IllustrationTHE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER FREQUENTLY GETS STUCK OR STOPS WORKING, WHILE DRIVING. *TR
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trailblazer Ext years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
170–25K
4925–50K
6550–75K
4675–100K
24100–150K
15150K+
216 reports with mileage · 45 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
261 reportsSPEEDOMETER GIVES FALSE READINGS. STARTED IN THE WINTER OF 2008, BUT IS NOW HAPPENING ON A WEEKLY BASIS DURING THE SUMMER. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ALL INSTRUMENTS INTERMITTENTLY QUIT FUNCTIONING DURING NORMAL OPERATION (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL LEVEL, RPM'S, BATTERY CHARGE, OIL PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, MILEAGE, AND GEAR INDICATOR. YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT FORWARD FROM REVERSE. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO OPERATE ESPE…
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2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ALL INSTRUMENTS INTERMITTENTLY QUIT FUNCTIONING DURING NORMAL OPERATION (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL LEVEL, RPM'S, BATTERY CHARGE, OIL PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, MILEAGE, AND GEAR INDICATOR. YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT FORWARD FROM REVERSE. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO OPERATE ESPECIALLY NOT KNOWING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. *TR
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATIC OR NOT AT ALL ON SOME OF THE GAUGES. I'VE READ THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT ALL. *TR
ON JULY 26 THE FUEL TANK BROKE AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ALSO ON MY CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IT WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE I HAD IT FOR 30 DAYS I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO NOTHING WE PAID ABOUT $2800.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED YOU COULD SMELL THE GAS INSIDE THE CAR I WAS VERY WORRIED BEING THAT IT WAS HARMFUL TO M…
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ON JULY 26 THE FUEL TANK BROKE AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ALSO ON MY CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IT WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE I HAD IT FOR 30 DAYS I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO NOTHING WE PAID ABOUT $2800.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED YOU COULD SMELL THE GAS INSIDE THE CAR I WAS VERY WORRIED BEING THAT IT WAS HARMFUL TO MY KIDS AND I LET THE DEALER KNOW THAT AND THEN A WEEK LATER WE GOT A RECALL LETTER FROM CHEVY ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE DEALER NEVER GAVE US THE CAR FAX REPORT LIKE IT STATES IN THERE DEALER FRONT DOOR I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS . *TR
ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE OFF OF CRUISE AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. AFTER THAT, EVERYTIME I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE. EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IT DROPS 5 MPH, BUT WHEN YOU USE CRUISE OR DO …
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ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE OFF OF CRUISE AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. AFTER THAT, EVERYTIME I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE. EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IT DROPS 5 MPH, BUT WHEN YOU USE CRUISE OR DO A CONSTANT SPEED, IT STICKS AGAIN. WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO ON A BIG FAMILY VACATION AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE TAKING MY FAMILY IN A VEHICLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. MY MECHANIC IS REPLACING THE CLUSTER WITH A USED ONE FROM THE LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. A USED ONE WITH LABOR IS STILL GOING TO COST ME $200 AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT ONE WILL LAST. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EQUIPMENT FAILURE THAT GM HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST NOT SAFE! *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER NEW IN 2004 AND IT HAS BEEN OK. I GOT IN IT LAST THURSDAY AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY BASEMENT TO GO TO WORK. IT MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I GOT MY HUSBAND UP TO LOOK AT IT. COME TO FIND OUT REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID REVERSE WAS OUT AND SOME GEARS WERE WORN…
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I BOUGHT MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER NEW IN 2004 AND IT HAS BEEN OK. I GOT IN IT LAST THURSDAY AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY BASEMENT TO GO TO WORK. IT MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I GOT MY HUSBAND UP TO LOOK AT IT. COME TO FIND OUT REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID REVERSE WAS OUT AND SOME GEARS WERE WORN. I HAD NO WARNING AND THIS JUST HAPPENED. THIS REPAIR PERSON TOLD US THIS WAS WEAK LINK ON THE TRAILBLAZERS AND THE TRANSMISSIONS WOULD GO JUST LIKE THAT. IF THIS IS A WEAK LINK, GM SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT TAKE OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 89,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
YESTERDAY MY DASHBOARD CONTROL PANEL WORKED GREAT. THIS MORNING (4/18/09) AS I WAS DRIVING TO MY BANK, I NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE GAUGES AND/OR LIGHTS WERE WORKING ( OIL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, BATTERY GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC). MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR. *TR
THE NIPPLE PART OF THE FUEL TANK THAT CONNECTS THE FILLER LINE TO THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AND LEAKS FUEL WHEN WE FILL UP AND WHEN WE DRIVE AND DO TO THE FACT THAT WE PARK IN THE GARAGE WITH THE (WET) LEAKY SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WITHIN FIVE FEET OF OUR GAS WATER HEATER WE ARE LUCKY PEOPLE TO BE ALIVE. (THIS IS A FAULTY PIECE OF…
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THE NIPPLE PART OF THE FUEL TANK THAT CONNECTS THE FILLER LINE TO THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AND LEAKS FUEL WHEN WE FILL UP AND WHEN WE DRIVE AND DO TO THE FACT THAT WE PARK IN THE GARAGE WITH THE (WET) LEAKY SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WITHIN FIVE FEET OF OUR GAS WATER HEATER WE ARE LUCKY PEOPLE TO BE ALIVE. (THIS IS A FAULTY PIECE OF PLASTIC AND BY THE WAY THE REVIEWS/COMPLAINTS LOOK ON THIS SITE WE ARE NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE). *TR
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM AS A WARRANTY ITEM SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURES RELATED TO THE 4.2 LITER SIX CYLINDER ENGINE. *TR
Official recalls
104V527000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Nov 1, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
EA07009 · Fuel Pump Module Leaks Gasoline
Opened Jul 10, 2007 · Closed Aug 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EA INVESTIGATION, ODI OBSERVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS (88%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (94%) WERE REPORTED FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE SALT BELT REGION OF THE US.THIS AREA INCLUDES 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC AND THE MIDWEST REGIONS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.CONSUMERS IN THE SALT BELT REGION REPORTED TO ODI THAT THEY COULD SMELL FUEL VAPORS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT FUEL VAPORS WERE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE RETURN AND SENDER LINES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.WATER AND ROAD SALT COLLECT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.
EA04021 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Aug 3, 2004 · Closed Nov 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE/TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.ON MARCH 2, 2004, GM INITIATED A 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE SPECIAL POLICY FOR 989,487 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.ON APRIL 4, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-032) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.ON AUGUST 3, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE04-032 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-021).BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V527) COVERING SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AND EARLIER.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.