IllustrationFUEL SENSOR WITHIN FUEL TANK HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN 130,000 MILES. IDLER PULLEY HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN 120,000 MILES. *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 reportsI FILLED MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED BOUNCING BETWEEN THE FULL AND EMPTY MARKS. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK INTO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENSOR INSIDE THE GAS TANK FOR APPROX $900. I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME SO I WIL…
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I FILLED MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED BOUNCING BETWEEN THE FULL AND EMPTY MARKS. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK INTO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENSOR INSIDE THE GAS TANK FOR APPROX $900. I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME SO I WILL FILL UP EVERY COUPLE DAYS TO MAKE SURE I DON'T RUN OUT OF GAS. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MULTIPLE WEBSITES THAT INDICATES THIS IS COMMON WITH 2005 TRAILBLAZERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED IN HIS VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE RESISTANCE PIG TAIL (WIRING HARNESS), THE FUEL PUMP MODULE, AND THE CLUTCH ALSO FAILED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED IN HIS VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE RESISTANCE PIG TAIL (WIRING HARNESS), THE FUEL PUMP MODULE, AND THE CLUTCH ALSO FAILED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. 4/01/09 *NJ THE WATER PUMP, PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/09/09. *JB
THE FUEL HAND HAS QUIT WORKING, IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE OCTOBER OF 2007, AND IT IS TO EXPENSIVE TO FIX IT AND I KNOW OF THREE OTHER PEOPLES WHO'S VEHICLES ARE DOING THE SAME THING AND THEY ARE THE SAME YEAR MODEL AS MINE ALTHOUGH SOME ARE GMCS ENVOYS AND SOME ARE CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SAY EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS ACTUALLY FULL. ALSO THE GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE, NEVER GOES ABOUT 1/2. *TR
JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE GAS GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER ISSUES. I HAVE A 05 TRAILBLAZER AND HAD BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY I WORK WITH A GREAT DEALERSHIP AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE GM WOULD DO NOTHING AND THE FIXES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE GAS GAUGE NOT READING CORRECTLY BY TRACKING YOUR …
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JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE GAS GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER ISSUES. I HAVE A 05 TRAILBLAZER AND HAD BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. FORTUNATELY I WORK WITH A GREAT DEALERSHIP AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE GM WOULD DO NOTHING AND THE FIXES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE GAS GAUGE NOT READING CORRECTLY BY TRACKING YOUR MILEAGE BUT THE STUPID BELL GOES OFF ALL THE TIME TELLING YOU YOUR NEAR EMPTY BUT YOU CANNOT DRIVE SAFELY IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING AND YOU CERTAINLY CANNOT GO WITH THE FLOW AS EVERYONE SEEMS TO DRIVE FASTER THAN ALLOWED AND I DO NOT THINK THE OFFICER WHO PULLS YOU OVER WILL CARE IF YOUR SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. I ALSO NOTICE THAT MY INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, MAKES ME THINK I AM SEEING THINGS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO FIND ANSWERS AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS. I LOVE MY TB BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LEMON AND I WILL LOOK AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHEN I PURCHASE AGAIN. *TR
1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS I HAVE DONE. 2. SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO CONSTANTLY. I RECENTLY GOT A SPEEDING TICKET FOR NOT STAYING WITHIN SPEED LIMIT. 3. DEALERSHIP HAS CONSTANTLY SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY COMPLAINTS BY ANY CONSUMERS. 4. ONSTAR SYSTEM HAS FAILED FROM A YEAR AFTER PURCHA…
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1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY NO MATTER WHAT REPAIRS I HAVE DONE. 2. SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO CONSTANTLY. I RECENTLY GOT A SPEEDING TICKET FOR NOT STAYING WITHIN SPEED LIMIT. 3. DEALERSHIP HAS CONSTANTLY SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY COMPLAINTS BY ANY CONSUMERS. 4. ONSTAR SYSTEM HAS FAILED FROM A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. 5. OCCASIONALLY STALLS AND SMELLS OF GASOLINE. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE GAUGE ALWAYS READS EMPTY EVEN AFTER FILLING THE TANK TO THE FILL LEVEL. THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO THIS ISSUE WITH 2004-2006 CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS. T…
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THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE GAUGE ALWAYS READS EMPTY EVEN AFTER FILLING THE TANK TO THE FILL LEVEL. THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE ONE DAY ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO THIS ISSUE WITH 2004-2006 CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT, BUT WILL BE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER IS DEFECTIVE. THE GAUGE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. WHEN I FILL THE TANK, THE GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY. IT THEN FLOATS AROUND AND I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I ACTUALLY HAVE. I HAVE TO USE MY TRIP METER TO KNOW WHEN I NEED TO FILL UP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND WORRISOME THING TO DEAL WIT…
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THE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER IS DEFECTIVE. THE GAUGE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. WHEN I FILL THE TANK, THE GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY. IT THEN FLOATS AROUND AND I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I ACTUALLY HAVE. I HAVE TO USE MY TRIP METER TO KNOW WHEN I NEED TO FILL UP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND WORRISOME THING TO DEAL WITH. I WOULD HATE TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE INTERSTATE BY MYSELF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ PROPERLY. NEEDLE ON GAUGE FLOATS FROM EMPTY TO FULL AND WILL READ LOW FUEL WHEN TANK IS FULL. HAVE READ OF OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WHY NO RECALL? *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.