THE AIR BAG IS THE ISSUE IT SAYS IT NEEDS SERVICED NOT FOR SURE IF ANYTHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Trailblazer years
Owner complaints for the 2008 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
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.
Air Bags complaints
33 reportsI WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SIDE AIR BAGS JUST DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WITHOUT WARNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, A WHITE SUBSTANCE EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, A WHITE SUBSTANCE EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO POTENTIAL DEFECT WITH THE PREMATURE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
ON A EXIT RAMP (CONCRETE) GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING, PUMPING THE BRAKE CORRECTED THEM AND STOPPED THE CAR. BRAKES NOW SEEM NORMAL. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOW LOCKED. THE CAR HAS NO DAMAGE ON THE BODY OR TIRES. G M HAS OPENED A CASE…
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ON A EXIT RAMP (CONCRETE) GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING, PUMPING THE BRAKE CORRECTED THEM AND STOPPED THE CAR. BRAKES NOW SEEM NORMAL. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOW LOCKED. THE CAR HAS NO DAMAGE ON THE BODY OR TIRES. G M HAS OPENED A CASE FOR US. WAITING THEIR CALL BACK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. THE ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. THE ABNORMAL NOISE WAS PERSISTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
DURING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND FRONT SEATBELT DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. AFTER A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC BY GM THEY CONCLUDED THE COMPUTER SENSED A ROLLOVER AND THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED ON COMMAND. PROBLEM IS THAT THE TILT OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT REACH OR EXCEED 20 DEGREES (ONLY 2 DEGREES) AND THEREFORE THE SYSTEM SHOU…
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DURING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE SIDE AIRBAGS AND FRONT SEATBELT DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. AFTER A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC BY GM THEY CONCLUDED THE COMPUTER SENSED A ROLLOVER AND THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED ON COMMAND. PROBLEM IS THAT THE TILT OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT REACH OR EXCEED 20 DEGREES (ONLY 2 DEGREES) AND THEREFORE THE SYSTEM SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY GM'S OWN REPORT YET THEY DENIED ANYTHING WAS WRONG. *TR
THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON BLACK ICE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE TRAILBLAZER HIT A TREE.THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS BENT. THE SUV WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP A LITTLE MORE SPEED WHILE ON THE ICE, BUT NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. *TR
WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BOTH CURTAIN SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SAME TIME. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE PUSHED ME OVER SO HARD THAT IT BROKE MY CENTER CONSOLE. MY LOWER BACK STILL HURTS, BUT I AM HOPING THE PAIN WIL…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BOTH CURTAIN SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SAME TIME. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD, SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE PUSHED ME OVER SO HARD THAT IT BROKE MY CENTER CONSOLE. MY LOWER BACK STILL HURTS, BUT I AM HOPING THE PAIN WILL GO AWAY. MY LEFT EAR IS STILL RINGING AND HAS NOT RETURNED TO NORMAL HEARING YET CAUSED FROM THE EXPLODING NOISE FROM THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT WORK AND THE DASHBOARD HAS SO MANY LIGHTS GOING OFF, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM SAID THE DAMAGES COULD RUN AS MUCH AS $4000.00 WHICH I DO NOT HAVE AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THIS SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. ALSO SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLES DOING THIS. AFTER RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT. *TR
MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LT WHEN THE FOLLOWING EVENT OCCURRED: WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH CITY STREET THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT ALONG WITH BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS TIGHTENING AND LOCKING IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO SUDDEN ABRUPT MANEUVERS, NO…
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MY SON WAS DRIVING THE 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LT WHEN THE FOLLOWING EVENT OCCURRED: WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, SMOOTH CITY STREET THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT ALONG WITH BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS TIGHTENING AND LOCKING IN PLACE. THERE WERE NO SUDDEN ABRUPT MANEUVERS, NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER OBJECTS ... NOTHING!!!! IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT ... WHY???!!! *TR
MY DAUGHTER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SAW CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS NOT STOPPING AT ALL. SHE HIT THE STOPPED CAR, PUSHED BOTH OF OUR CARS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE OTHER SIDE. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ONSTAR DID NOT CONTACT HER. THE RE…
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MY DAUGHTER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SAW CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS NOT STOPPING AT ALL. SHE HIT THE STOPPED CAR, PUSHED BOTH OF OUR CARS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE OTHER SIDE. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ONSTAR DID NOT CONTACT HER. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS SPECIFIC CAR WAS FOR THE ONSTAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION OR EMERGENCY. WHEN I CONTACTED ONSTAR LATER, THEY REPORTED THEY DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT A COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. I CONTACTED GM TO HAVE BRAKE, AIRBAG, AND ONSTAR FAILURE INVESTIGATED. RECEIVED REPORT FROM GM INVESTIGATOR STATING NO FAILURE IN AIRBAG SYSTEM, THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ONSTAR NOTIFICATION. SHE WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH UPON IMPACT (PER CDR). THE CAR WAS TOTALED - OVER $13,000 DAMAGE. IF A CRASH AT 45 MPH, REAR-ENDING, CAR TOTALED DOES NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS WRONG. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1RQ17002 · 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.
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