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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

19 reports
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35 miles · May 1, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

FUL PUMP

NHTSA ODI #11414718

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2020
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327845

165,000 miles · Nov 16, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE SAME THING RUNNING OFF THE FUSE TO THE CPU GROUNDS OUT ON THE BODY BLOWING THE FUSE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THE CPU IS BAD. I WENT AND STARTED IT AND PUT IN DRIVE, FUSE BLEW, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN

NHTSA ODI #11152105

71,050 miles · Jan 11, 2017
Unknown Or Other

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS VERY FAULTY. AT TIMES WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE RPM GAUGE WENT OUT AT ONLY 36,000 MILES. I JUST WENT OVER 70,000 MILES RECENTLY AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE ONLY GAUGE THAT HAS ALWAYS WORKED PROPERLY IS THE FU…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS VERY FAULTY. AT TIMES WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE RPM GAUGE WENT OUT AT ONLY 36,000 MILES. I JUST WENT OVER 70,000 MILES RECENTLY AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK. AS A MATTER OF FACT THE ONLY GAUGE THAT HAS ALWAYS WORKED PROPERLY IS THE FUEL GAUGE.

NHTSA ODI #10944401

120,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Unknown Or Other

DASH CLUSTER, READS BELOW 0 OR OVER 100MPH AT TIMES, SOMETIMES STICKS AT 5 OR 10MPH. SOMETIMES BURIES SPEEDOMETER AND TACH, ALL DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AT SPEEDS OVER 60MPH. THIS SOULD BE RECALLED! HAVE READ OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON ALL CAR FORUMS AND COMPLAINT SITES AND OTHER GOOGLE INQUIRIES AS WELL.DIDN'T.

NHTSA ODI #10808204

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2015
Unknown Or Other

THE ICV VALVE ON THE GAS TANK RECIVED LETTER ON EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS.GM KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS BECAUSE THE LETTER SAYS THE SES LIGHT COMES ON,AND MY LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS SINCE IT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD,THEY KNEW THIS AND PLAYED DUMB ABOUT THE PROBLEM.GAS FUMES HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR FOR YEARS TO.

NHTSA ODI #10806559

200,000 miles · Sep 22, 2015
Air BagsStructureUnknown Or OtherCrash

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55PM MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT ON BAUM RD LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE, FL. SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER DETERMINED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CRASH REPORT, D1 (DRIVER ONE) WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON BAUM RD GOING THE NORMAL POSTED S…

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ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55PM MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT ON BAUM RD LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE, FL. SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER DETERMINED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CRASH REPORT, D1 (DRIVER ONE) WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON BAUM RD GOING THE NORMAL POSTED SPEED OF 55MPH, WHEN SHE VEERED TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RD AND SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT VEERING OF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE RD AND STRIKING SEVERAL TREES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT END. D1 WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT AND MANAGED TO EXIT OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BEFORE COMING TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE RD. WHEN I WENT TO RETRIEVE MY MOTHERS THINGS FROM HER TRAILBLAZER, I NOTICED THAT NO AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. AND AS FAST AS MY MOM WAS GOING AND THE TYPE OF IMPACT & DAMAGE HER SUV SUSTAINED, I WOULD THINK AND HOPE THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT, THUS PREVENTING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY MOM WAS NOT SO LUCKY, AND MYSELF AND MY FAMILY HAVE ENDURED GREAT PAIN FROM LOOSING HER SO SUDDENLY.

NHTSA ODI #10767586

180,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Unknown Or Other

DISCOVERED A CRACK ON MY DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK STARTS WHERE THE VIN IS LOCATED UP THROUGH THE SLITS OVER THE SPEAKER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI #10762563

109,000 miles · Apr 2, 2015
Unknown Or OtherFire

CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDER HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703416

82,420 miles · May 9, 2011
Unknown Or Other

I STARTED THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND NOTICED AS I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING. AS I DROVE DOWN MY STREET, I WATCHED IT, AND IT NEVER MOVED. THE NEEDLE WAS NOT POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN, BUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW 0. LATER THE SAME DAY, IT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, THOUGH THE NEEDLE MOVEMENT…

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I STARTED THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND NOTICED AS I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING. AS I DROVE DOWN MY STREET, I WATCHED IT, AND IT NEVER MOVED. THE NEEDLE WAS NOT POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN, BUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW 0. LATER THE SAME DAY, IT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, THOUGH THE NEEDLE MOVEMENT WAS JERKY. TWO DAYS LATER, IT STOPPED AGAIN AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID THERE ISN'T AN ACTIVE RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RECALLED PRACTICALLY EVERY OTHER SUV THEY MADE THAT YEAR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS IS MORE THAN AN ANNOYANCE, IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD, AND I THINK GM SHOULD STEP UP AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH TURNS UP MANY, MANY OTHER TRAILBLAZER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THE NHTSA COULD OFFER.

NHTSA ODI #10400370

Official recalls

2

05V198000 · 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

4

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.

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.