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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

What owners actually said

193 reports
56,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD A BAD IMPACT SENSOR. HAD TO REPLACE TO PASS INSPECTION. SUV ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667838

143,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Engine

WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD. TOOK IT TO REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY SAID THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. GM KNOWS THIS IS A BAD PART , AND A SAFETY PART, BUT THEY ONLY ADVANCED THE WARRANTY 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK ON ANY VEHICLE, BESIDES ONE THAT IS 6 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667764

61,553 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,553. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 06/10/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10667570

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

89,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat BeltsInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10659356

50,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 2/9/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED A ROD BURST THROUGH THE OIL PAN AT 50,000. THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/6/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10655037

112,763 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10650656

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

MY FAN BLOWER QUIT WORKING ON SOME SETTINGS (0-5 AVAILABLE, ONLY 1,2, AND 3 MAKE FAN WORK). I BOUGHT A NEW BLOWER RESISTOR TO REPLACE IT, AND WHEN I TRIED TO DISCONNECT THE OLD ONE, I DISCOVERED WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD FUSED THE HARNESS TO THE RESISTOR. I WAS ABLE TO BREAK THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE RESISTOR, B…

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

NHTSA ODI #10648586

38,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014
SteeringTraction Control System

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.

NHTSA ODI #10643129

72,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10639398

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.