IllustrationTHE POWER STEERING LINES BLOW
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
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
Steering complaints
11 reportsLEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ALL THE TIME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE PARTS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,763.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACTED. IN ADDITION, THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACTED. IN ADDITION, THE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE ON ME AND I COULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE IN ANY DIRECTION. I ENDED UP DRIVING IT INTO SOMEONES YARD BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED. AFTER HAVING IT TAKEN TO A GARAGE THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING LINES ETC WERE BLOWN. THEY HAVE SINCE FIXED THIS ISSUE, VERY CO…
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AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZE ON ME AND I COULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE IN ANY DIRECTION. I ENDED UP DRIVING IT INTO SOMEONES YARD BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED. AFTER HAVING IT TAKEN TO A GARAGE THEY TOLD ME MY POWER STEERING LINES ETC WERE BLOWN. THEY HAVE SINCE FIXED THIS ISSUE, VERY COSTLY TO ME THOUGH, AND THEN THEY INFORMED ME THAT WHILE CHECKING THE VEHICLE OUT THEY FOUND MY TRANSMISSION LINES ARE VERY CORRODED. SO THAT IS THE NEXT ISSUE TO BE FIXED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
AFTER HAVING TAKEN A 25 MILE TRIP, I DISCOVERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER MY CAR AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE POWER STEERING LINES HAD ALL RUSTED IN A SHOCK MOUNT AND RUPTURED RELEASING THE POWER STEERING FLUID. MY MECHANIC SAID IF ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT, IT WOULD HAVE BURNED UP THE PUMP AND COST AN ADDITIONAL $350. TOT…
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AFTER HAVING TAKEN A 25 MILE TRIP, I DISCOVERED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER MY CAR AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE POWER STEERING LINES HAD ALL RUSTED IN A SHOCK MOUNT AND RUPTURED RELEASING THE POWER STEERING FLUID. MY MECHANIC SAID IF ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT, IT WOULD HAVE BURNED UP THE PUMP AND COST AN ADDITIONAL $350. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $623. *TR
VEHICLES STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. REPAIR LISTED FOR CODE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HAD SAME ISSUE WITH MY 2006 TRAILBLAZER. LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY, EVEN WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW RATE OF SPEED. *TR
POWER STEERING LINES CORRODED AND LEAKING AT/FROM RUBBER MOUNT ON L WHEEL WELL. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS,FRONT WHEELS WENT INTO A SPEED WOBBLE,I LIGHTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT BECAME WORSE. I TOOK THE TRAILBLAZER TO THE MICHELIN TIRE DEALER AND HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BALANCE OR RUN-OUT ON THE TIRES,SO I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *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.