IllustrationTHE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT MAY SHOW EMPTY, QUARTER,OR HALF FULL EVEN THOUGH IT IS FULL. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!! IT'S NO WONDER THEY CAN'T SELL THEM!! *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
What owners actually said
1,466 reportsHEAD LIGHTS DIM AND BRIGHTEN WHILE DRIVING. WITH NO REASON THE LIGHTS GET VERY DIM AND A SECOND LATER THE LIGHTS BRIGHTEN AND THIS CYCLES OVER AND OVER. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. OTHER DRIVERS THINK I WANT THEN TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN OR PULL OVER. *TR
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ PROPERLY. NEEDLE ON GAUGE FLOATS FROM EMPTY TO FULL AND WILL READ LOW FUEL WHEN TANK IS FULL. HAVE READ OF OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. WHY NO RECALL? *TR
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. READS AT 120 MPH REGARDLESS WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING. HAVE READ ABOUT TOO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NO RECALL? *TR
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT FUNCTION FOR 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. POTENTIAL TO RUN OUT OF FUEL IN SUBZERO WEATHER ENDANGERING OCCUPANTS. THIS IS WELL KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY AND I CAN BE GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE GAUGE SHOWS THAT I AM GOING 25/30 MILES AN HOUR AND I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT SHOWS OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE SAME PROBLEM...WHY HASN'T GM RECALLED THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2005 MODELS? *TR
AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 20-30 MINUTES MY SPEEDOMETER STOPS FUNCTIONING. IN CITY DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DROPS TO ZERO AND STAYS THERE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. IN HIGHWAY DRIVING SITUATIONS WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN USE, THE SPEEDOMETER "STICKS." WHEN I TOUCH THE BREAKS OR THE GAS TO SPEED UP/SLOW DOWN…
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AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 20-30 MINUTES MY SPEEDOMETER STOPS FUNCTIONING. IN CITY DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DROPS TO ZERO AND STAYS THERE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. IN HIGHWAY DRIVING SITUATIONS WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS IN USE, THE SPEEDOMETER "STICKS." WHEN I TOUCH THE BREAKS OR THE GAS TO SPEED UP/SLOW DOWN THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STAYS AT WHATEVER SPEED I WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVING AND STAYS THERE FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR, THE SPEEDOMETER CAN BE RESET BY STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF UNTIL THE NEEDLE RETURNS TO ZERO. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN MY TRAILBLAZER HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $450-550 COST TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH 2005 TRAILBLAZERS BUT IT WON'T BE COVERED UNDER A SILENT WARRANTY UNLESS MORE COMPLAINTS ARE FILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS, AND I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOT TRAVELING AS QUICKLY AS THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOT TRAVELING AS QUICKLY AS THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
MASSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH CHEVY TRAILBLAZER 1. WHILE GOING 10 MILES AN HOUR, THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO 120MPH THEN TO 50MPH THEN TO 120MPH AGAIN. 2. WHEN I FILL UP WITH GAS, THE GAS GAUGE STATES THAT THE TANK IS STILL EMPTY THEN MOVES TO FULL THEN TO A 1/4 THEN TO FULL THEN TO HALF ETC... 3. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, …
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MASSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH CHEVY TRAILBLAZER 1. WHILE GOING 10 MILES AN HOUR, THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS TO 120MPH THEN TO 50MPH THEN TO 120MPH AGAIN. 2. WHEN I FILL UP WITH GAS, THE GAS GAUGE STATES THAT THE TANK IS STILL EMPTY THEN MOVES TO FULL THEN TO A 1/4 THEN TO FULL THEN TO HALF ETC... 3. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS GO HIGHBEAM TO LOW BEAM AS IF I AM MANUALLY FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT OTHER CARS. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MODEL OF CHEVROLET SUV AND THAT GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. -I CALLED GM AND ADVISED THEM OF THE ENTIRE ISSUE. THEY ADVISED ME TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AS THIS WAS NEEDED BEFORE THEY COULD HELP ME. -I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PAID $115 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC, NEEDLESS TO SAY THE REPAIRS THAT THE DEALER FOUND RANGER OVER $3000.00 DOLLARS. -I THEN CALLED GM BACK AND THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALER GAVE ME (DONNA AT 1-866-790-5700 X21153) -I JUST GOT A CALL BACK FROM GM STATING THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE SUV THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING (THEY KNEW ABOUT THE MILEAGE BEFORE THEY SENT ME TO THE DEALERSHIP!). SO I WASTED $115 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT NEEDED BY GM, AND THE FACT THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE MILEAGE TO START OFF WITH IS A WAY TO LET THE DEALER MAKE SOME MONEY OFF THE CONSUMER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO DETERIORATE THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL GATE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE AT $350, WHICH IS HALF OF THE PRICE THEY ARE CHARGING. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TANK BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO DETERIORATE THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL GATE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE AT $350, WHICH IS HALF OF THE PRICE THEY ARE CHARGING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
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.