V527000
Filed Nov 1, 2004871,473 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

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.

Risk. 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 TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Apr 17, 2019197,000 milesMI

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE POLICE REPORT AS A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT AS I WAS TOLD WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 11, 2019171,000 milesOH

RUSTED FUEL LINES- GARAGE CHECKED STRONG FUEL SMELL AND DISCOVERED RUSTED FUEL FILLER AND LINES

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 6, 2019TX

PART # 19120564 RUBS ON TAILGATE WHEN OPENING . DOES SECURE PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 22, 201840,000 milesSC

WHEN DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST SHUT OFF. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY AT NIGHT. I FOUND THAT I CAN HOWEVER USE THE BRIGHTS. THEY EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. I KEPT HOPING FOR A RECALL AND JUST FOUND THIS SITE TO REPORT IT. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN THERE ARE STREET LIGHTS AND VEHICLE LIGHTS AND WHEN IT IS PITCH BLACK. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 18, 2018105,000 milesWI

MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE COMPLETE THIRD TAILLIGHT COVER BLEW OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE ADHESIVE THAT ATTACHES THE REAR SPOILER TO THE GLASS OF LIFT GATE HAS LOOSENED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 23, 2017157,000 milesWA

INSTRUMENTAL PANEL/ GAGE CLUSTER. ALL GAGES CONTINUE TO FAIL SPIKING ALL OVER THE PLACE PRIOR TO FAILING. AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK ON THEN OFF RANDOMLY

Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2017143,000 milesCA

CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 3, 201712,000 milesCA

STALLS - I HAVE TAKEN THIS TRAILBLAZER INTO THE DEALER FOR THIS STALLING PROBLEM AND I AM TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND. VEHICLE STALLS AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN MOVING SLOWLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 30, 2017AL

FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING ALONE WITH ALL THE OTHER GAUGES AND TURNING SIGNAL NOT WORKING

Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2017162,525 milesGA

VEHICLE'S REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON, AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER IN DANGEROUS PLACES. LOST OF PROBLEMS CONSIST OF SEVERAL PARTS HAVING TO DO WITH ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED SUDDENLY, ANDNIS A DANGER TO HIMAN SAFETY BECAUSE OF IT HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING O N THE HIGHWAY.

Power Train
Filed Feb 17, 2017136,000 milesNY

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN IT TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, I READ THAT THERE WAS A REPORT ON THIS HAPPENING BUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AS FAR AS I KNOW, I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHO SAYS THEY NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAPER WORK FROM GM ABOUT DOING REPAIRS. MY QUESTION IS WILL GM REPAIR THIS CONDITION AT NO COST TO ME?

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 29, 2016AR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM DID NOT DETECT MOISTURE. AS A RESULT, THE WIPERS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AND OPERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V046000 (VISIBILITY/WPIER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 12, 201698,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 1, 201532 milesOH

SPEEDODOMETER AND RPM CLUSTERS MALFUNCTIONS,WHY

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 23, 2015190,000 milesOH

THE INLET CHECK VALVE IS FRACTURED AND CHEVY WILL NOT DO ANY REPAIRS DUE TO THE MILEAGE BEING OVER 150000

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 28, 2015PA

MY FUEL TANK HAS A HOLE IN IT. I HAVE FILED A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND ALSO WITH GM. AN NHTSA WORKER HELPED ME A LOT AND WHEN I CALLED GM AND CHEVY BACK I WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME. I HAVE TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT NO ONE IS ABLE TO HELP. I HAVE TRIED MANY PLACES FOR USED FUEL TANKS BUT EVERYONE SAYS THAT THE ENVOYS AND TRAILBLAZERS THAT THEY HAVE ALL HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. I CANNOT GET ANY HELP FROM GM OR CHEVY.

Power Train
Filed Oct 25, 2014114,000 milesNY

THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES CORRODED AND CAUSED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING DOWN INTERSTATE 86. WHEN THE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES, IT SPRAYED ALL OVER THE EXHAUST PIPES, WHICH CAUSED A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD. DUE TO THE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT CASED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION INTERNALS. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2014111,000 milesFL

