IllustrationSEVERAL TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE TRAILBLAZER, THE SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY AND SAYS THAT WE ARE TRAVELING AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THAN WE ARE. LIKE IF IM GOING APPROX 70MPH, IT STATES WE ARE GOING ABOUT 110MPH! THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE! AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL? *TR
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
170–25K
4925–50K
6550–75K
4675–100K
24100–150K
15150K+
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.
6 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
261 reportsI OWN A 2004 TRAILBLAZER EXT AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE RPM GAUGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND MANY TIMES DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER A SPEED WHILE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS HAS BEEN A DAILY OCCURRENCE EVERY TIME MY WIFE AND FAMILY GET IN…
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I OWN A 2004 TRAILBLAZER EXT AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE RPM GAUGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND MANY TIMES DOESN'T EVEN REGISTER A SPEED WHILE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS HAS BEEN A DAILY OCCURRENCE EVERY TIME MY WIFE AND FAMILY GET IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR ANYONE ELSE WE MAY PASS ON THE ROAD. I KNOW FROM READING MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AND THAT GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE CONSOLE CLUSTER ON SEVERAL OTHER MODELS HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALSO RECALLING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE MAKE? *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING AND THE TAILGATE ON MY '04 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER POPPED OPEN. I WAS IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT NOW I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE? *TR
ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER IT WAS READING 90. FOR ABOUT A MONTH THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER REACHED ZERO AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. ONE DAY IT FINALLY DID REACH ZERO AND ACTED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN. SINCE THEN, IT HAS GOTTEN STUCK POINTED DO…
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ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER IT WAS READING 90. FOR ABOUT A MONTH THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER REACHED ZERO AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. ONE DAY IT FINALLY DID REACH ZERO AND ACTED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN. SINCE THEN, IT HAS GOTTEN STUCK POINTED DOWN AND DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. ALSO, MY RPM BEGAN ACTING UP AS WELL. NOW IT STARTS BELOW ZERO AND ONLY MOVES OCCASIONALLY. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE I CAN HANDLE NOT KNOWING THE EXACT SPEED OF MY VEHICLE, BUT NOT KNOWING THE RPM ALSO MAKES IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAVE NO REAL WAY TO DETERMINE MY SPEED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A TRAILBLAZER LIKE MINE AND HE HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. ONLINE I'VE ALSO FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. GM MUST CORRECT THIS ELECTRICAL GLITCH! *TR
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER HAS GONE OUT. MY SPEEDOMETER, OIL GAUGE, AND FUEL GAUGE ARE NO LONGER REGISTERING THE CORRECT INFORMATION. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. *TR
SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. STARTED OUT INTERMITTENT. *TR
TOTAL FAILURE OF ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER AROUND 54000 MILES 600 DOLLAR REPAIR WAS TOLD THAT IT SHORTED OUT AND MELTED THE CONNECTORS. *TR
I STARTED TO LOSE THE HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FAN BLOWER. IN CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR G.M. THE PROBLEM IS THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THIS PART I FOUND THAT THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN BURNT TO. IT GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED EVERYTHING. THE FUSE FOR THIS DID NOT EVEN BLO…
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I STARTED TO LOSE THE HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FAN BLOWER. IN CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR G.M. THE PROBLEM IS THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THIS PART I FOUND THAT THE WHOLE WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN BURNT TO. IT GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED EVERYTHING. THE FUSE FOR THIS DID NOT EVEN BLOW. THIS COULD HAVE SET THE TRUCK ON FIRE. IT IS FUNNY HOW THE PARTS TO FIX THIS HAS MUCH THICKER WIRE. THE PARTS IN TOTAL WAS AROUND $118. THANKS TO A FRIEND I HAD NO LABOR COST. IF I WOULD OF TAKEN IT TO A G.M. DEALER FOR SURE THEY WOULD OF WANTED OVER $300. G.M. KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AS IT COULD OF SET THE TRUCK ON FIRE. *TR
I HAVE MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY 04 TRAILBLAZER FROM MY WINDOW LIGHTS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. I HAVE HAD MY RADIO REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED ONE OF MY CDS. MY HEAD LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT SAME WITH THE REAR WIPER. IT HAS STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC ON ME. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT IN MOST 2000 TO 2006…
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I HAVE MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH MY 04 TRAILBLAZER FROM MY WINDOW LIGHTS ON THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. I HAVE HAD MY RADIO REPLACED BECAUSE IT MELTED ONE OF MY CDS. MY HEAD LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT SAME WITH THE REAR WIPER. IT HAS STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC ON ME. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT IN MOST 2000 TO 2006 TRAILBLAZERS THE REASON FOR THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IS BECAUSE WATER IS RUNNING DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR INTO THE DASH AND HITTING ONE OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESSES CAUSING IT TO HAVE MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HEARD THIS FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS AN 06 TRAILBLAZER THAT JUST HAD IT A REPLACED FOR $700.00 TO FIX AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL JUST HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN A FEW MORE YEARS BECAUSE THEY CANT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
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.