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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.

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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.

10 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

17 reports
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89,471 miles · May 5, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION BACK TO THE OFF POSITION AND OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE HEAD LAMP DRIVING MODULE RELAY ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTING…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION BACK TO THE OFF POSITION AND OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE HEAD LAMP DRIVING MODULE RELAY ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCESSORY BOARD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,471.

NHTSA ODI #10714751

25,000 miles · Mar 18, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING LOW BEAM LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WILL NOT COME ON NOW! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR SAFETY REASONS. I AM 73 YEARS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND ALSO DAYTIME WITH NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOLUTION SO I CAN HAVE DEALER GET IT FIXED. LOYAL …

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WHILE DRIVING LOW BEAM LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WILL NOT COME ON NOW! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR SAFETY REASONS. I AM 73 YEARS OLD AND AFRAID TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND ALSO DAYTIME WITH NO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOLUTION SO I CAN HAVE DEALER GET IT FIXED. LOYAL CHEVROLET CUSTOMER FOR 50 YEARS THAT NEEDS DESPERATE HELP. THANK YOU! *TR ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT2 2008 ##

NHTSA ODI #10695072

65,000 miles · Feb 13, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT. WE REPLACED BULBS, THEY WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME. LOW BEAMS WENT OUT TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER. WENT TO LOCAL GARAGE, THEY REPLACED WIRE FROM BATTERY TO LIGHTS AS THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANY POWER. LIGHTS WORKED FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. TRAILBLAZER WAS IN SHOP FOR A WEEK, UNABLE TO FIND ISSUE. CALLED CHE…

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LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT. WE REPLACED BULBS, THEY WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME. LOW BEAMS WENT OUT TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER. WENT TO LOCAL GARAGE, THEY REPLACED WIRE FROM BATTERY TO LIGHTS AS THEY WERE NOT GETTING ANY POWER. LIGHTS WORKED FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS. TRAILBLAZER WAS IN SHOP FOR A WEEK, UNABLE TO FIND ISSUE. CALLED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, AT FIRST THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A 2007 WHICH HAS A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. FOUND IT WAS A 2008, NO RECALL. FOUND BAD/BURNT/EXPLODED FUSE LABELED 15016745. HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE ONLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683377

60,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HIGHLIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10664781

42,000 miles · Dec 7, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE UTILIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE UTILIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10487674

120,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON STARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED A FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPON STARTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED A FUSE IN THE FUSE BOX. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ UPDATED 10/11/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10466302

62,000 miles · Feb 21, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSuspension

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 57 MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CONSOLE. MY ON STAR DID NOT WORK, NOR DID THE RADIO OR ANYTHING ELECTRICAL IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT NONE OF THE GAUGES, LIGHTS, WINDOWS, ETC. WERE WORKING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 57 MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CONSOLE. MY ON STAR DID NOT WORK, NOR DID THE RADIO OR ANYTHING ELECTRICAL IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT NONE OF THE GAUGES, LIGHTS, WINDOWS, ETC. WERE WORKING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE NOR FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL OF THE SUDDEN 3 WEEKS LATER THEY GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM HAD RESOLVED ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10384885

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.