STARTING ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT HAS REEKED OF UNSPENT GASOLINE, AND THIS SMELL CONSUMES THE ENTIRE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SMALL LEAK BELOW RESERVOIR WHICH APPEARS TO BE LEAKING UNSPENT FUEL. CHEVY OFFERED A "SPECIAL COVERAGE" TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE (CORROSION ON TOP OF FUEL TANK RESERVOIR), HOWEVER IT ONLY COVERS VEHICLES UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER 120K MILES. MY VEHICLE IS UNDER THAT MILEAGE, HOWEVER THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE (MINE WAS ASSEMBLED IN MARCH). THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, AS ANY SMALL SPARK COULD CAUSE THIS VEHICLE TO IGNITE. I CANNOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE, AND FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BEFORE IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC LOSS (EITHER BUILDING OR PERSONAL). *TR

Air BagsCrash5 injured
Filed Aug 20, 201447,000 milesNY

WHEN HAD THE CRASH WHICH WAS VERY HARD LOUD AND SCARY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY NOR DID THE AIR BAGS ON THE SIDE OF SEAT. THE CRASH WAS VERY SERIOUS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN TO WINDOWS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 2, 2014150,000 milesVA

SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO. STOPPED VEHICLE AND RESTARTED. SPEEDOMETER STARTED BUT WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 35 MPH. I HAD A GPS SPEEDOMETER ON MY PHONE AND IT WAS REGISTERING 55-60 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY 25-30. AFTER A COOL NIGHT IT MIGHT WORK CORRECTLY FOR 4 OR 5 MILES THEN IT EITHER DROPS TO ZERO OR FALLS TO THE 10-25MPH RANGE. SOMETIMES RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WILL GET IT TO WORK AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME. WHEN IT IS FAILING THE NEEDLE DROPS BELOW THE 0 MPH TOWARDS THE MILEAGE. WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING SOMEWHAT IT STOPS AT 0 MPH OR JUST ABOVE IT. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL ! THANK YOU *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2014142,000 milesNY

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK BRAKES STARTED LOCKING UP DROVE HOME TOOK APART FRONT AN REAR BRAKES FOUND FRONT CALIPERS LOCKED UP CHANGED CALIPERS AN BRAKE PADS FRONT AN REAR TRIED TO BLEED BRAKES HAD A SPONGY PEDAL FILLED MASTER CYLINDER AN NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDER MASTER CYLINDER CONNECTOR BEHIND FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL NO PART TO FIX NO LISTING . CANNOT DRIVE CAR. THAT'S JUST ONE PROBLEM TRANSMISSION LINES ROTTED AN CHANGED 2 YEARS AGO . POWER STEERING COOLER ROTTED OUT LOST ALL POWER STEERING FLUID 1 MONTH AGO AN PUT AFTER MARKET COOLER IN . ALSO AIR CONDITIONER LINES ROTTED OUT CANNOT HOLD R34 COOLANT ANYMORE. *TR

Structure › Body › Tailgate
Filed Jun 10, 201436,000 milesWI

THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN A CAR WASH AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE. I LOOKED BACK AND COULD SEE THE UPPER TAILGATE MOLDING FLOPPING IN THE WIND OF THE CAR WASH DRYER BEING HELD ON BY ONLY THE BRAKE WIRES. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 2ND REPLACEMENT ABOUT 3 YEARS LATER SAME THING. NOW RECENTLY I NOTICED AGAIN THAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SCREW ATTACHMENT ON THE MOLDING HAS BROKEN AWAY AGAIN AND IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SHELL OUT THE $500+ TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM DEALER IT IS PROBABLY CAUSED BY OUR WISCONSIN WINTERS WITH ACCUMULATION OF ICE & SNOW BUILD UP GETTING UNDER THE MOLDING AND ALSO WINDS USED TO DRYING VEHICLES IN CAR WASHES. CHEAP PLASTIC FOR THE MOUNTING SCREW TO GO THROUGH TO ATTACH IT TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 20, 2014135,000 milesNC

THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT WORK (LOWBEAM ONLY). IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT MANY TIMES AND I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR FOG LIGHTS. SOMETIMES THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTING WILL GO OUT AS WELL INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION HAS FAILED. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Apr 26, 201457,000 milesMI

INSTRUMENT PANEL/ SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER WORKS, FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED MARCH OF 2010. AS OF 12/2013 THE VOLTAGE METER, RPM GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 2, 201483,000 milesMA

LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY, CAR DIED. RESTARTED DROVE 1/4 MILE DIED. STEREO SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED (WHOLE UNIT). KEEPS POPPING CIRCUITS CHANGED OUT STILL DOING. CANNOT SHUT OFF HEAT DUE TO BANGING SOUND. CAR SPEEDS UP AND DOWN ON OWN. CANNOT READ GAS GAUGE CORRECTLY, NOT SURE HOW FULL TANK IS. *TR

