Illustration(SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER PROBLEMS) IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROB WITH CHEVY TRUCKS & SUVS. MY VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER IS NO WORKING, GM IS REFUSING TO RECALL THE 2004 TB. *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 reportsI HAVE A 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXTENDED SUV. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY FLASH ON AND OFF SINCE HAVING THE TRUCK ONLY SIX MONTHS. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AT ALMOST 70,000 MILES. ALSO, MY SPEEDOMETER NOW WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER…
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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXTENDED SUV. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY FLASH ON AND OFF SINCE HAVING THE TRUCK ONLY SIX MONTHS. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AT ALMOST 70,000 MILES. ALSO, MY SPEEDOMETER NOW WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TO. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER, NOW IT IS ALMOST 70 DEGREES AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SOUNDS AS IF THIS IF VERY COMMON IN THESE MODELS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIND A WAY TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. *TR
LEAKING FUEL TANK. NO FIRE YET! ENVIRMENTAL HAZARD. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN FAILING CONSISTENTLY. SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT FAILS TO RETURN TO ZERO, REGISTERING 100MPH WHEN GPS SHOWS 35MPH. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, IT WILL START WORKING NORMALLY - THEN FAULT AGAIN. MILES DRIVEN ON THE ODOMETER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AFFECTED. THE CONDITION IS STARTING TO SPREAD TO OTHER GAUGES, WITH THE…
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THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN FAILING CONSISTENTLY. SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT FAILS TO RETURN TO ZERO, REGISTERING 100MPH WHEN GPS SHOWS 35MPH. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, IT WILL START WORKING NORMALLY - THEN FAULT AGAIN. MILES DRIVEN ON THE ODOMETER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AFFECTED. THE CONDITION IS STARTING TO SPREAD TO OTHER GAUGES, WITH THE TACHOMETER SHOWING SEVERAL SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. *TR
2004 TRAILBLAZER , TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK RUSTED AND BROKE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FROM WATER GETTING INSIDE / DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ! AND THE BEARINGS IN THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT LEAVING THE FAN SHAFT WIGGLING / LOOSE. WITH ONLY 65000 MILES ON MY TRAILBLAZER NOT TRAVELING NO FASTER THAN 75 MPH MAX. THIS SHOULD NO…
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2004 TRAILBLAZER , TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK RUSTED AND BROKE, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FROM WATER GETTING INSIDE / DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ! AND THE BEARINGS IN THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT LEAVING THE FAN SHAFT WIGGLING / LOOSE. WITH ONLY 65000 MILES ON MY TRAILBLAZER NOT TRAVELING NO FASTER THAN 75 MPH MAX. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. MY FRIENDS WITH THE SAME TRAILBLAZER IS HAVING THE SAME THING HAPPENING. I SERVICED EVERY 3500 MILES SINCE OWNED 2005. PLEASE HELP IF CAN . *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 50 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD OFTEN BECOME STUCK AT ZERO. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD OFTEN DISPLAY 100 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 50 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD OFTEN BECOME STUCK AT ZERO. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD OFTEN DISPLAY 100 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 73,000.
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPT 2004. IN MARCH 2005 I STARTED NOTICING IT WAS HARD TO START IN THE MORNING WHEN IT WAS COLD AND IT IDLED ROUGHLY AND WOULD STALL WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THEN. IN APRIL 2005, WITH 9400 MILES ON IT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I…
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THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPT 2004. IN MARCH 2005 I STARTED NOTICING IT WAS HARD TO START IN THE MORNING WHEN IT WAS COLD AND IT IDLED ROUGHLY AND WOULD STALL WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THEN. IN APRIL 2005, WITH 9400 MILES ON IT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY CLEANED OUT (FLUSHED) THE FUEL SYSTEM AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME NOT TO BUY "CHEAP GAS" BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WILL HAVE PARTICLES IN IT THAT CAN CLOG UP THE FUEL SYSTEM (THEN WHAT IS THE FUEL FILTER FOR?). SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED THREE MORE TIMES. I PROBABLY COULD HAVE HAD IT DONE MORE TIMES, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT TO KEEP GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BEING WITHOUT A VEHICLE, SO I JUST DEALT WITH THE ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATIONS. I BUY GAS THE SAME PLACES AS EVERYONE ELSE IN MY FAMILY, YET I AM THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AND PUT IT IN THE GAS TANK EVERY COUPLE OF FILLUPS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTOR THAT KEEPS CLOGGING, BUT OF COURSE NONE OF THE MECHANICS EVER MADE NOTE OF WHICH ONE IT WAS. SO WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURS I MUST TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. *TR
DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION ON THE HIGHWAY IN A SNOWSTORM, WE REALIZED THE TACHOMETER WAS NO LONGER SHOWING THE CORRECT RPMS. IT WAS STUCK AROUND 4000 WHILE WE WERE GOING LESS THAN THAT. A LITTLE WHILE LATER WE NOTICED THAT WHILE WE WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT AND TRAVELING PROBABLY 10 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 60 M…
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DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION ON THE HIGHWAY IN A SNOWSTORM, WE REALIZED THE TACHOMETER WAS NO LONGER SHOWING THE CORRECT RPMS. IT WAS STUCK AROUND 4000 WHILE WE WERE GOING LESS THAN THAT. A LITTLE WHILE LATER WE NOTICED THAT WHILE WE WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT AND TRAVELING PROBABLY 10 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING 60 MPH. WE QUICKLY STOPPED FOR GAS, THINKING MAYBE THOSE GAUGES WERE MALFUNCTIONING AS WELL, BUT THEY WEREN'T. WHEN WE ACCELERATED AGAIN, THE SPEEDOMETER RAISED FROM 60 TO EVENTUALLY OVER 120 MPH. EACH TIME WE SLOWED DOWN THE NEEDLE STUCK, THEN WHEN WE ACCELERATED IT WENT HIGHER. WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE SNOWSTORM ON THE HIGHWAY, WE THINK WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 TO 30 MPH, BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL OVER 120 MPH. THIS WAS SCARY BECAUSE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JUDGE OUR SPEED, BUT IN THE SNOW IT WAS HARD TO DO SO. ON MONDAY WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT VEHICLES WITH UNDER 70,000 MILES THEY WOULD FIX BUT SINCE OURS HAD 78,000 WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. WE DECIDED WE CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER BOTH GAUGES STARTED WORKING PROPERLY ON THEIR OWN. WE ARE STILL LEERY OF TRUSTING THEM, AND WE ARE ASSUMING THEY WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. I CAN SEE THIS PROBLEM LEADING TO BEING TICKETED FOR SPEEDING AND POSSIBLY EVEN HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED. *TR
2004 TRAILBLAZER, THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK RUSTED AND BROKE AND WATER IN TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME 2004 TRAILBLAZERS. BAD DIP STICK MANUFACTURE POSITION GETTING WATER INSIDE. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER DOESN'T RECORD THE EXACT SPEED. *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.