IllustrationTRAILBLAZER 2005 FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENT FAILURE, VEHICLE LUNGES AT IDOL OR SHUTS OFF APPROACHING STOP/BRAKE. ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. BEEN TO REPAIR AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NOT IDENTIFIED. FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED. SPEEDOMETER ISSUE SAME. FUEL GAUGE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING PROPERLY, UNRELIABLE. *TR
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 reportsFUEL GAUGE SENSOR ON A 2005 TRAILBLAZER HAS GONE OUT, FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AT ALL TIME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO RUN LOW ON FUEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR FROM BEHIND. EVEN MORE DANGEROUS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE USING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE FOR ME…
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FUEL GAUGE SENSOR ON A 2005 TRAILBLAZER HAS GONE OUT, FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AT ALL TIME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO RUN LOW ON FUEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR FROM BEHIND. EVEN MORE DANGEROUS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE USING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG GM VEHICLES AND YET THEY HAVE ISSUED NO RECALL AS OF YET. THERE IS A WEBSITE HERE; HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TRAILBLAZER/TBDHFG6KHCMSPA4M1/P10 WITH OVER 200 TRAILBLAZER OWNERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY MORE. *TR
CHEVY TRAILBAZER 05... GAS GAUGE KEEPS MOVING FROM LOW TO EMPTY BACK TO FULL,SOMETIMES IT STAYS AT EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FUEL SENDING UNIT KEEPS FAILING. UNIT WAS REPLACED IN 2007 AT DEALERSHIP. SENDING UNIT HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. VERY EXPENSIVE LABOR NEEDED TO FIX THIS. WHEN I FIXED THE FIRST TIME I HAD WARRANTY NOW…
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CHEVY TRAILBAZER 05... GAS GAUGE KEEPS MOVING FROM LOW TO EMPTY BACK TO FULL,SOMETIMES IT STAYS AT EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FUEL SENDING UNIT KEEPS FAILING. UNIT WAS REPLACED IN 2007 AT DEALERSHIP. SENDING UNIT HAS GONE BAD AGAIN. VERY EXPENSIVE LABOR NEEDED TO FIX THIS. WHEN I FIXED THE FIRST TIME I HAD WARRANTY NOW IT HAS EXPIRED. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WITH A CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO MY..TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS IS A COMPLETELY DEFECT OF THE CAR. MY MAJOR FEAR IS TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR TO STALL. LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT.....ALSO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT KEEP GETTING DARKER..SOMETIMES SEVERAL LIGHTS COME ON. *TR
2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GAS LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON AND SHOWING EMPTY. REPLACEMENT WILL BE BETWEEN 700-1000 DOLLARS FOR THE FIX. MUST USE MILEAGE TO GAUGE WHEN I NEED FUEL. THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE 2006. THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN REAR-ENDED, BUT THIS NE…
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2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GAS LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON AND SHOWING EMPTY. REPLACEMENT WILL BE BETWEEN 700-1000 DOLLARS FOR THE FIX. MUST USE MILEAGE TO GAUGE WHEN I NEED FUEL. THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE 2006. THIS SEEMS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN REAR-ENDED, BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND FIXED BY CHEVY. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AFTER FILL UPS, IT WOULD STICK ON EMPTY AND A CHIME WOULD DING. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START TO WORK. HOWEVER, NOW IT IS COMPLETELY NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS CREATES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS ONE NEVER KNOWS THE FUEL LEVEL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE …
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD AFTER FILL UPS, IT WOULD STICK ON EMPTY AND A CHIME WOULD DING. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START TO WORK. HOWEVER, NOW IT IS COMPLETELY NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS CREATES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS ONE NEVER KNOWS THE FUEL LEVEL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS. A LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A SENSOR AND COULD COST BETWEEN 800-1200 DOLLARS. I THINK A RECALL IS ORDER SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH "2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM" IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONCLUDE THAT GM SHOULD RECALL THIS PART. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. MY FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER WORKS. THE ONLY WAY I CAN TRACK HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IS BY KEEPING UP WITH MY MILEAGE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN TRAILBLAZERS AND THAT IT WOULD COST $500-$600 TO REPAIR. WHEN I DID A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE I FOUND HUNDR…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. MY FUEL GAUGE NO LONGER WORKS. THE ONLY WAY I CAN TRACK HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IS BY KEEPING UP WITH MY MILEAGE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN TRAILBLAZERS AND THAT IT WOULD COST $500-$600 TO REPAIR. WHEN I DID A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE I FOUND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER TRAILBLAZER OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT! I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS WASN'T A RECALL! I GOT NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE GENERAL MOTORS AND WAS ONLY TOLD TO "GO THROUGH MY DEALER."DEALER DIDN'T CARE. ONE MINUTE IT SAYS I HAVE GAS THEN THE NEXT, EMPTY. *TR
I WAS PUTTING GAS IN MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER.. WHEN I LEFT THE GAS STATION THE EMPTY LIGHT STAYED ON.... NOW IT IS STUCK ON EMPTY. *TR
CHEVY TRAILBLAZER '05 FUEL GAUGE DEFECTIVE. CAUSES VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS, WHICH ON HIGHWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS IS A VITAL DANGER, NOT TO MENTION SINGLE WOMEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BEING STRANDED ON THE ROAD! JUST READ A BLOG, 388 POSTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE FUEL SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND WE REQUEST A RECALL. *TR
FUEL GAUGE IN MY 05 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER JUST QUIT WORKING CAUSING ME TO RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS MOMENT DUE TO MALFUNCTION IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL. FIRST MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND NOW MY SPEEDOMETER IS BROKEN - SHOWS I AM GOING 60 WHEN I AM AT A STOP OR IT MAY GO DOWN TO 30 AT TIMES. IT WILL COST $500 FOR THE CLUSTER AND $550 FOR THE FUEL SENSOR. …
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MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS MOMENT DUE TO MALFUNCTION IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL. FIRST MY GAS GAUGE WENT OUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND NOW MY SPEEDOMETER IS BROKEN - SHOWS I AM GOING 60 WHEN I AM AT A STOP OR IT MAY GO DOWN TO 30 AT TIMES. IT WILL COST $500 FOR THE CLUSTER AND $550 FOR THE FUEL SENSOR. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS BUT HAVE NOT HEARD A RESPONSE YET. *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.