IllustrationINSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONS. SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER DISPLAY INACCURATE INFORMATION. SPEEDOMETER WILL REGISTER 60 MPH WHILE AT A RED LIGHT. TACHOMETER DOES NOT GO TO ZERO EVEN WHEN ENGINE IS OFF. *TR
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Trailblazer years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
880–25K
16325–50K
27450–75K
17675–100K
137100–150K
61150K+
899 reports with mileage · 182 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 627 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
56 crash reports31 fire reports47 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
627 reportsI HAVE SEEN ACROSS MANY WEBSITES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZERS MALFUNCTION. WELL, OUR VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO REPAIR. HE SUGGESTED CONTACTING CHEVY, BUT I HAVE SEEN THAT CHEVY IS NOT INTERESTED IN…
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I HAVE SEEN ACROSS MANY WEBSITES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZERS MALFUNCTION. WELL, OUR VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SAYS IT WILL COST ABOUT $600 TO REPAIR. HE SUGGESTED CONTACTING CHEVY, BUT I HAVE SEEN THAT CHEVY IS NOT INTERESTED IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. I FIGURED IF THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO THE NTSB, MAYBE THEY WILL RECALL THE EQUIPMENT AND I CAN GET IT PROPERLY REPAIRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT DISPLAY THE SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE RE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT DISPLAY THE SPEED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
GM IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE ON MANY 2004 VEHICLES RESULTING IN GRADUAL DETERIORATION OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PERFORMANCE. IT STARTS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER FAILING, READING 120 MPH WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THEN THE FUEL GAUGE, LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN WHILE DRIVING TO A FUEL STATION IT WILL SLOWLY CLIMB TO 1/2 TANK…
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GM IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE ON MANY 2004 VEHICLES RESULTING IN GRADUAL DETERIORATION OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PERFORMANCE. IT STARTS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER FAILING, READING 120 MPH WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. THEN THE FUEL GAUGE, LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN WHILE DRIVING TO A FUEL STATION IT WILL SLOWLY CLIMB TO 1/2 TANK READING OR MORE. NEXT IS THE TACHOMETER, IT WILL BOUNCE FROM 2000 RPM TO OVER 6000 RPM (RED LINE) ALSO WHILE SITTING AT STOP SIGN OR PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. FINALLY THE OIL AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGES READ HOT (PAST RED LINE) AT INITIAL START UP FROM SITTING 12 HOURS IN -3 DEGREE WEATHER. AN ONLINE SEARCH HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE UNITED STATES EXTENDING BEYOND THE TRAILBLAZER TO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS SAME ISSUE WAS RECALLED ON GM TRUCKS BUT THE OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NO ACCURATE IDEA OF MPH, RPM, OIL OR WATER TEMPERATURE AND BATTERY CHARGE. THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE BAD COMPUTER BOARD IS $500 TO $1000. *TR
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER KEEPS BREAKING. *TR
INSTRUTMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES....DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEIRSELVES AT TIMES...BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME...
SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER NOT WORKING AND HAVE NOT BEEN FOR OVER 1 YR. OTHER GAUGES WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. WILL COST TOO MUCH TO TAKE TO DEALER TO GET FIXED AND HAVE HEARD THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER VEHICLES SAME YR HAVING SAME ISSUES. THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE TO FIX. *TR
THE PROBLEM IS ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE ENTIRE DASH GAUGES MALFUNCTION OCCASIONALLY, FROM SPEEDOMETER TO BATTERY GAUGE TO OIL PRESSURE GAUGE TO WATER TEMP GAUGE TO RPM GAUGE. I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS OF TRAILBLAZER OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN THE USA, BUT AROUND THE WORLD, JUST READ THE FORUM ON EDMUNDS.…
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THE PROBLEM IS ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE ENTIRE DASH GAUGES MALFUNCTION OCCASIONALLY, FROM SPEEDOMETER TO BATTERY GAUGE TO OIL PRESSURE GAUGE TO WATER TEMP GAUGE TO RPM GAUGE. I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS OF TRAILBLAZER OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN THE USA, BUT AROUND THE WORLD, JUST READ THE FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM AND YOU WILL SEE. I USUALLY TEMPORARILY FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF UNTIL THE GAUGES FULLY RESET, BUT THAT PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON THE STARTER. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO TRIGGER A RECALL BECAUSE CHEVY DEALERS WANT US OWNERS TO SHELL OUT $100 TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM WE ALREADY KNOW AND THEN WANT TO GOUGE US FOR ANOTHER $700-$1000 TO FIX. THAT IS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR, FOR A PART ON THE VEHICLE WHICH IS VITAL TO DRIVERS, THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ALWAYS DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING. THE IMPROPER READINGS CAN VARY FROM 0 TO 120 MPH AND ALL OF THE SPEEDS BETWEEN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ALWAYS DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING. THE IMPROPER READINGS CAN VARY FROM 0 TO 120 MPH AND ALL OF THE SPEEDS BETWEEN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER HAS BECOME ERRATIC. SOMETIMES NO SPEED. SOMETIMES STUCK ON 90MPH WHETHER I'M MOVING OR NOT. VEHICLE HAS 87240 MILES. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
205V198000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
May 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SIGNAL THEIR INTENTIONS TO TURN, CHANGE TRAVEL LANES, OR POTENTIALLY WARN OTHERS OF AN IMPAIRED VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005. ISUZU BEGAN MAILING OWNER LETTERS ON AUGUST 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, AND OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
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
4RQ17002 · 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.
PE04032 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Apr 6, 2004 · Closed Aug 3, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002-04 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER VEHICLES.GM REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES SHARING THIS PLATFORM AND BRAKE LAMP DESIGN ARE THE MY 2002-2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT; GMC ENVOY, XL, XUV; OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AND 2004 BUICK RAINIER.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR BRAKE LAMP DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.THERE IS NO INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT ONE OR MORE BRAKE LAMPS BULBS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.GM FOUND THAT HEAT FROM THE BULB COULD DEFORM THE LAMP SOCKET, PRODUCE ELECTRICAL ARCING AND AN INOPERATIVE BULB.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, GM CHANGED THE BULB TO A BULB THAT TRANSMITS LESS HEAT TO THE SOCKET AND CHANGED THE SOCKET TO A THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER TO IMPROVE THERMAL STABILITY.THESE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED INTO PRODUCTION VEHICLES ON OCTOBER 1, 2003.GM IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL POLICY BY NOTIFYING CONSUMERS THAT IF THEY SHOULD EXPERIENCE A BRAKE LAMP FAILURE TO GO TO THEIR GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CIRCUIT BOARD CONTAINING THE BRAKE LAMP REPLACED ALONG WITH NEW BULBS.THIS POLICY IS GOOD FOR THE FIRST 6 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-021 AND INCLUDE THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLES.