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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

1,466 reports
1 miles · Oct 31, 2009
Air BagsSeats

ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V417000 AND GM RECALL NO. 06102 MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WHEN I TRIED CALLING THE NUMBER LISTED 1-877-477-1022 IT IS A NON WORKING NUMBER. WHEN I CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH WAS RATHER RUDE AND NOT HELPFUL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290458

20,000 miles · Oct 29, 2009
Electrical System

HEADLIGHTS DIM AND VOLT METER DROPS RANDOMLY. MOST EVIDENT AT NIGHT, OF COURSE. SOMETIMES HEADLIGHTS FAIL COMPLETELY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. DEALER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUSE BLOCK BUT NEITHER FIX CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290311

60,000 miles · Oct 29, 2009
Electrical System

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE DEALER WANTS $350+ TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY! I HAVE BEEN DOING MY RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY CHEVY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290195

94,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AFTER ONLY 94,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289959

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2009
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289675

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2009
Electrical System

ALL THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN DRIVING PEOPLE THINK I'M HIGH BEAMING THEM, TRIED TO LET TB IDLE FOR A MINUTE BUT NO GOOD STILL FLICKERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288740

52,000 miles · Oct 17, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

INTERMITTENT FALSE READINGS OF FUEL LEVEL MAY CAUSE DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF FUEL IN TRAFFIC. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS S CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288725

44,000 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL GAUGE/SENSOR DEFECTIVE. GAUGE SHOW EMPTY MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN FULL. LIGHT SMELL OF GASOLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287432

86,000 miles · Oct 11, 2009
Exterior Lighting

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2005 TRAILBLAZER KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS 3 TIMES IN A 3 MONTH PERIOD. THE MALFUNCTION HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287019

43,000 miles · Oct 10, 2009
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE OVERHEATING. BULB MELTS OFF THE CONTACT PIECE. INTERIOR OF HOUSING UNIT IS MELTING AS WELL. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A YEAR. THE ONLY THING I HAVEN'T DONE YET IS REPLACE THE HOUSING UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286977

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.