IllustrationSPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ALL GIVING INACCURATE READINGS! I DON'T KNOW ANY CAR, NO MATTER WHAT YEAR OR MAKE WHICH HAS THESE PROBLEMS! ONLY GM! IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT KNOW HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU'RE GOING. IMPEDING FLOW OF TRAFFIC. *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 reportsI OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBAZER. THE DASH AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM WHILE NIGHT DRIVING NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER: SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON 8/11/2008 MY FUEL GAUGE BEGAN SWINGING BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY AND EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY VEHICLE THE "EMPTY FUEL LIGHT" STAYS ON AND THE GAUGE READS EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS FULL. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT…
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MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER: SHORTLY AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE ON 8/11/2008 MY FUEL GAUGE BEGAN SWINGING BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY AND EVERY TIME I FILL UP MY VEHICLE THE "EMPTY FUEL LIGHT" STAYS ON AND THE GAUGE READS EMPTY EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS FULL. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF IT BUT THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO DO A RECALL. *TR
WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO, I THOUGHT THE GAS GAUGE WAS EMPTY UPON PURCHASE, AS IT WAS A USED CAR, BUT NO IT IS THE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS MENTIONING. I FILL THE VEHICLE, AND IT ONLY SHOWS A HALF TANK. THEN IT WILL GO TO EMPTY WITH THE WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. AS SOMEONE WHO TRAVELS A LOT, AND FOR …
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WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO, I THOUGHT THE GAS GAUGE WAS EMPTY UPON PURCHASE, AS IT WAS A USED CAR, BUT NO IT IS THE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT EVERYBODY KEEPS MENTIONING. I FILL THE VEHICLE, AND IT ONLY SHOWS A HALF TANK. THEN IT WILL GO TO EMPTY WITH THE WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. AS SOMEONE WHO TRAVELS A LOT, AND FOR LONG DISTANCES, THIS IS A HORRIBLE DEFECT. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS BECOME LOUD, WHICH MEANS ANOTHER EXPENSE ON A 2005 WHICH SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *TR
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONING (NEED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER) FUEL LEVEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENSOR LAST NIGHT. I STARTED MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE GAUGE SAID HALF TANK, LEFT WORK A FEW HOURS LATER, THE FUEL LIGHT WAS ON AND AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES, IT WENT UP TO A QUARTER TANK. JUST FILLED IT UP TONIGHT AND ITS ON E AND THE GAS LIGHT IS STUCK ON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEA…
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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SENSOR LAST NIGHT. I STARTED MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND THE GAUGE SAID HALF TANK, LEFT WORK A FEW HOURS LATER, THE FUEL LIGHT WAS ON AND AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES, IT WENT UP TO A QUARTER TANK. JUST FILLED IT UP TONIGHT AND ITS ON E AND THE GAS LIGHT IS STUCK ON. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. HE CURRENTLY HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,158.
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES OCCASIONALLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. REPEATED VISITS TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE RESULTED IN NO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE TO WHICH THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS A COOLING FAN. EVEN UPON REPLACING THIS FAN, THE LI…
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ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES OCCASIONALLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. REPEATED VISITS TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE RESULTED IN NO REPAIR. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE TO WHICH THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS A COOLING FAN. EVEN UPON REPLACING THIS FAN, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH ON/OFF. AT ONE POINT THE LIGHT STAYED ON TO WHICH ONSTAR REPORTED AN ENGINE COOLING/AC ISSUE. THIS WARNING WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT THE LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO FLASH EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS IS ABNORMAL AND HAS BEEN ADDRESSED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS VERY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS VERY LOUD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,239 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,100.
WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER, MY WIFE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE DOOR - AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT PROCEEDED TO BILLOW SMOKE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED - THE SEAT WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE AND SEAT WERE EXTINGUISHED WITH FOAM - THE VEHICLE HAD A POWERE…
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WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER, MY WIFE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE DOOR - AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT PROCEEDED TO BILLOW SMOKE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED - THE SEAT WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE AND SEAT WERE EXTINGUISHED WITH FOAM - THE VEHICLE HAD A POWERED DRIVER'S SEAT BUT NOT HEATED SEATS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN AN AUTO BODY SHOP. *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.