IllustrationGAUGES IN GAUGE CLUSTER GIVE FALSE READINGS SPEEDO IN PARTICULAR READS 120MPH WHEN NOT MOVING , WHEN VEHICLE SWITCH OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE READING CHANGES , SOMETIMES GOES BACK TO NORMAL HAPPENS PERIODICALLY THROUGH OUT THE WEEK; GAUGES AFFECTED TACH, SPEEDO, VOLTAGE. *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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. DURING THE WINTER, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. THE DIAL WILL SHOW 100 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW SPEEDOMETER WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $500. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,216 AND FAILURE M…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. DURING THE WINTER, THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. THE DIAL WILL SHOW 100 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW SPEEDOMETER WAS NEEDED AT THE COST OF $500. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,216 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT SPEEDOMETER DOES INDICATE CORRECT SPEED. OPERATION IS INTERMITTENT. WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, INDICATION IS FROM 0 MPH TO PEGGED OUT, WITH NEEDLE FLUCTUATING. NO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, OR SPEEDING TICKETS, YET!!! *TR
SPEEDOMETER STUCK AND IS POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN. AT FIRST IT WAS STUCK AT 80MPH AND THEN JUST FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER ONLY HAS 50K MILES. *TR
GAS GAUGE HAS NOT BEEN RELIABLE. LOW GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND DOES NOT REGISTER ADDITION OF GAS ACCURATELY. *JB
I PURCHASED MY 04 TRAILBLAZER IN MAY OF 07. UP UNTIL JULY THERE WHERE NO PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGES HAVE BEEN ACTING UP. ON MANY OCCASIONS THEY GIVE THE WRONG READINGS. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED TWICE FOR SPEEDING WHEN I DID NOT THINK I WAS BECAUSE OF THE WRONG READING. LAST WEEK ON 5 SEP 07 THE SPEEDOMETE…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED MY 04 TRAILBLAZER IN MAY OF 07. UP UNTIL JULY THERE WHERE NO PROBLEMS. SINCE THEN MY SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGES HAVE BEEN ACTING UP. ON MANY OCCASIONS THEY GIVE THE WRONG READINGS. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED TWICE FOR SPEEDING WHEN I DID NOT THINK I WAS BECAUSE OF THE WRONG READING. LAST WEEK ON 5 SEP 07 THE SPEEDOMETER COMPLETELY FROZE GIVING ME NO READING AT ALL. SINCE THEN THE NEEDLE HAS STARTED MOVING BUT IS NO WHERE NEAR THE CORRECT READING. *TR
PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW FROM A STOP TO 45 MPH WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER INDICATED I WAS DOING 75 MPH. CONTINUING AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 45 WITH SLIGHT SLOWDOWNS AND SPEEDUPS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED TO 85 MPH. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I…
Read full complaint
PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW FROM A STOP TO 45 MPH WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER INDICATED I WAS DOING 75 MPH. CONTINUING AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 45 WITH SLIGHT SLOWDOWNS AND SPEEDUPS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED TO 85 MPH. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IT WENT TO 80 MPH. THEN, ACCELERATING TO 35 MPH, IT NOW READ 105 MPH. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK IT WENT TO 80 MPH NOT 0. TRUCK HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT. **AK
IN THE 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THE 10 CHEVROLET DEALERS WE TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM W UNTIL WE WERE PAST THE 70,000 MILES EXTRA WARRANTY CHEVROLET ADDED TO COVER ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WARRANTY INFORMATION WAS ADDRESSED IN SPECIAL P…
Read full complaint
IN THE 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THE 10 CHEVROLET DEALERS WE TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM W UNTIL WE WERE PAST THE 70,000 MILES EXTRA WARRANTY CHEVROLET ADDED TO COVER ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WARRANTY INFORMATION WAS ADDRESSED IN SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT- FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURE #05012 ON MARCH 14, 2005. APPARENTLY, AS WE WERE TOLD BY A CHEVROLET DEALER THIS VEHICLE HAD A FRACTURE IN THE GAS TANK, AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE TANK. THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE FOUND NUMBER OF ARTICLES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR US, AS THIS VEHICLE WAS THE PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION FOR MY CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE TOP MOLDING ON THE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COLD AND WINDY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE CONTACT'S FAULT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.*AK
THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 120 AND STAYED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN SLOWLY CAME BACK DOWN BUT WHEN TRAVELING 5 MPH IT WILL SAY 40 TO 90 DEPENDS HOW IT FEELS. GM WILL NOT BACK UP UNDER WARRANT. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TRUCKS...VEHICLE IS A 2004 TRAILBLAZER ,WITH 40,000 MI.. *JB
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.