Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
2125–50K
4250–75K
3675–100K
27100–150K
18150K+
169 reports with mileage · 24 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 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
193 reports
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2026
Air BagsSeat Belts
Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...…
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Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...$6,435.00....if you can find the parts. driver was shaken up by the deployment but not injured.
NHTSA ODI #11737768
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2024
StructureUnknown Or Other
FRAME ROTTING OUT - HAS ROT HOLES - UNSAFE - REMAINDER OF TRUCK IS GOOD BUT WITHOUT A SOLID STRUCTURE THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE AND USELESS. MANY TRAILBLAZER FRAMES DO NOT LAST AND ROT OUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING. BAD PRODUCT GM.
NHTSA ODI #11564319
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2022
Engine
I was driving on the highway just reaching 55 mph, that is when all of a sudden, my suv stalled out with no warning no sound nothing. I tried to restart it and sounded as if it was trying to start but wouldn't. after a couple of times of trying that is when a tow truck came and as he was putting my suv on the flat bed I noticed …
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I was driving on the highway just reaching 55 mph, that is when all of a sudden, my suv stalled out with no warning no sound nothing. I tried to restart it and sounded as if it was trying to start but wouldn't. after a couple of times of trying that is when a tow truck came and as he was putting my suv on the flat bed I noticed huge amount oil on the ground. I got it towed to Chevy dealership for service and that is when they told me that the 6th cylinder cracked also a rod went through causing a hole in the engine block. I asked what could have caused it, because I'm on top of my maintenance and my suv only had 94,000 miles on it. That is when he explained to me that it was nothing that I did and that there was nothing that I could've done to prevent it and that there was nothing I did wrong that caused it. So, the leaves me asking, isn't that a manufacturing issue?
NHTSA ODI #11470303
206,000 miles · Jun 21, 2022
Electrical SystemFire
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while parked in her driveway, the passenger side door caught fire without warning. The fire occurred overnight and in the morning, the contact and her boyfriend discovered both her passenger side door and front passenger seat melted. The contact believed that…
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The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while parked in her driveway, the passenger side door caught fire without warning. The fire occurred overnight and in the morning, the contact and her boyfriend discovered both her passenger side door and front passenger seat melted. The contact believed that the fire smoldered overnight and eventually burned out on its own. The fire department was not notified and a fire report was not filed. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact's boyfriend discovered that the wiring inside the door had melted which may have caused the fire. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000
NHTSA ODI #11470255
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
I was just sitting in a drive thru and my passenger side window just started smoking and now it will not go down.
NHTSA ODI #11429099
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2021
Exterior Lighting
While driving home at approximately 9:30pm, my eighteen year old daughter experienced the headlights failing to come on after dark with the automatic headlight-on feature. She turned on the headlights manually, and the low beams still were not working, but all driving lights and high beam headlights were working. I assumed that …
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While driving home at approximately 9:30pm, my eighteen year old daughter experienced the headlights failing to come on after dark with the automatic headlight-on feature. She turned on the headlights manually, and the low beams still were not working, but all driving lights and high beam headlights were working. I assumed that the bulbs were burned out, so replaced both the driver and passenger side bulbs. The low beam headlights still failed to come on either automatically or manually. I Googled the problem, and multiple people have reported this exact same problem, and some stated that there was a recall due to this problem. I am unable to find either a recall or a service bulletin for this issue.
NHTSA ODI #11425994
210,702 miles · Mar 22, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY GAS TANK NEEDLE WENT DOWN TO EMPTY ON A FULL TANK OF GAS AND WILL NOT COME BACK UP, AND IT STALLS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING.
NHTSA ODI #11404272
128,000 miles · Feb 22, 2021
Engine
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS BROKEN NOW THREE TIMES. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS CHANGED THE MANIFOLD TWICE FOR FREE BUT NOW THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PAY FOR IT PLUS I ASKED IF THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE TO THE CAST IRON MANIFOLD AND THEY TELL ME THE PART NUMBER CHANGED IN 2011 BUT MY FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE TH…
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THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS BROKEN NOW THREE TIMES. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS CHANGED THE MANIFOLD TWICE FOR FREE BUT NOW THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PAY FOR IT PLUS I ASKED IF THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE TO THE CAST IRON MANIFOLD AND THEY TELL ME THE PART NUMBER CHANGED IN 2011 BUT MY FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN SO I KNOW THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. EXHAUST FUMES IN WINTER ENTER THE CABIN.
NHTSA ODI #11397464
170,000 miles · Feb 21, 2021
Steering
THE POWER STEERING LINES BLOW
NHTSA ODI #11397253
160,000 miles · Dec 6, 2020
Air BagsPower TrainSeat BeltsCrash
YES I WAS DRIVING ON THE 65 MILES AN HOUR IN THE PASSENGER LANE ARE CARPOOL LANE ALL THE SUDDEN FOR NO REASON BOTH CURTAIN AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED I HAD MY HEAD RIGHT NEXT TO KNOCK ME OUT COLD I DIDN'T PROCEED OVER AND HIT THE WALL 21 TIMES JUST SKIP DOWN IN WHEN I CAME TO I THOUGHT I WAS I THOUGHT IT AND OTHER VEHICLES LIKELY THA…
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YES I WAS DRIVING ON THE 65 MILES AN HOUR IN THE PASSENGER LANE ARE CARPOOL LANE ALL THE SUDDEN FOR NO REASON BOTH CURTAIN AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED I HAD MY HEAD RIGHT NEXT TO KNOCK ME OUT COLD I DIDN'T PROCEED OVER AND HIT THE WALL 21 TIMES JUST SKIP DOWN IN WHEN I CAME TO I THOUGHT I WAS I THOUGHT IT AND OTHER VEHICLES LIKELY THAT WAS NOT THE CASE DID CAUSE SOME TESTA INJURY HURT MIGHT PULL MY CAR ALLEGEDLY FOR MY RIBCAGE IN GOT MY NECK IN MY HEAD I SEE THIS IS HAPPENED MANY TIMES THE 2008 BUT YET THEY KEEP SAYING THERE'S NO PROBLEM THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 2% LEAN AND EXPOSED THE 16 FOR THE ROLE OVER TO KICK IN THAT ESCAPE SCREWING EVERYBODY YEAH THE VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT NO TURNS NO BOMBS NOTHING JUST DEPLOYED I HAVE VIDEO PICTURES OF THE WALL IT SCREWED UP MY RAMS AND OF COURSE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP AND SHOW THE BACK AXLE IN THE PUMPKIN SO NOW THATS WHINING SO I KNOW IT'S GONNA FAIL SOON POWER STEERING LINKIN TRUCK NEVER LEAD TO DROP ANOTHER WITH SILENT AT THE GREAT V6 IN IT NOW THE FRONT END STEERING ALL SCREWED UP AND I CAN SEE THAT IT'S HAPPENED MANY MANY TIMES BEFORE
NHTSA ODI #11378181
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
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.
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year