EngineFire
Filed Dec 31, 2013119,258 milesSC

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A BOOM UNDER THE HOOD. TWO MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED DECREASING POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT TO LIFT THE HOOD, FIRE WAS SHOOTING FROM UNDER NEATH. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 7, 201386,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. THE CONTACT STATED HE BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 27, 2013161,000 milesTN

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT WITH 161,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW WEEKS AGO I GOT TO NOTICING A REAL STRONG GAS ODOR IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS THE COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS AFFECTING MANY OTHER TRAILBLAZER EXT OWNERS. IT IS THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. IN DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FIXED BY SOME RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT MINE IS 41,000 MILES PAST THE RECALL MILEAGE AND WILL COST UPWARDS OF $1,000 TO FIX. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE OR EXPLOSION WITH THIS ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO WORK EVERY DAY AND TO USE IT TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I JUST WISH THAT CHEVROLET WOULD FIX THIS SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY EVERY DAY ABOUT DRIVING IT. I DON'T FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MILEAGE RESTRICTION ON A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR GREAT INJURY. *TR

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 24, 2013205,000 milesMO

HIT A DEER AT 70 MPH ON I-70 IN KANSAS. I HIT IT FULL FORCE WITH THE FRONT END. HALF OF THE DEER WENT OVER, HALF THE DEER WENT UNDER. NOTHING LEFT BUT GUTS. FRONT END ON DRIVER SIDE DEPRESSED ABOUT A FOOT. WIFE AND I RECEIVED WHIP LASH, WIFE IS WORSE. BABY WAS OKAY. THE TRAILBLAZERS FRONT END WAS TOTALED. AIRBAGS DID NOT COME OUT. GM STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAGS TO WORK IN THIS MODEL IS THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED 1/20TH OF A SECOND PRIOR TO IMPACT. THIS IS HOG WASH. BRAKES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAGS. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE VEHICLE, MY CONCERNS ARE THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 13, 2013165,454 milesIL

SEVERAL MONTHS THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS VERY STRONG IN THE INTERIOR OF MY SUV. I DROVE IT ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM MY HOME WITH A FULL TANK, AS I DROVE IT THE SMELL BECAME MUCH STRONG, WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION A PERSON POINTED OUT TO ME THAT GASOLINE WAS POURING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK LIKE A WATER HOSE. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED HOME TO PARK THE VEHICLE. AS I TRIED TO RECALL WHAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED, I REMEMBERED THAT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT I GOT AN OIL CHANGE; I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE THEY HAD DONE SOMETHING TO AGGRAVATE AN ALREADY EXISTING PROBLEM. AFTER THEY REVIEWED THEIR WORK, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURES PROBLEM. I LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WOLF CHEVROLET (NOW DEFUNCT DEALER). A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK MUST BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $1192. AND THE SUV IS CONSIDERED "TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE". I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE ESTABLISHMENT AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. AFTER TAKING IN CONSIDERATION BOTH ESTIMATES AND MY NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION, I CONTACTED GM AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED GM DEALER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOU BACHRODT IN CHERRY VALLEY, ILLINOIS AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. AFTERI RELAYED THE IINFORMATION TO THE GM REP, HE SAID THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MILEAGE, GM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER ME ANY COMPENSATION. HE SUGGESTED I PHONE LOU BACHRODT AND SEE IF THEY COULD ASSIST ME IN THE COST, THE SERVICE

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 31, 2013156,000 milesMD

I BEGAN SMELLING GAS FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THERE IS GAS DRIPPING FROM AROUND THE GAS TANK. I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS THE THIRD TRAILBLAZER HE HAS SEEN IN 2 WEEKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVROLET ADVISES THAT THERE WAS A FIX WHICH WAS GOOD ONLY UNTIL 120,000 MILES. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW TO TAKE IT AND HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE 120,000 MILES IF I AM NOT NOTIFIED BY GM? THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING THE TRAILBLAZER WHICH GM IS AWARE OF BUT HAS THUS FAR RESISTED RECALLING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 25, 201362,000 milesNY

SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK AT RANDOM PLACES. IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. GM RECALLED FOR THIS BUT NOT ON TRAILBLAZERS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 6, 2013103,000 milesFM

