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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.

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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

10 reports
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90,000 miles · Jun 28, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER POWERS DOWN AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ACCELERATION I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS TO CARS BEHIND ME

NHTSA ODI #11331302

84,000 miles · Dec 14, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS STABILITRAK ACTIVATES SHUTTING POWER OFF TO THE WHEELS ONCE YOU RELEASE GAS PETAL FOR 5-10 SECONDS STABILITRAK WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AND ALLOW POWER BACK TO WHEELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU PULL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANY STREET AND YOU LOOSE POWER, YOU COULD GET HIT

NHTSA ODI #11289053

79,000 miles · Apr 15, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE TRUCK WAS DEAD. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT 82,000. THE NUMBER 4 POSITION ON THE BLOWER DOES NOT WORK. THE STABILTRAK LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DON…

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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A DEALER. THE NEXT DAY THE TRUCK WAS DEAD. IT HAS SINCE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT 82,000. THE NUMBER 4 POSITION ON THE BLOWER DOES NOT WORK. THE STABILTRAK LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND GO OFF FOR NO REASON. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705981

95,000 miles · Feb 27, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE LOW AIR PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALTHOUGH THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES WAS NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE LOW AIR PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALTHOUGH THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES WAS NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A TRACTION CONTROL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 4/16/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10691060

56,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD A BAD IMPACT SENSOR. HAD TO REPLACE TO PASS INSPECTION. SUV ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667838

89,000 miles · Feb 10, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

VEHICLES STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. REPAIR LISTED FOR CODE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HAD SAME ISSUE WITH MY 2006 TRAILBLAZER. LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY, EVEN WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW RATE OF SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497612

94,000 miles · Apr 10, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

STABILITRAK LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON AS I AM LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNINGS AND WHEN I LEAVE WORK IN THE EVENINGS. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THEY USUALLY GO OFF AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AGAIN WITHIN MINUTES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT A…

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STABILITRAK LIGHTS ON DASH COME ON AS I AM LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNINGS AND WHEN I LEAVE WORK IN THE EVENINGS. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THEY USUALLY GO OFF AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AGAIN WITHIN MINUTES. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND THE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON AND STAYING ON MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I GOT MY TRANSMISSION SERVICED LAST WEEK THE MECHANIC PULLED THE CODE ON IT AND IT SHOWED TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL ANGLE POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS VIA GOOGLE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454754

101,985 miles · Apr 10, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A CUL DE SAC ONE MORNING THAT WAS ON A STEEP SLOPE I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR IN THREE STAGES LIKE IT WAS CATCHING ON SOMETHING AND THEN WOULD RELEASE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. ONCE I GOT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED …

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WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A CUL DE SAC ONE MORNING THAT WAS ON A STEEP SLOPE I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR IN THREE STAGES LIKE IT WAS CATCHING ON SOMETHING AND THEN WOULD RELEASE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. ONCE I GOT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENED OUT TO GO DOWN THE STEEP HILL IT FELT LIKE IT DOES WHEN A ROTOR GETS WARPED. ONCE I GOT CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM I TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET THAT WAS FLAT AND I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE LIGHTS COMING ON HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (LISTED IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO FOLLOW). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454750

56,000 miles · Feb 6, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Equipment Adaptive/mobilityService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING THE 2008 TRAILBLAZER I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE TRAVEL GOING ALL OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WITH HARDLY ANY BRAKING FUNCTION OR STOPPING ACTION. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD NOT HAPPEN MORE THEN ONCE OR TWICE AT FIRST. THEN WHEN I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND I HIT A …

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WHILE DRIVING THE 2008 TRAILBLAZER I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE TRAVEL GOING ALL OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WITH HARDLY ANY BRAKING FUNCTION OR STOPPING ACTION. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD NOT HAPPEN MORE THEN ONCE OR TWICE AT FIRST. THEN WHEN I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND I HIT A CEMENT DIVIDER DAMAGING THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. YOU WOULD BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND STEP ON THE BRAKES AS YOU WOULD BE COASTING INTO OR COMING UP TO A STOP. YOU WOULD LET UP ON THE PEDAL THEN HIT IT AGAIN, THE 2ND TIME LOOSING ALL BRAKE PRESSURE AND FUNCTION. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE GM DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THERE WERE NO FLUID LEAKS, OR ANY TYPE OF BRAKE ROTOR DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP CAME BACK SAYING THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS ON A CHEVROLET TRUCK, 4X4 THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HEAVY DUTY OFF ROAD CAPABLE PACKAGE. GENERAL MOTORS WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY CLAIM. THE REPAIR COST ME CLOSE TO $800, AND LOSS OF VEHICLE USE, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER DAMAGE. I HAVE OWNED OVER A DOZEN GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES TO DATE OVER A 30 YEAR PERIOD. I HAVE NEVER, EVER HAD A MASTER CYLINDER FAIL ON ANY OF THEM. THIS IS A POOR QUALITY CONTROLLED COMPONENT AND I WANT G.M. TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE REPAIRS AND DAMAGES. I HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE THROUGH THE GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10446927

15,500 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES REACHING A RIGHT HAND CURVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGE MULTIPLE TIMES SOMETIMES BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A WHEEL TO SLIP. DEALER HAS BEEN IN TOUCH MULTIPLE TIMES WITH GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND CLAIM THEY CANT FIGURE OUT W…

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WHILE DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES REACHING A RIGHT HAND CURVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGE MULTIPLE TIMES SOMETIMES BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A WHEEL TO SLIP. DEALER HAS BEEN IN TOUCH MULTIPLE TIMES WITH GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND CLAIM THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335855

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.