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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

435 reports
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50,000 miles · Aug 31, 2010
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY READ INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL WITH GASOLINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED REPL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY READ INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL WITH GASOLINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/07/10

NHTSA ODI #10352927

62,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 85MPH, I WAS IN A 35MPH SPEED ZONE GOING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.THE SPEEDOMETER RAN COUNTER CLOCK WISE THEN CLOCK WISE. AFTER THAT EPISODE THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TO TOGETHER. FAILURE OCCURRED 62,000 MILES. IN COLD WEATHER THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. ALSO MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, …

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SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 85MPH, I WAS IN A 35MPH SPEED ZONE GOING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.THE SPEEDOMETER RAN COUNTER CLOCK WISE THEN CLOCK WISE. AFTER THAT EPISODE THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TO TOGETHER. FAILURE OCCURRED 62,000 MILES. IN COLD WEATHER THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. ALSO MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING, READS EMPTY ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351610

58,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE HAD MY TRAILBLAZER SINE 2008 THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AROUND 58,000 MILES AND NOW SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS WINDING UP EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350606

57,147 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS GAUGE WHEN FROM NEARLY FULL TO EMPTY, CAUSING THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT TO COME UP. IT THEN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN FROM EMPTY, BACK UP TO FULL, AND THEN DOWN TO READING EMPTY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS THE DAY PRIOR AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL SHORT ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. …

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WHILE DRIVING, THE GAS GAUGE WHEN FROM NEARLY FULL TO EMPTY, CAUSING THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT TO COME UP. IT THEN INTERMITTENTLY WHEN FROM EMPTY, BACK UP TO FULL, AND THEN DOWN TO READING EMPTY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS THE DAY PRIOR AND HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL SHORT ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON AUG 17TH. TODAY (AUG 18TH)WE TOOK THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK FOR A TEST DRIVE. IT STARTED OUT READING FULL TANK. AT ABOUT 30MPH IS DROPPED TO EMPTY. WHILE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN GETTING HOME, THE GAUGE WAS GOING UP AND DOWN. AN ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS APPARENTLY A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS OF VEHICLES ACTUALLY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE VEHICLE BELIEVING IT WAS OUT OF FUEL WHEN IT WAS NOT. CHEVY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT IS HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR $800 FOR THE REPAIR. ANOTHER CAUSE COULD BE THE STEPPER MOTOR FOR THE GAUGE, WHICH FROM ONLINE RESEARCH APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRAILBLAZER THAT GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350275

69,000 miles · Aug 15, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

PLEASE GO TO THIS SITE AND YOU WILL SEE WHY THIS PROBLEM CAN GET SOMEONE KILLED IF YOU RUN OUT OF GAS. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/TRAILBLAZER/2005/ELECTRICAL/FUEL_GAUGE_QUIT_WORKING.SHTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349418

58,000 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF MILEAGE TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN TANK. GAUGE USUALLY READS EMPTY, WITH LOW FUEL LIGHT ON, EVEN WHEN FILLED UP. WIFE RAN OUT OF GAS ON BUSY STREET. CHECKED AROUND, AND FOUND MANY, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347542

103,335 miles · Aug 4, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. IT ALWAYS READS NO FUEL NOW EVEN AFTER FILLING UP. I HAVE READ ONLINE AND IT SEEMS MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND GM WANTS OVER $1,000.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THIS COULD RESULT IN MY VEHICLE STALLING OR RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347230

70,000 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL LEVEL COMPONENT DOES NOT ACCURATELY MEASURE FUEL LEVELS IN GAS TANK AND COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED STALLING ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADWAYS WHICH COULD RESULT IN COLLISION WHEN GAS RUNS OUT BUT GAUGE SAYS IT IS FULL. IT FLUCTUATES EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND AFTER TANK IS FILLED AND CAR TURNED ON, GAUGE READS EMPTY FOR SEVE…

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FUEL LEVEL COMPONENT DOES NOT ACCURATELY MEASURE FUEL LEVELS IN GAS TANK AND COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED STALLING ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADWAYS WHICH COULD RESULT IN COLLISION WHEN GAS RUNS OUT BUT GAUGE SAYS IT IS FULL. IT FLUCTUATES EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND AFTER TANK IS FILLED AND CAR TURNED ON, GAUGE READS EMPTY FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN CHANGES TO FULL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346845

26,000 miles · Jul 31, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL TANK SENSOR IN THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. AFTER PUTTING APPROXIMATELY $50.00 WORTH OF GAS IN THE TANK THE LOW FUEL LIGHT GOES ON AND THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT MOVE OUT OF THE LOW FUEL POSITION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346438

95,000 miles · Jul 30, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL GAUGE HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS AS IT IS QUITE COSTLY AND MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I RESEARCH A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS QUITE COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES. I AM AFRAID I WILL FORGET TO RESET MY MILEAGE ONE TIME A…

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WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL GAUGE HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS AS IT IS QUITE COSTLY AND MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I RESEARCH A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS QUITE COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES. I AM AFRAID I WILL FORGET TO RESET MY MILEAGE ONE TIME AND RUN OUT OF GAS, CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346306

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.