WE WERE DOING OUR NORMAL FILL-UP (TRUCK WAS OFF) AND AFTER WE FILLED IT UP & TURNED IT OVER, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOT WAY OVER THE 'FULL' MARK. EVERY TIME WE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS READING DIFFERENTLY, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS RIGHT. THE OIL PRESSURE AND BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE HAVE ALSO BEEN GIVING FALSE/SPORADIC READINGS AS WELL. AFTER MUCH SEARCHING, I FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN THE TRAILBLAZERS BUT THE TAHOES AND SEVERAL OTHER OF THEIR VEHICLES (THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE FAULTY). GIVEN THE EXPANSIVE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE, AND THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, OIL PRESSURE OR RPMS, I'M HAVING PROBLEMS SEEING WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ALREADY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN THE 2003-2006 MODELS MORE THAN OTHERS FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND AS WELL. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 25, 2013TX

DUE TO A SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT AND SMELLING GAS INSIDE MY VEHICLE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HE STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE NECK OF MY FUEL TANK. THE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TRAILBLAZERS. I LOOKED UP ANY RECALLS. FOUND SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT - FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURE#07099A. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT WAS RIGHT. HOWEVER MY VIN # DOES NOT FALL UNDER VIN #'S LISTED. THE DEALER CALLED A LOCAL GM REP. AND I WAS OFFERED 40% COVERED BY GM MEANING I WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE OTHER 60%. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ONLY SOME VIN#'S ARE IN THIS AND NOT ALL OF THEM. IT SEEMS THAT THIS A PROBLEM THAT IS VERY COMMON IN THESE TRAILBLAZERS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY FAMILY OF 5 AROUND IN THIS TRAILBLAZER WITH A FRACTURE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AND THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE TRUCK AND RISK OF FIRE FROM GAS LEAKING OUT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM SO THAT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE TRAILBLAZERS NOT WITH IN THE VIN #'S COVERED CAN GET THIS FIXED AND BE SAFE. CHEVROLET/GM SHOULD STEP UP AND MAKE THIS A RECALL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 13, 201395,115 milesSC

DUE TO A SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT AND SMELLING GAS INSIDE MY VEHICLE, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HE STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE NECK OF MY FUEL TANK. THE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TRAILBLAZERS. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GM DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEIR INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT POINT I ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR A CRACK. THEY DID AND VERIFIED THERE IS A CRACK. I MENTIONED GM CAMPAIGN 07099A - A RECALL FOR TRAILBLAZER EXT'S TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AT NO CHARGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS RECALL ONLY AFFECTED CERTAIN VIN #'S AND MINE IS NOT WITHIN THE AFFECTED NUMBER RANGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO ME. THE DEALER OFFERED A 50/50 RESOLUTION WHICH TO ME ONLY SERVES TO PROVE THEIR CULPABILITY IN THE MATTER. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WHOM I REGULARLY TRANSPORT IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 12, 201388,000 milesIL

I WAS GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY & BOTH HEADLIGHTS JUST STOPPED WORKING. I DROVE HOME WITH NO LIGHTS ON THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN THE DARK, VERY VERY VERY UNSAFE. HOW DO ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE FRONT OF YOUR CAR GO OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 201375,234 milesMD

2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT WITH 76,500 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS READING MAXIMUM. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER IN THE DARK ON A BUSY HWY TO CHECK OIL AND IT WAS FULL. THEN APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS POINTING DOWN AND STAYS THERE. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS READING 80 MPH EVEN WHEN STOPPED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER THE GAS AND WATER TEMP GAUGE IS READING CORRECTLY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED ABOUT THIS MODEL AND MANY OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS. RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE ON SOME MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THIS ONE. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL ASAP AND CORRECT THE INFAMOUS PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND ONE THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 29, 201252,582 milesIN

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I RAN OUT OF GAS. IT STILL SHOWED OVER 100 MILES LEFT ON THE GAUGE. THAT WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I STARTED KEEPING THE GAS ON 3/4 OF A TANK AT ALL TIMES TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS FUEL IN IT. THE PROBLEM KEPT HAPPENING. TODAY, IT WAS ON 200+ MILES AND I RAN OUT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! DO I REALLY HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY MILES I PUT ON IT SO I KNOW WHEN I NEED TO REFILL? *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 26, 2012120,000 milesGA

