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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

Service Brakes complaints

14 reports
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120,000 miles · Jan 24, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

MY GAS GAUGE HAS STAYED ON EMPTY FOR A MONTH OR SO WITH THE GAS LIGHT ON. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND I PUT GAS IN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER DIED AND EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT …

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MY GAS GAUGE HAS STAYED ON EMPTY FOR A MONTH OR SO WITH THE GAS LIGHT ON. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND I PUT GAS IN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER DIED AND EVERYTHING LOCKED UP ON ME. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK WHAT SO EVER. AND I JUST HAD BRAND NEW BRAKES PUT ON A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT KEPT GOING. I AM SO HAPPY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MY THREE SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME. IT TOOK ME THREE TURNS ONTO THREE DIFFERENT STREETS BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED. IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. AND MY BACK WHEELS WERE MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND SMELLED REALLY BAD WHEN I GOT OUT. I ALWAYS KEEP A GAS CAN IN THE BACK IN CASE I EVER RUN OUT OF GAS DUE TO THE GAUGE NOT WORKING. AND MIND YOU I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE A YEAR. GM SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS FIXED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THANKFULLY SOMEONE WAS WATCHING OVER ME AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS HEADED TOWARD ME. IT WAS ON A MAIN ROADS THAT HAS A 45 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT. I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494528

108,000 miles · Dec 11, 2012
Service Brakes

NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 204 , 2012, WHILE ON A TRIP FROM HOUSTON TX TO WINONA MN, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RANCH ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP TO LET A PASSENGER GET OUT AND OPEN A GATE. I DROVE THROUGH THE OPEN GATE AND PUT THE TRAILBLAZER IN PARK WHILE WAITING FOR THE GATE …

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NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 204 , 2012, WHILE ON A TRIP FROM HOUSTON TX TO WINONA MN, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RANCH ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP TO LET A PASSENGER GET OUT AND OPEN A GATE. I DROVE THROUGH THE OPEN GATE AND PUT THE TRAILBLAZER IN PARK WHILE WAITING FOR THE GATE TO BE CLOSED AND THE PASSENGER TO GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE. I THEN WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND, ONCE AGAIN, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A MECHANIC WAS CALLED OUT AND, HE TOO PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH HIT THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE OF ANY KIND. THERE WERE THREE EYEWITNESSES TO THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS MECHANIC REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY 05 TRAILBLAZER OWNER WHO HAS SUFFERED THROUGH CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE EVENTS. A LISTING OF INVESTIGATIONS IS GIVEN ON THIS WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/CHEVROLET-TRAILBLAZER-2005/SERVICE-BRAKES/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487994

105,000 miles · Dec 11, 2012
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

, I WAS APPROACHING A LINE OF CARS STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND I WAS DECELERATING AND MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AS I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR,WITH NO RESISTANCE, AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A STOPPED PICKUP TRUCK?.WATCHING IT ALL UNFOL…

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, I WAS APPROACHING A LINE OF CARS STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND I WAS DECELERATING AND MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. AS I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR,WITH NO RESISTANCE, AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A STOPPED PICKUP TRUCK?.WATCHING IT ALL UNFOLD BEFORE MY EYES WHILE MY FOOT FRANTICALLY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH HIT THE FLOOR WITH EACH ATTEMPT. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A FRONT END COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487993

82,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THE FLEXIBLE BRAIDED LINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THE FLEXIBLE BRAIDED LINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10469349

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.