IllustrationThe brakes squeak and squeal at low vehicle speeds including when in reverse.
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 →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
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
Service Brakes complaints
29 reportsThe brakes squeal and squeak when in reverse and applying the brake when going forward at low speed. I have been told there is a GM service bulletin that says this is normal for the brakes to make this very loud noise. I have not seen this bulletin and have not been able to find the bulletin online. At any rate this is not norma…
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The brakes squeal and squeak when in reverse and applying the brake when going forward at low speed. I have been told there is a GM service bulletin that says this is normal for the brakes to make this very loud noise. I have not seen this bulletin and have not been able to find the bulletin online. At any rate this is not normal for a car with 7600 miles to have brakes that squeal all the time. I have taken this to two different dealers and get the same answer but I do not believe it is proper to make a customer deal with this when they spend close to 30k on a car and you will not fix it because it does not cause a safety issue. Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage should mean just that.
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.
I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2021 TRAILBLAZER (ONLY 160 MILES) AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AT THE END OF A STREET. SUDDENLY, I GOT ALERTS THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND RIGHT AFTER THAT, ANOTHER ONE, SAYING THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. AT THAT POINT, IT REQUIRED MUCH MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, …
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I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2021 TRAILBLAZER (ONLY 160 MILES) AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AT THE END OF A STREET. SUDDENLY, I GOT ALERTS THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND RIGHT AFTER THAT, ANOTHER ONE, SAYING THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. AT THAT POINT, IT REQUIRED MUCH MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM VERY RESPONSIVE. LATER I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, BUT I THINK THE BRAKES WERE WORKING AGAIN. I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE IT, JUST IN CASE.
STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SERVICE AND SERVICE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSYTEM 2 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS
BREAKS SQUEAKING
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.
WHEN PARKING OR ABOUT TO MOVE AND YOU PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND GET INTO A GEAR A LOUD AUDIBLE POPPING NOISE COMES THROUGH THE STEREO SYSTEM. IT IS VERY LOUD AND NOT BASED ON HOW LOW OR HIGH THE VOLUME OF THE STEREO IS SET. THERE IS A THREAD ON TRAILBLAZERTALK.COM ABOUT IT NOW. HTTPS://WWW.TRAILBLAZERTALK.COM/THREADS/POPPING-NOIS…
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WHEN PARKING OR ABOUT TO MOVE AND YOU PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND GET INTO A GEAR A LOUD AUDIBLE POPPING NOISE COMES THROUGH THE STEREO SYSTEM. IT IS VERY LOUD AND NOT BASED ON HOW LOW OR HIGH THE VOLUME OF THE STEREO IS SET. THERE IS A THREAD ON TRAILBLAZERTALK.COM ABOUT IT NOW. HTTPS://WWW.TRAILBLAZERTALK.COM/THREADS/POPPING-NOISE-IN-RADIO-WHEN-BRAKES-APPLIED.244/#POST-1557
BRAKES REQUIRED EXTREME PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ACCIDENT BARELY AVOIDED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON BUSY SURFACE ROAD.
Official recalls
421V440000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.