ALL GAUGES ON CONTROL PANEL NOT WORKING, BUT ALL SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON CHECK ENGINE, ABS SEAT BELT, REDUCE POWER, BATTERY LIGHTS. SPEED AND FUEL ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW AS WELL AS WARNINGS TO OBSERVE FROM LIGHTS. 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW A FASTER SPEED THAN YOU MOVING OR WILL GO TO 0 WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE TACH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED NOW. I HEARD THAT THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON PICK-UPS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. MOST INSTRUMENT BACKLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT PREVENTING THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES FROM BEING SEEN AT NIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS. QUICK SEARCH ON INTERNET RESULTS IN A SEVERE EPIDEMIC OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL GM SUV'S. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT RESULTED IN A NATIONWIDE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES BUT NOT THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER OR GMC ENVOY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CRIMINAL ACT BY GM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT..WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT, I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/CHEVROLET/TRAILBLAZER/ELECTRICAL+SYSTEM CHECK OUT ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM AND I AM ONE OF MANY. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS AS WELL, PLEASE GET US A RECALL ON THESE CARS THE EXPENSES ARE TREMENDOUS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 7, 201261,384 milesTX

THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH NORTH BOUND ON DAVIS BLVD. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 80 MPH THEN WHEN STOPPED IT WAS STILL READING 80 MPH. IT THEN MOVED PAST THE GAUGE NOT ALLOWING TO KNOW MY ACTUAL SPEED. THIS TO ME IS A CAR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. THE GAS GAUGE HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR MORE THAT 24 MONTHS. THE CAUTION LIGHT (YELLOW) TURNS ON WHEN YOU NEED TO FILL THE TANK SO WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS LIGHT TO FILL THE CAR WITH GAS. THE GAUGE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT ABUSED WE FILL THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH SHOULD HAVE LASTED THE REGULAR 100,000 MILES BEFORE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. FROM TALKING TO OTHER USERS AND REPEATED SEARCHES ONLINE IT SEEM TO BE A REGULAR FAILURE ITEM. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. MANY DRIVERS HAVE HAD TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY TO HAVE THIS ITEM FIXED IN LESS THAN AVERAGE MEAN TIMES BETWEEN FAILURE OF (100,000 MILES). *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 2, 201296,000 milesUT

I JUST GASED THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WE COULD SMELL GAS DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE WE JUST GOT GAS THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS A PO442 CODE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SMALL LEAK DETECTED SO I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS OFF AND ON AND KEEP GETTING THE PO442 CODE. SO I GO BUY A VENT VALVE SOLENOID AND PUT IT ON CLEAR THE CODE I NOTICE GAS AROUND THE INTAKE PIPE ON THE GAS TANK SO I TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND ITS BROKE HALF WAY AROUND THE FILLER NECK AND THIS IS A RECALL ON CERTAIN VIN #S BUT MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL I THINK IT SHOULD BE WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH FUEL AND THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT CAN LEAK OUT THIS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD FOR SURE I THINK GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF PICKING AN CHOOSING CERTAIN VIN #S. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 11, 2012VA

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER EXT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE TACHOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER, NOR DOES THE BATTERY GAUGE AND UNCERTAIN IF THE READING ON THE OIL GAUGE IS ACCURATE. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT OPERABLE, THE NEEDLE IS EITHER PASS E(EMPTY) OR PASS F (FULL), I'M CONSTANTLY RE-FUELING FOR FEAR OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS. WHEN FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE, THE SPEED INDICATOR MIGHT REGISTER CORRECTLY, BUT THEN IT FALLS BELOW 0 MPH WHILE TRAVELING SPEEDS OF 35 TO 55 MPH AND OTHER TIMES IT MAY INDICATE SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH. PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER FIRST STARTED IN JUNE 2012 , I USED A GPS TO KEEP TRACK OF TRAVELING SPEED. AFTERWARDS, THE OTHER GAUGES STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED.VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES, AS I OCCASIONALLY TRANSPORT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO APPOINTMENTS. HAS CHEVROLET MADE ANY AMENDMENTS TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS? ASSISTANCE NEEDED PLEASE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 5, 201230,000 milesPA

