IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Trailblazer years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
950–25K
18325–50K
37350–75K
28875–100K
224100–150K
57150K+
1,220 reports with mileage · 246 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 617 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 435 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
59 crash reports25 fire reports41 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
435 reportsJUST FILLED MY TANK ON MY CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WITH FUEL AND FUEL GAUGE STILL REGISTERED EMPTY AND FUEL LIGHT COME ON. *TR
AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES MY FUEL GAGE STARTED MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD REMAIN ON "E" IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING UP. AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CONT…
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AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES MY FUEL GAGE STARTED MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD REMAIN ON "E" IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING UP. AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. I CONTACTED GM AND INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD NOT BEEN ONE AND THERE WAS NONE PLANNED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAS FAILED RESULTED IN INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. FUEL TANK SENSOR IS CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE. POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE STALLING AND REAR-END COLLISIONS. *TR
OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND SPEEDO STOPS WORKING AT TIMES AND THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW OIL GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE ARE NOT READING RIGHT. AND THEY READ WRONG ALL THE TIME NOW. HAVEN'T PAID ANYONE TO REPAIR PROBLEM YET EXCEPT PAYING SOMEONE TO MANUAL CHECK OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE HAS GOOD OIL PRESSURE B…
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OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND SPEEDO STOPS WORKING AT TIMES AND THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOW OIL GAUGE AND FUEL GAUGE ARE NOT READING RIGHT. AND THEY READ WRONG ALL THE TIME NOW. HAVEN'T PAID ANYONE TO REPAIR PROBLEM YET EXCEPT PAYING SOMEONE TO MANUAL CHECK OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE HAS GOOD OIL PRESSURE BUT GAUGE READS 0. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND QUOTED AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND QUOTED AN ESTIMATED REPAIR COST FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS THE FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL AS THE FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
I WENT TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK AND THE GAUGE READ EMPTY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I CAN NOT TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IN MY TRUCK AND I'M AFRAID THAT MY TRUCK WILL GIVE OUT OF GAS, STALL, AND I GET REAR ENDED. THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALSO, AT ABOUT 85,000 THE…
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I WENT TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK AND THE GAUGE READ EMPTY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I CAN NOT TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IN MY TRUCK AND I'M AFRAID THAT MY TRUCK WILL GIVE OUT OF GAS, STALL, AND I GET REAR ENDED. THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALSO, AT ABOUT 85,000 THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED. IT READS 0 WHEN I'M DRIVING. *TR
DRIVING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE AND FILLED UP THE TANK AND THE GAS GUAGE STILL READ EMPTY AND WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS NOT ACCURATE AND JUMPS AROUND. DURING THE DRIVE I WAS ON A ROAD GOING 50MPH AND SLOWED DOWN IN A TOWN TO 30MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 35MPH AND WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I HAD A 3 HOUR COMMUTE AND D…
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DRIVING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE AND FILLED UP THE TANK AND THE GAS GUAGE STILL READ EMPTY AND WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS NOT ACCURATE AND JUMPS AROUND. DURING THE DRIVE I WAS ON A ROAD GOING 50MPH AND SLOWED DOWN IN A TOWN TO 30MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 35MPH AND WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I HAD A 3 HOUR COMMUTE AND DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING TO 80% OF IT. UPON RESEARCHING THESE ISSUES, IT APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT ISSUE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO FIX, JUST TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN A YEAR LATER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS GUAGE STOPPED WORKING THEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE AND WENT FROM 50 MPH THEN INTO A TOWN WHICH WAS 30 MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 36 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN THE REST OF THE TRIP. I DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND GOT PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDIN…
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OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS GUAGE STOPPED WORKING THEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE AND WENT FROM 50 MPH THEN INTO A TOWN WHICH WAS 30 MPH AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 36 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN THE REST OF THE TRIP. I DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND GOT PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. THIS IS AN ISSUE. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE 2005 TRAIL BLAZER SEEM TO BE HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AMONG OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE DASH. CHEVY REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL BECAUSE AFTER PAYING $700 TO FIX THE GAS GUAGE, IT WENT OUT AGAIN LESS THAN A YEAR LATER. I WAS ALSO QUOTED OVER $500 TO FIX THE SPEEDOMETER. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE!? *TR
Official recalls
206V417000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 31, 2006
CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.
Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.
05V035000 · Visibility:windshield
Feb 3, 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, 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
2RQ17002 · 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.
DP10001 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Jan 7, 2010 · Closed May 23, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Other
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.