IllustrationINSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DEAD - HEATER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AND DRIVERS SIDE IS STUCK ON HEAT AND WON'T SHUT OFF - SENDING THE TRAILBLAZER TO OBAMA AND GOV.'T MOTORS - NO CHANCE IT WILL EVER GET FIXED SINCE OBAMA BOUGHT OFF THE UNION! *TR
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Trailblazer years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 87.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trailblazer 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
880–25K
16325–50K
27450–75K
17675–100K
137100–150K
61150K+
899 reports with mileage · 182 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 627 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
56 crash reports31 fire reports47 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
627 reportsINTERMITTENT SPEEDOMETER AND INOPERATIVE TACHOMETER. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW A FASTER SPEED THAN YOU MOVING OR WILL GO TO 0 WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE TACH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED NOW. I HEARD THAT THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON PICK-UPS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. *TR
SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT SLOWED AND THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STAYED AT THE SAME SPEED. WE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND IT STAYED AT 60. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A WEEK AND HAS STAYED AT 80 AND DOES…
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SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE THE SPEED LIMIT SLOWED AND THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STAYED AT THE SAME SPEED. WE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND IT STAYED AT 60. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A WEEK AND HAS STAYED AT 80 AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO ZERO. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER READING AT 0, HOWEVER I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 30 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME. I ACCELERATED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THAT WOULD MAKE THE SPEEDOMETER MOVE ABOVE 0, BUT IT STAYED AT 0. I INFORMED MY SPOUSE OF THIS SPEEDOMETER MISREAD AND H…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER READING AT 0, HOWEVER I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 30 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME. I ACCELERATED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THAT WOULD MAKE THE SPEEDOMETER MOVE ABOVE 0, BUT IT STAYED AT 0. I INFORMED MY SPOUSE OF THIS SPEEDOMETER MISREAD AND HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE COLD WEATHER. MY SPOUSE THOUGHT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL ONCE THE WEATHER WARMED UP. WELL, THE TEMPERATURE WARMED TO 65 DEGREES AND ONCE AGAIN MY SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION AND READ BELOW 0, WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND HAS ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THEY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPS WORKING SOMETIMES WITHOUT WARNING. TWO WEEKS AGO MY FAMILY AND I STARTED OUT ON A 180 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP AND WITHIN 20 MILES FROM MY HOME THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STARTED DESCENDING TO BELOW 0 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT REMAINED THERE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP!!!!! I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. AFTER FINDING NUMEROUS OTHER CHEVY OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, IT FRUSTRATES ME TO THINK THAT CHEVY DOES NOT FEEL THAT THIS ISN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH OR SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I DEPEND ON THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES A 3YR. OLD AND 13YR. OLD EVERY DAY TO SCHOOL AND DAYCARE. AND FURTHERMORE, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET BECAUSE I AM UNAWARE OF MY ACTUAL SPEED. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ALTER MY TRAVEL PLANS IN FEAR OF GETTING PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY FOR THIS SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONING EITHER. PLEASE RECALL THESE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY. *TR
THE FRONT AIR VENTS IN MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER QUIT WORKING AFTER I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. MY FRONT AIR VENTS WILL NO LONGER WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. IT WILL REQUIRE THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW CONTROL MODULE TO REGULATE THE AIR FL…
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THE FRONT AIR VENTS IN MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER QUIT WORKING AFTER I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. MY FRONT AIR VENTS WILL NO LONGER WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. IT WILL REQUIRE THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW CONTROL MODULE TO REGULATE THE AIR FLOW SO THE VENTS WILL WORK. THIS IS A COMPONENT/DESIGN PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO FIX NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR
SPEEDOMETER STARTED GIVING INCORRECT READINGS. SOMETIMES IT IS CORRECT, SOMETIMES 10 MPH OFF, SOMETIMES NOT WORKING AT ALL. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I FOUND MYSELF DOING OVER 80MPH IN A 65MPH ZONE. I ONLY FOUND OUT FROM MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT WITH HIS GPS LETTING ME KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING. OTHER WISE DON'T' KNOW WHAT WOULD…
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SPEEDOMETER STARTED GIVING INCORRECT READINGS. SOMETIMES IT IS CORRECT, SOMETIMES 10 MPH OFF, SOMETIMES NOT WORKING AT ALL. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I FOUND MYSELF DOING OVER 80MPH IN A 65MPH ZONE. I ONLY FOUND OUT FROM MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT WITH HIS GPS LETTING ME KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING. OTHER WISE DON'T' KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I FEEL AS IF THIS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE THIS IS YOUR JOB TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILES I FEEL YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS MATTE…
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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I FEEL AS IF THIS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE THIS IS YOUR JOB TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILES I FEEL YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. RANDALL SALTINK
SPEEDOMETER SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING THEN ALL THE OTHER GAUGES FAILED. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGES, GAS LEVEL, OIL LEVEL, BATTERY LEVEL AND ALSO TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. THE FAILURE IS ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING NEVER HAVE THE WORKED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENCE.
I JUST BOUGHT A USED '04 TRAILBLAZER WITH 63000 MILES AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY...THE NEEDLE IS JUST POINTING SOUTH! *CN
Official recalls
205V198000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
May 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SIGNAL THEIR INTENTIONS TO TURN, CHANGE TRAVEL LANES, OR POTENTIALLY WARN OTHERS OF AN IMPAIRED VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005. ISUZU BEGAN MAILING OWNER LETTERS ON AUGUST 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, AND OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
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
4RQ17002 · 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.
PE04032 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Apr 6, 2004 · Closed Aug 3, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002-04 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER VEHICLES.GM REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES SHARING THIS PLATFORM AND BRAKE LAMP DESIGN ARE THE MY 2002-2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT; GMC ENVOY, XL, XUV; OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AND 2004 BUICK RAINIER.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR BRAKE LAMP DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.THERE IS NO INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT ONE OR MORE BRAKE LAMPS BULBS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.GM FOUND THAT HEAT FROM THE BULB COULD DEFORM THE LAMP SOCKET, PRODUCE ELECTRICAL ARCING AND AN INOPERATIVE BULB.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, GM CHANGED THE BULB TO A BULB THAT TRANSMITS LESS HEAT TO THE SOCKET AND CHANGED THE SOCKET TO A THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER TO IMPROVE THERMAL STABILITY.THESE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED INTO PRODUCTION VEHICLES ON OCTOBER 1, 2003.GM IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL POLICY BY NOTIFYING CONSUMERS THAT IF THEY SHOULD EXPERIENCE A BRAKE LAMP FAILURE TO GO TO THEIR GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CIRCUIT BOARD CONTAINING THE BRAKE LAMP REPLACED ALONG WITH NEW BULBS.THIS POLICY IS GOOD FOR THE FIRST 6 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-021 AND INCLUDE THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLES.