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2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

6 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

261 reports
62,500 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10384851

17,000 miles · Feb 22, 2011
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM. OTHER CHEVY AND GM SUV HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE HOWEVER THIS MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10383977

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 6 MONTHS ABOUT. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND JUST PRAYING WE DO NOT GET A SPEEDING TICKET. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON EVEN WHEN RESET. I AM NOT BEING TOLD I NEED TO CHECK THE FUSE WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I CAN O…

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THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 6 MONTHS ABOUT. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND JUST PRAYING WE DO NOT GET A SPEEDING TICKET. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON EVEN WHEN RESET. I AM NOT BEING TOLD I NEED TO CHECK THE FUSE WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IF THE NEXT THING TO GO WILL BE ALL THE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD. THIS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380757

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2011
Electrical System

I AM HAVING MULTIPLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEMS ON MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. THEY HAVE DONE RECALLS ON EVERY TYPE OF CHEVY TRUCK BUT THE TRAILBLAZER. WHY NOT THE TRAILBLAZER AS WELL? I HAVE BEEN READING FORUMS AFTER FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS FIXED OTHERWISE TH…

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I AM HAVING MULTIPLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEMS ON MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. THEY HAVE DONE RECALLS ON EVERY TYPE OF CHEVY TRUCK BUT THE TRAILBLAZER. WHY NOT THE TRAILBLAZER AS WELL? I HAVE BEEN READING FORUMS AFTER FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING AND GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS FIXED OTHERWISE THERE MAY BE FATAL ACCIDENTS BY ENGINES BLOWING UP FROM THE OIL PSI GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND SO ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378640

66,000 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER EXT OPERATES INCORRECTLY. THE SPEED INDICATOR STICKS, GOES OVER 120 MILES AN HOUR AND STAYS THERE, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. THIS IS AN EVERYDAY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378237

49,000 miles · Jan 15, 2011
Equipment

1. NORMAL DRIVING, 2. THE CD PLAYER WILL NOT EJECT THE CD, 3. ATTEMPTED TO GET IT OUT AND THEN RESEARCHED FOR HOW TO'S AND FOUND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX WITHOUT GETTING A NEW STEREO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376811

55,000 miles · Jan 15, 2011
Unknown Or Other

1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. THE RPM GAUGE WORKS ERRATICALLY AND IS NEVER ACCURATE. 3. WE COULD NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376810

70,343 miles · Jan 15, 2011
Electrical System

1, NORMAL DRIVING BEFORE FAILURE. 2. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ENTIRELY INACCURATE EVEN IN PARK. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR CAN BE DONE TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376809

80,000 miles · Jan 8, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

1. FUEL TANK FAILURE, WITH GAS SMELL AFTER FILL UP. 2. SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING 3. TEMPERATURE GAGE STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI #10375968

116,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Electrical System

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT 116,000 MILES AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT TO ZERO. IT CONTINUED TO STAY AT ZERO AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT, IT STAYED AT ZERO UNTIL HALFWAY THROUGH MY DRIVE WHEN NOW ITS STUCK AT 61 MPH, WHICH IS WHERE MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE TACH NOW …

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MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT 116,000 MILES AND THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT TO ZERO. IT CONTINUED TO STAY AT ZERO AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT, IT STAYED AT ZERO UNTIL HALFWAY THROUGH MY DRIVE WHEN NOW ITS STUCK AT 61 MPH, WHICH IS WHERE MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET. THE TACH NOW WORKS HALF THE TIME BUT THE SPEEDOMETER IS GIVING ME MISLEADING INFORMATION. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN WHERE THE WEATHER IS SUCH A VARIABLE. I AM ALWAYS USING MY SPEEDOMETER IN CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE CERTAIN SPEEDS I GO IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS (LIGHT SNOW, DEEPER SNOW, RAIN TO FREEZING RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, SLUSHY CONDITIONS, ICE, SLEET AND JUST PLAIN NORMAL.) CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT RETAINING THE CORRECT SPEEDS IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN WISCONSIN....GEE LET ME THINK....DEATH WOULD PROBABLY BE THE WORST. NOTHING'S BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS YET BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULD JUST WORK AND ITS A [XXX] SHAME GM HASN'T DONE ANYTHING YET CONSIDERING ALL THE PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10374890

Official recalls

1

04V527000 · 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

3

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.

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.