IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON ALL THE TIME. SWITCHING THEM OFF DID NOTHING. THE WIPERS STILL RAN. *JB
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 reportsCONSUMER TOOK HER 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. *TS RECALL#05V198000. *JB
THE UPPER MOLDING OF MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER BLEW OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART HAD BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR IT ($505.20), BUT SAID THIS PROBLEM WOULD …
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THE UPPER MOLDING OF MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER BLEW OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART HAD BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR IT ($505.20), BUT SAID THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE BODY SHOP MANAGER IN 2004 SAID HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP TODAY DENIED THAT PATTERN AND SAID FIXING THE PROBLEM WAS UP TO ME. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP 36 HOURS TO COME TO A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE COST OF REPAIR SHOULD BE BORNE BY ME OR NOT. *NM
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT FOR MY STEREO DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS, MY DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR DUE TO CONSTANT SHAKING, A SEAL IN THE WINDOW THAT WAS COMING OUT, DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL DUE TO THE PLASTIC BOWING UP. OCCASIONALLY THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT FAILS…
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I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT FOR MY STEREO DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS, MY DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR DUE TO CONSTANT SHAKING, A SEAL IN THE WINDOW THAT WAS COMING OUT, DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL DUE TO THE PLASTIC BOWING UP. OCCASIONALLY THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT FAILS TO RELEASE ALLOWING ME TO PUT MY SEATBELT ON. EXCESS WIND NOISE ON THE DRIVERSIDE POSSIBLY DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD NOT BEING SEALED PROPERLY.*AK
THE TIE ROD BROKE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE CAUSING INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. WHEEL DAMAGE WINDSHIELD BROKEN, SIDE BODY DAMAGE AND BUMPER DAMAGE. *JB
THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH, GOING INTO A DITCH, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE CONSUMER, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *SC
(1) CRASH (2) AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, KNEES HIT DASH (3) TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *JB
I PURCHASED A CHEVROLET EXT TRAILBLAZER ON NOV. 26, 2004. 2 MONTHS LATER ON FEB. 1, 2005 IT WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SHUTTING DOWN 5 TIMES WITH 2 LOUD EXPLOSIONS. THE MALFUCTION OF THE VEHICLE CAME CLOSE TO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS OCCURING AND AN ALMOST NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR MY DAUGHER AND I WHEN IT SHUT DOWN FOR ON…
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I PURCHASED A CHEVROLET EXT TRAILBLAZER ON NOV. 26, 2004. 2 MONTHS LATER ON FEB. 1, 2005 IT WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SHUTTING DOWN 5 TIMES WITH 2 LOUD EXPLOSIONS. THE MALFUCTION OF THE VEHICLE CAME CLOSE TO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS OCCURING AND AN ALMOST NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR MY DAUGHER AND I WHEN IT SHUT DOWN FOR ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY BY ATTEMPTING TO CROSS IT UNTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTION VALVE HAD MALFUCTIONED AND REMAINED OPEN RELEASING ALL THE GASOLINE UNTO THE ENGINE. THEY ARE REPLACING THE INJECTOR, SPARK PLUGS/WIRES THAT WERE FLOODED WITH GASOLINE, AND THE INTAKE GASKET. I CONTACTED GM WHICH ALSO CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE SERIES OF EVENTS COULD HAVE STARTED A VEHICLE FIRE AND THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE ENGINE OFF AND VACATED IT IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT TELL ME HOW THIS OCCURED NOR PROMISE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN OR OTHER PROBLEMS STEM FROM THIS DEFECT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATING SITUATION TO ANYONE. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I AM PURSUING OTHER AVENUES TO ENSURE THAT I WILL NOT KEEP THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS LIFE THREATING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE SEAT BELT ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. HAS MALFUNCTIONED, I.E. IT DOES NOT COME OUT, AND THEREFORE WILL FORCE ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. *NM I HAVE VISITED THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE THEM CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EVERYTIME I TRAVEL TO THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE THE TIME…
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE SEAT BELT ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. HAS MALFUNCTIONED, I.E. IT DOES NOT COME OUT, AND THEREFORE WILL FORCE ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. *NM I HAVE VISITED THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE THEM CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EVERYTIME I TRAVEL TO THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE THE TIME THAT IT STARTS TO WORK AGAIN. GM'S POLICY IS THAT "IF THEY DO NOT SEE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT OCCURS, THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM" I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, BEING UNABLE TO BUCKLE MY SEATBELT ON OCCASION, AND NOT TO MENTION ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEATBELT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER TRAILBLAZER OWNERS, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO?
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER (FIANCE'S), FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES, WE NOTICED A TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. (TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS ON TIRE). IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE TREAD IS PEELING BACK ON REST OF TIRE ALSO. AS OF THIS TIME, THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING A…
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2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER (FIANCE'S), FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES, WE NOTICED A TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. (TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS ON TIRE). IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE TREAD IS PEELING BACK ON REST OF TIRE ALSO. AS OF THIS TIME, THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ORE RECENTLY, WE FOUND OUT THAT CONTINENTAL HAS A 12-15 WEEK BACKORDER, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE HALTED PRODUCTION DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM. ****ACTUAL TIRE IZE:245/65/SR17**** SITE DID NOT GIVE THAT OPTION. *AK
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.