← New search

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Trailblazer years

Owner complaints for the 2008 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

169 reports with mileage · 24 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 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

65 reports
Clear category filter
100,000 miles · Jun 7, 2017
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THIS EFFECTED BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND LOW BEAMS. HIGH BEAMS ARE STILL OPERATIONAL. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE EASILY SHOWS THAT THE ISSUE IS A FAULTY HEADLIGHT RELAY. I EVEN TRIED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AND CHECKED ALL FUSES TO VERIFY. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF F…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THIS EFFECTED BOTH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND LOW BEAMS. HIGH BEAMS ARE STILL OPERATIONAL. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE EASILY SHOWS THAT THE ISSUE IS A FAULTY HEADLIGHT RELAY. I EVEN TRIED TO REPLACE BOTH BULBS AND CHECKED ALL FUSES TO VERIFY. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FREI CHEVROLET IN MARQUETTE MICHIGAN AND THEY REFUSED TO EVEN TELL ME IF THEY HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME THAT I DEAL WITH THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10993731

100,000 miles · Apr 21, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED TO DROP, THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED TO DROP, THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10979761

75,000 miles · Dec 12, 2016
Electrical System

75K ON 2008 TRAILBLAZER.... INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND AUDIO DISPLAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO COLD TEMPS? THEY ARE OFF AT STARTUP BUT AS SUV IS DRIVEN AND WARMS UP... THE AUDIO DISPLAY APPEARS. THE RADIO/CD PLAYER WORK EVEN WHEN THE DISPLAY IS OFF. JUST STARTED HAPPENING THIS FALL (2016). ALSO.. THE LOW TI…

Read full complaint

75K ON 2008 TRAILBLAZER.... INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND AUDIO DISPLAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO COLD TEMPS? THEY ARE OFF AT STARTUP BUT AS SUV IS DRIVEN AND WARMS UP... THE AUDIO DISPLAY APPEARS. THE RADIO/CD PLAYER WORK EVEN WHEN THE DISPLAY IS OFF. JUST STARTED HAPPENING THIS FALL (2016). ALSO.. THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON ONLY IN COLD TEMPS BUT GOES OUT AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10934897

120,000 miles · Nov 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

I HAVE HAD MY 2008 TRAILBLAER FOR A YEAR NOW. I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS INCLUDING MY BATTERY LIGHT AND OTHER POPPING UP RAMDONLY AND MY TRUCK NOT WANTING TO DRIVE OR RUN RIGHT. NOW MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS COMPLETELY CRACKED THRU,

NHTSA ODI #10925060

85,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS BURNT OUT AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10919181

110,000 miles · Oct 10, 2016
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL, MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND FOR THE PAST YEAR IT SEEMS THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTH. EVERY NOW AND THEN MY CAR WONT START AND I HAVE TO GET A BOOST OFF TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK MY SUV TO GET THE BATTERY AND ALTERNA…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL, MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND FOR THE PAST YEAR IT SEEMS THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTH. EVERY NOW AND THEN MY CAR WONT START AND I HAVE TO GET A BOOST OFF TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK MY SUV TO GET THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT. THEN AFTER THAT I NOTICED THAT MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE GOING HAYWIRE WITH BLINKING LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF AND THE CAR WAS NOT ON. AFTER I NOTICED THE BLINKING LIGHTS, I WENT TO TRY TO START THE CAR AND IT WAS DEAD. ALSO, MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR MOTOR WENT OUT , SO THE WINDOW WONT GO UP OR DOWN.. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE ARE RECALLS ON ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10915092

50,000 miles · Mar 16, 2016
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesVisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FORM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK LOST POWER CAUSING THE DOOR TO BE UNABLE TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FORM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND DOOR LOCK LOST POWER CAUSING THE DOOR TO BE UNABLE TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW MOTOR SWITCH, THE HVAC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MOTOR, AND THE REAR LOCKING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROPOSED A DISCOUNT TOWARD A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. ....UPDATED 04/15/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10850021

35,000 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility/wiperFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL DOOR MECHANISM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL DOOR MECHANISM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE ACTUATOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10840370

139,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED DOWN AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS CHARRED AND MELTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS N…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ERRONEOUSLY ROLLED DOWN AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS CHARRED AND MELTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

NHTSA ODI #10789880

90,000 miles · Nov 1, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, ONE BEING MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT ALL HAD TO DO WITH AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. SHOULDN'T MY VEHICLE BE RECALLED? I'M A SAFE DRIVER AND IT'S A BIT UPSETTING KNOWING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN MY BREAK LIGHTS A…

Read full complaint

I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, ONE BEING MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT ALL HAD TO DO WITH AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. SHOULDN'T MY VEHICLE BE RECALLED? I'M A SAFE DRIVER AND IT'S A BIT UPSETTING KNOWING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN MY BREAK LIGHTS ARE WORKING. ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME. WE RECENTLY MOVED, AS MY HUSBAND WAS FOLLOWING ME, HE WAS THE ONE THAT NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #10787506

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

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.