IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP DOWNHILL CURVY MOUNTAIN PASS, THE KEY GOT JERKED INTO THE OFF POSITION. LUCKILY I QUICKLY RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON ROADS WITH A SHARP INCLINE AND/OR DECLINE AS ONE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO BRAKE AND STEER THE CAR INTO A SAFE AREA. *TR
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 →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
250–25K
2125–50K
4250–75K
3675–100K
27100–150K
18150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN INTO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE INTERSECTION. WOULD NOT RESTART, COULD NOT BE STEERED AS THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE A "NEW" IGNITION SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. BUT NO NEW SHORTER KEY WITH A HOLE IN IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. HOW CAN I BE SURE THE NEW SWITCH WILL NOT MAL…
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AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN THE INTERSECTION. WOULD NOT RESTART, COULD NOT BE STEERED AS THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE A "NEW" IGNITION SWITCH WAS INSTALLED. BUT NO NEW SHORTER KEY WITH A HOLE IN IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. HOW CAN I BE SURE THE NEW SWITCH WILL NOT MALFUNCTION. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE RECALLED VEHICLES. IF I HAD GONE TWO BLOCKS FURTHER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A BUSY MAJOR HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. SO FAR NO RESPONSE FROM COMPLAINTS TO VARIOUS GM SOURCES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTING LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE RECALLED WITH THE 05 - 07 MODEL YEARS. OUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION ON IT ACTS LIKE ITS DEAD, EVEN WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION YOU CAN TURN SWITCH A LITTLE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE BATTERY LIGHT, AND WE HAVE HAD TWO DEAD BATTERIES FROM TH…
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THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTING LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE RECALLED WITH THE 05 - 07 MODEL YEARS. OUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU TURN THE IGNITION ON IT ACTS LIKE ITS DEAD, EVEN WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION YOU CAN TURN SWITCH A LITTLE AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE BATTERY LIGHT, AND WE HAVE HAD TWO DEAD BATTERIES FROM THIS. *TR
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE "FRIED" AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO "FAIL" - SPECIFICALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR ALTHOUGH IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT. THIS SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FAILURE SEEN IN THE RECALL #3: 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE ECM FAILURE ALSO CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR. (A REPAIR WAS DONE…
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THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE "FRIED" AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO "FAIL" - SPECIFICALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR ALTHOUGH IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT. THIS SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THE FAILURE SEEN IN THE RECALL #3: 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE ECM FAILURE ALSO CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR. (A REPAIR WAS DONE ON THE BRAKES - BUT I AM NOT SURE IT WAS NEEDED EXCEPT FOR THE ECM PROBLEM BASED UPON THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MALIBU RECALL). THE DOT REFERENCE FOR THIS IS: 656599. *TR
ON THE 2008 TRAILBLAZER, HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN APRIL 2011 THE TUMBLER MECHANISM PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 27,225 MILES AND WAS REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. IN MAY 2014 HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE START POSITION. WAS ABLE TO START THE V…
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ON THE 2008 TRAILBLAZER, HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN APRIL 2011 THE TUMBLER MECHANISM PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 27,225 MILES AND WAS REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. IN MAY 2014 HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN THE START POSITION. WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. WHILE WAITING FOR THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, I MOVED THE TILT STEERING WHEEL TO A DIFFERENT POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FAILED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 71878. *TR
WHILE SITTING THE PARKED VEHICLE, WITH THE KEY IN IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION BUT ENGINE OFF THE DASH BEGAN TO POUR SMOKE INTO THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD THERE WERE BURNED AND MELTED WIRES LEADING TO FUSE BOX. ELECTRICAL FIRE OCCURRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,779.
SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE; PURCHASED USED IN 2005 FROM A DEALER; WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE. CALLED TO REPORT PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET SINCE ALL THE NEWS OF IGNITION SWITCHES; THEY DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED OR INTERESTED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TWICE AND HAS CO…
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SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE; PURCHASED USED IN 2005 FROM A DEALER; WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE. CALLED TO REPORT PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET SINCE ALL THE NEWS OF IGNITION SWITCHES; THEY DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED OR INTERESTED SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TWICE AND HAS COST ME APPROX. $400. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1RQ17002 · 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.