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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Trailblazer years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 87.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,220 reports with mileage · 246 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 617 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 435 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 140 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

59 crash reports25 fire reports41 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

617 reports
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7,600 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, GasolineFire

FIRST WAS THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW FUSES, THEN I GET POWER SURGES THAT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RANDOMLY AT THE WORST TIMES AND/OR WILL ALSO STALL OUT, WHICH CAN BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS OR END IN A FATAL ACCIDENT, IT DROPS IN RPMS AND LIGHTS DIM THEN IT ACCELERATES... AND THE LAST THING IS THAT THE …

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FIRST WAS THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHT CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW FUSES, THEN I GET POWER SURGES THAT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RANDOMLY AT THE WORST TIMES AND/OR WILL ALSO STALL OUT, WHICH CAN BE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS OR END IN A FATAL ACCIDENT, IT DROPS IN RPMS AND LIGHTS DIM THEN IT ACCELERATES... AND THE LAST THING IS THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATES DRAMATICALLY AND YOU CAN NEVER TELL HOW MUCH FUEL YOU REALLY HAVE... DRIVE 10 MILES AT QUARTER OF A TANK AND IT EITHER STAYS CLOSE TO THE SAME SPOT OR DROPS AND THE LIGHT COMES ON FOR LOW FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425223

81,000 miles · Sep 9, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND THE OIL GAUGE FAILED COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND THE OIL GAUGE FAILED COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #10424507

54,000 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT RESET ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS OR STOPS. INSTEAD, IT RESUMES FROM A HIGHER SPEED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AT 45MPH AND STOP AT A STOPLIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER MAY DROP TO 40MPH UPON STOPPING. THEN WHEN YOU RESUME TRAVELING IT STARTS FROM 40 INSTEAD OF 0 SO THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS YOU ARE TRAVELI…

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THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT RESET ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS OR STOPS. INSTEAD, IT RESUMES FROM A HIGHER SPEED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AT 45MPH AND STOP AT A STOPLIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER MAY DROP TO 40MPH UPON STOPPING. THEN WHEN YOU RESUME TRAVELING IT STARTS FROM 40 INSTEAD OF 0 SO THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS YOU ARE TRAVELING 60 WHEN YOU ARE GOING 20, 70 WHEN YOU ARE GOING 30 ETC. WHEN YOU STOP AGAIN IT WILL COME TO REST AT AN EVEN HIGHER SPEED, UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE NEEDLE SHOWS OVER 120 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL! I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION ON LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT FROM FELLOW OWNERS. GENERAL MOTORS APPARENTLY DOPES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AS SUCH WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR WHICH IS $500 OR MORE. I'M NOT SURE HOW NOT KNOWING YOU RATE OF TRAVEL IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THEM, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423869

51,000 miles · Sep 1, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY HIGHER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY HIGHER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #10422851

54,000 miles · Aug 31, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE AND ODOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE AND ODOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10422743

66,500 miles · Aug 28, 2011
Electrical System

FUEL GAUGE HAS FAILED. GAUGE READS EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH FUEL TANK IS FULL. THERE ARE SPORADIC FLUCTUATIONS OF THE NEEDLE, BUT GAUGE IS NO LONGER RELIABLE FOR DETERMINING FUEL LEVEL IN THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER / GMC ENVOY LINE OF VEHICLES INDICATE IT IS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL SEND…

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FUEL GAUGE HAS FAILED. GAUGE READS EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH FUEL TANK IS FULL. THERE ARE SPORADIC FLUCTUATIONS OF THE NEEDLE, BUT GAUGE IS NO LONGER RELIABLE FOR DETERMINING FUEL LEVEL IN THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE CHEVY TRAILBLAZER / GMC ENVOY LINE OF VEHICLES INDICATE IT IS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #10423310

70,000 miles · Aug 24, 2011
Electrical System

GAUGE CLUSTER INACCURATELY DISPLAYS FUEL LEVEL, OIL PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE. OCCURS DAILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421375

60,000 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE BLOWER FOR MY AIR/HEAT/DEFROST HAS BEEN ACTING UP. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. I CAN'T USE MY DEFROST TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS OR USE MY AIR OR HEAT. I WAS TOLD THE RESISTOR AND HARNESS (WHICH…

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE BLOWER FOR MY AIR/HEAT/DEFROST HAS BEEN ACTING UP. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. I CAN'T USE MY DEFROST TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS OR USE MY AIR OR HEAT. I WAS TOLD THE RESISTOR AND HARNESS (WHICH STARTS TO MELT AND BURN) IS CAUSING THE BLOWER NOT TO WORK. I CHECKED WITH MECHANICS AND ON LINE AND THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THE RESISTOR AND/OR HARNESS. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS HAPPENING IN ALL CHEVYS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10419859

99,000 miles · Jul 28, 2011
Electrical System

2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. HEAT/AC STOPS WORKING ON 5..THEN EVENTUALLY 4 STOPS AND SO ON UNTIL NONE OF IT WORKS. THE WIRES GET TO HOT AND MELT TOGETHER. I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM YET CHEVY STILL DOESN'T RECALL IT!? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415555

102,291 miles · Jul 17, 2011
Electrical System

DURING ROUTINE DRIVING AROUND KEENE NH THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10413185

Official recalls

2

06V417000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 31, 2006

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.

05V035000 · Visibility:windshield

Feb 3, 2005

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, 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

2

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.

DP10001 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure

Opened Jan 7, 2010 · Closed May 23, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System

The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Other

The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.

Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System

The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.