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2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
53,000 miles · Mar 2, 2009
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT ALL THE TIME WAITING ON RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260411

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2009
Electrical System

WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK EVERYTHING WAS FINE NOW THE GAS GAUGE, OIL GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT AND I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO $700 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS AND WITH ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS I THINK CHEVY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS A 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER…

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WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK EVERYTHING WAS FINE NOW THE GAS GAUGE, OIL GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT AND I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO $700 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS AND WITH ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS I THINK CHEVY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS A 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260193

85,000 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

THE GAUGES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER DO NOT WORK. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY AGAIN ARE NOT WORKING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, OIL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DON'T WORK. A…

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THE GAUGES ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER DO NOT WORK. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY AGAIN ARE NOT WORKING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, OIL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DON'T WORK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL HAVE REPORTED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZZARD AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT WITH CHREVOLET FOOTING THE BILL. I GUESS IT WON'T BE ADDRESSED UNTIL DEATHS OR INJURIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259850

81,000 miles · Feb 18, 2009
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED LAST SUMMER (2008). I HAD NOTICED IT HAPPENING AFTER USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND STOPPED USING THE CRUISE AND IT WOULD STILL STICK. FOND OUT IT IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SPEEDOMETER USED TO RESET ITSELF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF T…

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THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED LAST SUMMER (2008). I HAD NOTICED IT HAPPENING AFTER USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND STOPPED USING THE CRUISE AND IT WOULD STILL STICK. FOND OUT IT IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SPEEDOMETER USED TO RESET ITSELF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NOW WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON IT WILL READ AROUND 100 MPH AND MOVE UP PAST THE 120 MPH. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR APPROX 2 MONTHS. MY MECHANIC SAID IT NEEDS A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL. I JUST RESEARCHED ON INTERNET AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE DOES NOT REALIZE THEIR SPEED WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS STICKING. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPLACED AS I CANNOT AFFORD IT. I JUST GAUGE MY SPEED BY OTHER CARS OR BY THE TIME IT TAKES TO GO 5 OR 10 MILES WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. NOT GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259183

58,400 miles · Feb 14, 2009
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER AND TACH BEGAN READING HIGH (90MPH, 115MPH - 6000RPMS, 7000RPMS) BEFORE BOTH NEEDLES POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN. IF I TURNED OFF THE CAR, THEY WOULD RESET THEMSELVES TO 55MPH AND 5000RPMS. I WAS ON THE BEGINNING OF A LONG ROAD TRIP WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SO I WAS HOPING I WASN'T GOING TO GET PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. W…

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MY SPEEDOMETER AND TACH BEGAN READING HIGH (90MPH, 115MPH - 6000RPMS, 7000RPMS) BEFORE BOTH NEEDLES POINTED STRAIGHT DOWN. IF I TURNED OFF THE CAR, THEY WOULD RESET THEMSELVES TO 55MPH AND 5000RPMS. I WAS ON THE BEGINNING OF A LONG ROAD TRIP WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SO I WAS HOPING I WASN'T GOING TO GET PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED AND THANKFULLY I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS 2004 TRAILBLAZER. AFTER SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE, I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. THIS DEFINITELY SOUNDS LIKE A GM DEFECT. IF HIS ENDS UP BEING A RECALL, COULD I GET REIMBURSED?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258677

37,342 miles · Feb 12, 2009
Electrical System

WHILE EXITING MY CHILD SCHOOL PARKING LOT THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION, HAD TO TURN HAZARD LIGHTS ON SO I WASN'T HIT. COULD NOT GO OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR. SPEEDOMETER HAS INTERMITTENTLY GONE HAYWIRE. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258461

83,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS ERRATIC, SPEED SHOW ZERO, TACH IS NOT WORKING AT ALL NOW, THE OIL PRESSURE AND VOLT METER IS ERRATIC. THIS IS A UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION NOT KNOWING IF YOU ARE GOING AT A UNSAFE SPEED OR IF YOU ARE DOING DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR WITH THE OIL PRESSURE IS SO ERRATIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258335

90,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES CRAZY. NO OIL PRESSURE/EXCESSIVE OIL PRESSURE, NO TACH/PEGGED TACH, SPEEDOMETER GIVES FALSE SPEED READINGS(THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS), BATTERY READS LOW VOLTS OR OFF THE SCALE VOLTS/. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY. CHEVY DEALERS ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $600-$700 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258311

84,000 miles · Feb 10, 2009
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME ERRATIC AND WILL NOT SHOW HOW FAST WE ARE DRIVING, CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON SEVERAL FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND WITH TIME MAY BECOME UNIVERSAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258168

51,320 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE READINGS OF SPEED (I.E. 70MPH WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). THIS BEGAN TODAY AND HAS NOT CORRECTED ITSELF. THERE ARE SERIOUS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR TRUE SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. RESEARCH…

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THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE READINGS OF SPEED (I.E. 70MPH WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). THIS BEGAN TODAY AND HAS NOT CORRECTED ITSELF. THERE ARE SERIOUS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR TRUE SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN AVERAGE PRICE OF REPAIR TO BE AROUND $450.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257515

Official recalls

1

04V527000 · 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

3

RQ17002 · 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.