IllustrationCHEVY TRAILBLAZER FUEL LEVEL SENSOR QUIT WORKING AT 60,000 AND DEALER WANTS 500.00 TO REPAIR. GAGE STARTED SHOWING EMPTY AFTER FILLING UP, NOW IT ONLY GOES TO 1/4 TANK OR EMPTY. I HAVE TO USE TRIP METER TO KEEP UP WITH FUEL. *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 HAVE A 2005 CHEVY BLAZER THAT WE TOOK ON A TRIP TO NASHVILLE. ON THE INTERSTATE WE REALIZED THAT OUR SPEEDOMETER KEPT GOING UP AND EVERYONE WAS PASSING US. BY THE TIME WE MADE IT TO AN EXIT THE SPEEDOMETER HAD MADE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO D (DRIVE) AT THE BOTTOM OF DASH. WHEN WE STOPPED IT WOULD ONLY GO BACK TO 50. WHEN WE ST…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY BLAZER THAT WE TOOK ON A TRIP TO NASHVILLE. ON THE INTERSTATE WE REALIZED THAT OUR SPEEDOMETER KEPT GOING UP AND EVERYONE WAS PASSING US. BY THE TIME WE MADE IT TO AN EXIT THE SPEEDOMETER HAD MADE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO D (DRIVE) AT THE BOTTOM OF DASH. WHEN WE STOPPED IT WOULD ONLY GO BACK TO 50. WHEN WE STOPPED AT AUTOZONE THE GUY TOLD US HE HAS SEEN THIS IN 2 OF THE TRAILBLAZERS THAT IS FAMILY OWNS. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT CHECKED BUT THE NEXT DAY THE SPEEDOMETER DECIDED TO SOMEWHAT WORK, NOW IT IS ABOUT 5 MILES OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT PROBABLY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
FAULTY SPEEDOMETER. *TR
I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK WHILE IT STILL HAD 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. ONCE I STARTED THE ENGINE THE GAS GAUGE WENT TO E WITH THE LIGHT COMING ON WHILE SITTING AT THE GAS STATION. THE GAUGE THEN PINGED FROM FULL TO EMPTY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEN SETTLING AT FULL WHEN I WENT UP A STEEP BRIDGE. SINCE THEN THE FUEL GAUGE HAS CONTINUED TO D…
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I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK WHILE IT STILL HAD 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. ONCE I STARTED THE ENGINE THE GAS GAUGE WENT TO E WITH THE LIGHT COMING ON WHILE SITTING AT THE GAS STATION. THE GAUGE THEN PINGED FROM FULL TO EMPTY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS THEN SETTLING AT FULL WHEN I WENT UP A STEEP BRIDGE. SINCE THEN THE FUEL GAUGE HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK UP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT KNOWING THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED AS I CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE US HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND FIX THE ISSUE. MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE YEARS AS WELL AS THE MILEAGE OF JUST 65,000 MILES. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER FROM A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER IN 2009. SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OUR GAS GAUGE STARTED BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER AFTER A FEW WORDS CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS "OH THAT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND WE CAN REPAIR IT FOR AB…
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I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER FROM A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER IN 2009. SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE OUR GAS GAUGE STARTED BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER AFTER A FEW WORDS CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS "OH THAT'S A COMMON PROBLEM AND WE CAN REPAIR IT FOR ABOUT $700 OR SOMETIMES IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. I ASKED WHY IT WAS NOT RECALLED IF IT'S SO COMMON AND HE REPLIED "IT'S NOT UP TO US". I WAS SO IRRITATED THAT I NEVER TRIED AGAIN. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT STARTED WORKING FINE, IN FACT I MADE A 3600 MILE JOURNEY WITH NO PROBLEM. TONIGHT I WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE GAUGE WENT FROM 3/4 TANK TO ZERO AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ASIDE FROM ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED MY WIFE, DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST RAN OVER TRYING TO PUSH OUR VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED ANY PARTS BECAUSE I AM LOOKING FOR A GOOD AUTOMOTIVE ATTORNEY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED ZERO. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE IN 2007, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT SINCE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WILL B…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, THE GAS GAUGE DISPLAYED ZERO. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE IN 2007, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT SINCE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,200. UPDATED 1/19/2010 UPDATED 03/24/11
2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER 85,000 MILES. WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED IT READS EMPTY AND ONLY GOES TO A QUARTER OF A TANK AFTER RUNNING IT. *TR
2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GAS GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. IT'S ON EMPTY ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN YOU FILL UP. WHILE DRIVING TODAY ON THE FREEWAY I SET THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE. IT GOES ALL THE WAY OVER AND STAYS STUCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M DRIVING OR HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE RECALL.…
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2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GAS GUAGE DOES NOT WORK. IT'S ON EMPTY ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN YOU FILL UP. WHILE DRIVING TODAY ON THE FREEWAY I SET THE CRUSIE CONTROL AND THE SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE. IT GOES ALL THE WAY OVER AND STAYS STUCK. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M DRIVING OR HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE RECALL. GAS GUAGE WAS FIXED ONCE WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. GAS GAUGE WILL COST 600 TO REPAIR. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SPEEDOMETER. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL CHEATED. AFTER ALL I AM THE ONE PAYIN THE NOTE EACH MONTH. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING WHILE MAKING A 400 MILE TRIP FROM ARKANSAS TO TEXAS. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING 40 MILES SLOWER THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED. EVENTUALLY THE GAUGE WENT BELOW 0 MPH WHILE KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY W/ A POSTED 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT FUNCTION ALTHOUGH HE HAD JUST FUELED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SET THE ODOMETER TO AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT FUNCTION ALTHOUGH HE HAD JUST FUELED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SET THE ODOMETER TO AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,120 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,185.
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.