IllustrationTHE HEADLAMPS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM AND BRIGHTEN AS YOU DRIVE. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CHEVY HAS SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TRAILBLAZER AND NOT REPAIRABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *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 reports2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AFTER DARK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH AROUND DUSK OR AFTER DARK AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM. SHE STATES THAT PEOPLE IN TRAFFIC BELIEVE SHE IS DOING THIS ON PURPOSE AND SHE IS NOT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AUTOMATIC AND THEN THEY STARTED TO GO DIM. THE…
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2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AFTER DARK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH AROUND DUSK OR AFTER DARK AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DIM. SHE STATES THAT PEOPLE IN TRAFFIC BELIEVE SHE IS DOING THIS ON PURPOSE AND SHE IS NOT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AUTOMATIC AND THEN THEY STARTED TO GO DIM. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE FADING IN AND OUT AS WELL. *JB
I BOUGHT A 2005 TRAILBLAZER IN 2006. THERE WAS ALOT OF HISSING FROM THE SPEAKERS, WHICH THEY REPLACED BUT IT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ALREADY FIXED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW I NOTICE THE LIGHTS GO DIM AND BRIGHT AND IT SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. IT ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. EVERYTIME I BRING IT IN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN SO NO ONE KNOW…
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I BOUGHT A 2005 TRAILBLAZER IN 2006. THERE WAS ALOT OF HISSING FROM THE SPEAKERS, WHICH THEY REPLACED BUT IT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ALREADY FIXED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND NOW I NOTICE THE LIGHTS GO DIM AND BRIGHT AND IT SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. IT ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. EVERYTIME I BRING IT IN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN SO NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND IT'S COLD IN WISCONSIN SO IF IT EVER DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 TRAILBLAZER AND THE LIGHTS WILL DIM AND THE BATTERY GAUGE WILL DROP DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT GM HAS NO ANSWER FOR WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL PULL OVER FOR ME BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT I AM FLASHING MY LIG…
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I HAVE A 2005 TRAILBLAZER AND THE LIGHTS WILL DIM AND THE BATTERY GAUGE WILL DROP DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT GM HAS NO ANSWER FOR WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL PULL OVER FOR ME BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT THEM. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE SUV 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. *TR
HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY FLICKERING CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO REACT AS IF I'M AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE OPENING THE REAR HATCH OF OUR 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LT THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED IN TO A MILLION PIECES. THE LOUD EXPLOSION SCARED MY WIFE AS IF SOMEONE HAD SHOT THE GLASS OUT. THERE WAS NO EXCESSIVE FORCE USED, THE WEATHER WAS COLD ~34 F, THERE WAS NO SNOW OR ICE ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 30MPH, IF TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM TO ALMOST NO LIGHT AS WILL THE DASH LIGHTS, ON OFF, ON OFF, WHEN PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, LIGHTS WILL GO ON NORMALLY WITH SAME BRIGHTNESS. DOME LIGHT BUTTON TO LEFT OF STEERING WHEEL WILL WORK ONCE EVERY 50 TRIES, LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE OF RADIO DO NOT W…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 30MPH, IF TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM TO ALMOST NO LIGHT AS WILL THE DASH LIGHTS, ON OFF, ON OFF, WHEN PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, LIGHTS WILL GO ON NORMALLY WITH SAME BRIGHTNESS. DOME LIGHT BUTTON TO LEFT OF STEERING WHEEL WILL WORK ONCE EVERY 50 TRIES, LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE OF RADIO DO NOT WORK, CD PLAYER WILL NOT TAKE CDS. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT, IT HAS BEEN TO A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW, THEY HAVE STATED THAT EVERYTHING IS RUNNING CORRECTLY AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ 0 (NO MATTER HOW FAST I'M GOING) WHICH IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVY VEHICLES, BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX IT IN THE TRAILBLAZER. *TR
SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY QUITS WORKING. STARTED AT 70,000 MILES. *TR
HEAD LAMP DIMING *CN
FUEL GAGE HAS FAILED AND DOES NOT WORK... FAILED AT 38000 MILES... PURCHASED CAR DECEMBER 2005 WITH 13,500 MILES FROM DEALER...CURRENT OWNERSHIP TWO YEARS... LOW FUEL LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN TANK FILLED...GAGE WILL SOMETIMES VARY BETWEEN "E" AND 3/4 FULL... MOST OF THE TIME STAYING ON "E", ...ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TELL HOW MUCH GA…
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FUEL GAGE HAS FAILED AND DOES NOT WORK... FAILED AT 38000 MILES... PURCHASED CAR DECEMBER 2005 WITH 13,500 MILES FROM DEALER...CURRENT OWNERSHIP TWO YEARS... LOW FUEL LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN TANK FILLED...GAGE WILL SOMETIMES VARY BETWEEN "E" AND 3/4 FULL... MOST OF THE TIME STAYING ON "E", ...ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TELL HOW MUCH GAS IS IN CAR FROM THE GAGE. MORE THAN ONE PERSON DRIVES THE CAR AND IT IS GOING TO LEAVE SOMEONE FROM MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE ROAD AT SOME POINT. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $350 AND $500 TO REPAIR, THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS FAILED...THAT GAS TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE DROPPED TO REPLACE ... HOWEVER "JUST KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE FUEL PUMP FAILS AND REPLACE THE PUMP AND THE SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY AT THAT TIME, SAVING THE EXTRA COST..." "KEEP TRACK OF YOUR MILEAGE"...WHICH VARIES BETWEEN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING... NOT EXACTKY WHAT I WANT TO HEAR!!! *CN
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.