SPEEDODOMETER AND RPM CLUSTERS MALFUNCTIONS,WHY
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trailblazer Ext 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
216 reports with mileage · 45 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 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
9 reportsALL GAUGES ON CONTROL PANEL NOT WORKING, BUT ALL SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON CHECK ENGINE, ABS SEAT BELT, REDUCE POWER, BATTERY LIGHTS. SPEED AND FUEL ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW AS WELL AS WARNINGS TO OBSERVE FROM LIGHTS. 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW A FASTER SPEED THAN YOU MOVING OR WILL GO TO 0 WHILE ON THE FREE…
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ALL GAUGES ON CONTROL PANEL NOT WORKING, BUT ALL SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON CHECK ENGINE, ABS SEAT BELT, REDUCE POWER, BATTERY LIGHTS. SPEED AND FUEL ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW AS WELL AS WARNINGS TO OBSERVE FROM LIGHTS. 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW A FASTER SPEED THAN YOU MOVING OR WILL GO TO 0 WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE TACH HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED NOW. I HEARD THAT THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON PICK-UPS AND THEY WERE RECALLED. MOST INSTRUMENT BACKLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT PREVENTING THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES FROM BEING SEEN AT NIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS. QUICK SEARCH ON INTERNET RESULTS IN A SEVERE EPIDEMIC OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL GM SUV'S. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT RESULTED IN A NATIONWIDE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES BUT NOT THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER OR GMC ENVOY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CRIMINAL ACT BY GM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT..WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT, I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/CHEVROLET/TRAILBLAZER/ELECTRICAL+SYSTEM CHECK OUT ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM AND I AM ONE OF MANY. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS AS WELL, PLEASE GET US A RECALL ON THESE CARS THE EXPENSES ARE TREMENDOUS. *TR
ISSUE ORIGINALLY OCCURRING IN 2008. SPEEDOMETER FAILED...FIRST GETTING STUCK THEN NOT RETURNING TO ZERO. WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON AGAIN, SPEEDOMETER WOULD SPORADICALLY WORK, THEN GET STUCK, THEN STAY ON ZERO. BROUGHT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY (PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON DATE OF PURCHASE) AND WAS TOLD…
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ISSUE ORIGINALLY OCCURRING IN 2008. SPEEDOMETER FAILED...FIRST GETTING STUCK THEN NOT RETURNING TO ZERO. WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON AGAIN, SPEEDOMETER WOULD SPORADICALLY WORK, THEN GET STUCK, THEN STAY ON ZERO. BROUGHT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY (PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON DATE OF PURCHASE) AND WAS TOLD "THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED", SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AS WELL AS "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" GOING ON FOR PERIODS OF TIME ....AGAIN CHECKED BY GM DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER MECHANICS BUT NOTHING FOUND. HERE WE ARE IN 2012, I RECENTLY STARTED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T MIND THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING AT TIMES, BUT, WITH HIS UNEXPECTED DEATH IN NOVEMBER, AND MY SON AWAY AT COLLEGE, I HAD PLANNED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE TO MY SON TO TAKE TO COLLEGE, BUT NO SPEEDOMETER IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. AS I AM RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I AM SEEING MANY CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A RECALL BY GM. THERE ARE CLAIMS OF OTHER MECHANICS BEING ABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AT A PRETTY HEFTY COST. I AM IN NO POSITION TO PAY FOR A REPAIR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THE WARRANTY WE PURCHASED, WHICH, BY THE WAY WAS NOT CHEAP. IS NOT SAFETY SOMETHING GM HAS ON ITS' PRIORITY LIST. DRIVING WITH NO ABILITY TO KNOW HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE TRAVELING IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BE LAUNCHED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, WHICH I HAVE NO DOUBT WILL RESULT IN A GM RECALL TO REPAIR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. RPM GAUGE STOP WORKING AND THEN NOW THE RPM AND SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING. I FOUND A NUMBER OF REPORTS FROM OTHERS ONLINE STATING THAT THEIR RPM AND SPEEDO ALSO STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE SEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M TRAVELING. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER EXT 7 MONTHS AGO EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS UNTIL MY TACHOMETER GOT STUCK IN A DOWNWARD POSITION LAST WEEKEND I RAN OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH THE METER DISPLAYED 1/2 TANK FULL. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE PANEL TO GM PLUS 300 DOLLARS TO GET REPAIR…
