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2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Trailblazer years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 87.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 32 of 193 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Forward Collision Avoidance complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2026
Forward Collision AvoidanceUnknown Or Other

Dealership Linwood inspected vehicle and certified power and ground module has internal fault-faulty front camera module.

NHTSA ODI #11742562

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2026
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

While driving on Thursday, June 4, 2026, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete failure of the electronic braking/power brake assist system. Simultaneously, multiple safety warnings illuminated on the dashboard display, including a persistent service wrench icon, a traction control warning light, and a lane-keep assist in…

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While driving on Thursday, June 4, 2026, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete failure of the electronic braking/power brake assist system. Simultaneously, multiple safety warnings illuminated on the dashboard display, including a persistent service wrench icon, a traction control warning light, and a lane-keep assist indicator light. Due to the loss of brake assistance, the vehicle was unsafe to operate and had to be towed/driven directly to a licensed dealership for emergency diagnosis. The dealership technicians subsequently inspected the vehicle and reported that the entire electronic braking system had suffered a total failure and is completely non-functional. Despite multiple technical service bulletins and recalls issued for similar vehicle builds regarding electronic brake boost interruptions and mechanical brake vacuum pump failures, I am being forced to pay for these critical safety repairs out of pocket. A sudden loss of braking power poses an immediate crash hazard, and I am filing this report to urge the NHTSA to investigate why this manufacturing defect is not covered under an active safety recall for this specific vehicle configuration.

NHTSA ODI #11742380

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrashInjury

A loud popping noise heard through the radio when light pressure applied to brakes. Noise loud enough to scare the hell out of all the occupants in the car. Brakes squeaked when car was in reverse. Tried to slow down on wet pavement. Car started to veer to the right. Forward collision warning nor automatic emergency braking w…

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A loud popping noise heard through the radio when light pressure applied to brakes. Noise loud enough to scare the hell out of all the occupants in the car. Brakes squeaked when car was in reverse. Tried to slow down on wet pavement. Car started to veer to the right. Forward collision warning nor automatic emergency braking worked. Pushed brake all the way to the floor and the car did not slow. Rear ended another car. No airbags deployed. My passenger was okay. I got diagnosed with a concussion. Do not know if the occupants in the other car were injured.

NHTSA ODI #11643617

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2023
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

The car will all of a sudden make a loud popping noise through the radio. It is enough to scare someone while they are driving and have a wreck. The brakes are very touchy to the point of almost giving you whiplash

NHTSA ODI #11544617

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrashInjury

Brakes failed and myself and others were in harms way. To my knowledge the car was totaled as the air bags did deploy.

NHTSA ODI #11527819

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2022
Air BagsForward Collision AvoidanceCrash

Someone pulled out in front of me going 45 mph and totaled my car when they smashed into the front drivers side of my vehicle. My airbags didn’t deploy and no warning notifications or emergency braking ever occurred. This is dangerous and was severe enough to total my vehicle. My airbags should have deployed. No warning lights o…

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Someone pulled out in front of me going 45 mph and totaled my car when they smashed into the front drivers side of my vehicle. My airbags didn’t deploy and no warning notifications or emergency braking ever occurred. This is dangerous and was severe enough to total my vehicle. My airbags should have deployed. No warning lights or any other issues when it occurred. It was inspected by insurance and determined a total loss.

NHTSA ODI #11497875

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2022
Forward Collision AvoidanceLane Departure

Purchased my 2021 Chevy Trailblazer in August 2021 with less than 100 miles. After about 500 miles the Lane assist, forward collision assistant and the automatic breaking features all stopped working. Factory reset has been set several times with no fix. The buttons on the steering wheel do not do anything when pressed. I hav…

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Purchased my 2021 Chevy Trailblazer in August 2021 with less than 100 miles. After about 500 miles the Lane assist, forward collision assistant and the automatic breaking features all stopped working. Factory reset has been set several times with no fix. The buttons on the steering wheel do not do anything when pressed. I have been told by the dealership they will need to keep my car for at least 3 days to disassemble and trouble shoot the issue, however they do not have a rental to provide me in the mean time. I am now at around 10K miles because this is my daily driving and only vehicle. I am not comfortable that some of the safety features have stopped working and fear that any day something else could stop working that is more important to the functioning of the car.

NHTSA ODI #11451123

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceStructureWheels

I have had multiple issues with the car since I've purchased it. The brakes continuously make noise, and the automatic Emergency Braking DOES not work. The tire pressure sensors don't work, they have the wrong tire pressure for each tire, and the tires constantly over inflate. Also, my front bumper is coming off. I've taken it t…

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I have had multiple issues with the car since I've purchased it. The brakes continuously make noise, and the automatic Emergency Braking DOES not work. The tire pressure sensors don't work, they have the wrong tire pressure for each tire, and the tires constantly over inflate. Also, my front bumper is coming off. I've taken it to the dealership for all of these things, the dealership said the brakes seem fine, the front bumper clips seem to have warn down for some reason, and that they reset my tire pressure. There was no permanent solution. They put a band aid on my problem and I still have all of these issues.

NHTSA ODI #11444324

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesCrashFire

Was in the middle of a 3 car collision. After about 5 min engine started smoking and a fire started. Fire slowly escalated and fully engulfed the entire car.

NHTSA ODI #11431843

7,300 miles · Feb 6, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

THE BRAKES INCLUDING BRAKE ASSIST STOPPED WORKING. PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DID LITTLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE THAT WAS PREFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP 3 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #11394975

Official recalls

4

21V440000 · Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/screw/bottle Jack/lift:stand

Jun 10, 2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.

20V588000 · Service Brakes

Sep 24, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.

20V537000 · Seats; Seats:critical Fasteners

Sep 3, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:critical Fasteners

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

Consequence: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

Consequence: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.

20V295000 · Equipment:other:labels; Tires

May 21, 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles factory-equipped with optional 17-inch sport terrain tires. The certification label on these vehicles does not provide the tire size and cold tire pressure information for front and rear tires, as required. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and will mail corrected labels for customers to apply, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202304070.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Equipment:other:labels

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles factory-equipped with optional 17-inch sport terrain tires. The certification label on these vehicles does not provide the tire size and cold tire pressure information for front and rear tires, as required. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and will mail corrected labels for customers to apply, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202304070.

Tires

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles factory-equipped with optional 17-inch sport terrain tires. The certification label on these vehicles does not provide the tire size and cold tire pressure information for front and rear tires, as required. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and will mail corrected labels for customers to apply, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202304070.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.