ISSUE ORIGINALLY OCCURRING IN 2008. SPEEDOMETER FAILED...FIRST GETTING STUCK THEN NOT RETURNING TO ZERO. WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON AGAIN, SPEEDOMETER WOULD SPORADICALLY WORK, THEN GET STUCK, THEN STAY ON ZERO. BROUGHT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY (PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON DATE OF PURCHASE) AND WAS TOLD "THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED", SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AS WELL AS "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" GOING ON FOR PERIODS OF TIME ....AGAIN CHECKED BY GM DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER MECHANICS BUT NOTHING FOUND. HERE WE ARE IN 2012, I RECENTLY STARTED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T MIND THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING AT TIMES, BUT, WITH HIS UNEXPECTED DEATH IN NOVEMBER, AND MY SON AWAY AT COLLEGE, I HAD PLANNED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE TO MY SON TO TAKE TO COLLEGE, BUT NO SPEEDOMETER IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. AS I AM RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I AM SEEING MANY CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY GM. THERE ARE CLAIMS OF OTHER MECHANICS BEING ABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AT A PRETTY HEFTY COST. I AM IN NO POSITION TO PAY FOR A REPAIR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THE WARRANTY WE PURCHASED, WHICH, BY THE WAY WAS NOT CHEAP. IS NOT SAFETY SOMETHING GM HAS ON ITS' PRIORITY LIST. DRIVING WITH NO ABILITY TO KNOW HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE TRAVELING IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BE LAUNCHED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, W

Engine
Filed May 2, 2012NJ

I WAS WONDERING HOW COME THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT FOR THE THROTTLE BODY. I SEE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLS ON OTHER CHEVY CARS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS WHEN THIS GOES YOU HAVE A REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON. WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT UNTIL MY CAR WASN'T GOING ANY MORE THAN 20 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD LIKE I WAS AND CAN'T SPEED UP OR BETTER YET TRYING TO TURN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO. ALSO, I SEE THAT THERE WERE ALSO ALOT OF ISSUES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. WHICH ALSO I HAD THAT PROBLEM HAS TO PAY TOO MUCH MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED. AS HOW THEY WOULD SAY THEIR ARE MANUFACTURE PARTS WHICH DEFINITELY HURTS YOUR POCKETS. IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THESE ISSUES THEY REALLY NEED TO RECTIFY BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE ISSUES CAUSE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD. I KNOW THEY ARE WEAR AND TEAR ON CARS / TRUCKS BUT IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS I THINK THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES. *JS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank
Filed Mar 31, 2012AZ

TANK IS SUBJECT TO CRACKING CAUSING ROUGH IDLE VEHICLE SPEED SURGES AND GAS VAPORS IN THE VEHICLE AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WILL FAIL EMISSIONS. MANUFACTURE RECALL WAS PUT OUT BUT VEHICLE HAS TO BE MADE AT A CERTAIN FACULTY AND MINE WASN'T, BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED CARS. *JS

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 7, 2012146,000 milesCT

CAR FELT "STUCK" IN GEAR, WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID. ADDED MORE FLUID, REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, CAMSHAFT & CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH RPMS GOING HIGH, CAR SLAMMING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. ALSO CANNOT RUN HEAT WHILE DRIVING, FAN DRAWS POWER & CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL OUT. CAR ALSO BURNING THROUGH GAS VERY QUICKLY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 14, 201270,000 milesNY

FUEL GAUGE STAYS ON EMPTY AND OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYS AT 260 DEGREES. THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND RESETS INCORRECTLY AT RANDOM INTERVALS. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 16, 201290,000 milesOR

IN COLD WEATHER, THE STEERING FLUID BECOMES FILLED WITH AIR. THEN IT FOAMS AND BOILS OUT OF THE PUMP.THE CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT HAS DONE IT TWICE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 9, 201243,400 milesMD

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN ALL DASH GAUGES FAILED. PARTICULARLY CONCERNING WAS THE FAILURE OF THE SPEEDOMETER. GM HAS ADMITTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE PAID FOR AND INSTALLED REPLACEMENT DASH CLUSTERS ON SOME MODELS. THE 2004 TRAILBLAZER IS NOT COVERED AS THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH OCCURRENCES OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE REPORTED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 28, 2011144,000 milesME

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN MY FAMILY'S GARAGE, AS I AM EXPERIENCING A STRONG GAS SMELL. THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEAK, BUT I DO NOT DARE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN FIND WHAT THE GAS SMELL IS ORIGINATING FROM. *TR

Complaints 1-50 of 261, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2006189620Routine
2004 — this page261130Above average
2003313360Above average
2002100320Routine

Compare every Trailblazer EXT year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 1, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.