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I BOUGHT MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER EXT 7 MONTHS AGO EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS UNTIL MY TACHOMETER GOT STUCK IN A DOWNWARD POSITION LAST WEEKEND I RAN OUT OF GAS EVEN THOUGH THE METER DISPLAYED 1/2 TANK FULL. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE PANEL TO GM PLUS 300 DOLLARS TO GET REPAIRED AND I CANT DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNTIL THE PANEL IS RETURNED BECAUSE THE MILEAGE HAS TO STAY THE SAME. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHY CANT GM COME UP WITH A SOLUTION INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING PEOPLE MONEY WITH ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE OFF OF CRUISE AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. AFTER THAT, EVERYTIME I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE. EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IT DROPS 5 MPH, BUT WHEN YOU USE CRUISE OR DO …
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ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN APPROACHING TRAFFIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE OFF OF CRUISE AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. AFTER THAT, EVERYTIME I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE. EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IT DROPS 5 MPH, BUT WHEN YOU USE CRUISE OR DO A CONSTANT SPEED, IT STICKS AGAIN. WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO ON A BIG FAMILY VACATION AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE TAKING MY FAMILY IN A VEHICLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. MY MECHANIC IS REPLACING THE CLUSTER WITH A USED ONE FROM THE LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. A USED ONE WITH LABOR IS STILL GOING TO COST ME $200 AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT ONE WILL LAST. I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EQUIPMENT FAILURE THAT GM HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST NOT SAFE! *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE READINGS OF SPEED (I.E. 70MPH WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). THIS BEGAN TODAY AND HAS NOT CORRECTED ITSELF. THERE ARE SERIOUS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR TRUE SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. RESEARCH…
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THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT GIVE ACCURATE READINGS OF SPEED (I.E. 70MPH WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT). THIS BEGAN TODAY AND HAS NOT CORRECTED ITSELF. THERE ARE SERIOUS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR TRUE SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN AVERAGE PRICE OF REPAIR TO BE AROUND $450.00. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. *TR
PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW FROM A STOP TO 45 MPH WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER INDICATED I WAS DOING 75 MPH. CONTINUING AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 45 WITH SLIGHT SLOWDOWNS AND SPEEDUPS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED TO 85 MPH. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I…
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PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FLOW FROM A STOP TO 45 MPH WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER INDICATED I WAS DOING 75 MPH. CONTINUING AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 45 WITH SLIGHT SLOWDOWNS AND SPEEDUPS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBED TO 85 MPH. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IT WENT TO 80 MPH. THEN, ACCELERATING TO 35 MPH, IT NOW READ 105 MPH. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK IT WENT TO 80 MPH NOT 0. TRUCK HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT. **AK
Official recalls
104V527000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Nov 1, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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
3RQ17002 · 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.
EA07009 · Fuel Pump Module Leaks Gasoline
Opened Jul 10, 2007 · Closed Aug 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EA INVESTIGATION, ODI OBSERVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS (88%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (94%) WERE REPORTED FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE SALT BELT REGION OF THE US.THIS AREA INCLUDES 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC AND THE MIDWEST REGIONS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.CONSUMERS IN THE SALT BELT REGION REPORTED TO ODI THAT THEY COULD SMELL FUEL VAPORS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT FUEL VAPORS WERE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE RETURN AND SENDER LINES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.WATER AND ROAD SALT COLLECT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.
EA04021 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Aug 3, 2004 · Closed Nov 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE/TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.ON MARCH 2, 2004, GM INITIATED A 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE SPECIAL POLICY FOR 989,487 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.ON APRIL 4, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-032) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.ON AUGUST 3, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE04-032 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-021).BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V527) COVERING SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AND EARLIER.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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