IllustrationSPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING , VERY ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. WILL WORK FOR FEW MINUTES AT A TIME. *TR
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.
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
950–25K
18325–50K
37350–75K
28875–100K
224100–150K
57150K+
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 reportsSPEEDOMTER FAILURE. *TR
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK ON 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AND 2005 SILVERADO. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET NEAR MY HOUSE, DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN IT WENT OUT. SINCE THEN IT HAS NOT WORKED AND I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. I CALLED CHEVY BECAUSE I HAD READ ONLINE THAT GM IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON QUITE A FEW CARS AND TRUCKS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND AS LONG …
Read full complaint
MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET NEAR MY HOUSE, DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN IT WENT OUT. SINCE THEN IT HAS NOT WORKED AND I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. I CALLED CHEVY BECAUSE I HAD READ ONLINE THAT GM IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON QUITE A FEW CARS AND TRUCKS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND AS LONG AS YOUR CAR HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES AND/OR 7 YEARS OLD THEY WILL FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CAR OWNER. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE REPRESENTATIVE SHE SAID THAT MY TRAILBLAZER WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THEN MADE ME AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NICE TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE 200 DOLLAR DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND THE 700 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH MY YEAR AND MAKE THAT IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. *TR
I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LS. SPEEDOMETER IS GOING HAYWIRE. NEEDLE POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SLOWLY TICKS BACKWARDS. WHEN IM STOPPED IT NORMALLY SHOWS IM GOING 60 MPH AND WHEN DRIVING IT GOES INTO THE 100'S AND THEN WAY PASSED THE 120 MPH MARK. ALSO MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE NEEDLE IS WAY PASSED FULL AND IS ALMOST FACING…
Read full complaint
I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LS. SPEEDOMETER IS GOING HAYWIRE. NEEDLE POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SLOWLY TICKS BACKWARDS. WHEN IM STOPPED IT NORMALLY SHOWS IM GOING 60 MPH AND WHEN DRIVING IT GOES INTO THE 100'S AND THEN WAY PASSED THE 120 MPH MARK. ALSO MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE NEEDLE IS WAY PASSED FULL AND IS ALMOST FACING STRAIGHT DOWN. APPARENTLY THERE'S BEEN A TON OF PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT APPARENTLY GM WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
JUST AS SO MANY OTHER 2005 TRAILBLAZER OWNERS, NEITHER MY SPEEDOMETER OR GAS GAUGE HAS WORKED FOR SOME TIME. I REFUSE TO PAY THE COST TO HAVE THESE REPAIRED AT $500 + ON A VEHICLE THAT I FEEL IS STILL NEW. TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, I PURCHASED A GARMIN WHICH WILL TELL YOU WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AND HAVE FIGURED OUT WITH MY G…
Read full complaint
JUST AS SO MANY OTHER 2005 TRAILBLAZER OWNERS, NEITHER MY SPEEDOMETER OR GAS GAUGE HAS WORKED FOR SOME TIME. I REFUSE TO PAY THE COST TO HAVE THESE REPAIRED AT $500 + ON A VEHICLE THAT I FEEL IS STILL NEW. TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, I PURCHASED A GARMIN WHICH WILL TELL YOU WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AND HAVE FIGURED OUT WITH MY GAS GAUGE THAT WHEN I HAVE GAS, MY LOW FUEL LIGHT STAYS ON AND WHEN I AM GETTING LOW, IT GOES OFF. SO I WORK BACKWARDS, WHEN MY LOW FUEL LIGHT GOES OFF, I FILL MY GAS TANK AND MONITOR THE MILES I HAVE DRIVEN. WHY IS GM NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT IS OBVIOUSLY WIDESPREAD. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WITH 50,000 MILES. STARTING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER REGULARLY MALFUNCTIONS AND GIVES ME THE WRONG SPEED. GM REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND TELLS ME I HAVE TO SPEND $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY OVER $500 TO ULTIMATELY FIX THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER WITH 50,000 MILES. STARTING A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER REGULARLY MALFUNCTIONS AND GIVES ME THE WRONG SPEED. GM REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND TELLS ME I HAVE TO SPEND $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY OVER $500 TO ULTIMATELY FIX THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER OWNERS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *TR
JUST ADDING ANOTHER 2005 TRAILBLAZER SPEEDOMETER TO THE GROWING LIST OF FAILURES. SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM . 450.00 TO GET IT FIXED I NEED A BAIL OUT TO FIX IT. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS STARTED NOT WORKING ON OCCASION. IT WILL WORK ONLY AFTER I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND LET IT SIT A BIT. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS I FEEL I AM A THREAT TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR
THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER HAS A HISTORY OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER IN THE DASH BEING DEFECTIVE. IT SEEMS THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM GOING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THAT CHEVROLET DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO HELP THE CONSUMERS CORRECT T…
Read full complaint
THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER HAS A HISTORY OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER IN THE DASH BEING DEFECTIVE. IT SEEMS THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM GOING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THAT CHEVROLET DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED TO HELP THE CONSUMERS CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE CHECKED INTO THE TIME AN COST OF THE REPAIRS AND IT IS VERY TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE FOR THE CONSUMER. *TR
Official recalls
206V417000 · 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
2RQ17002 · 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.