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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

Service Brakes complaints

6 reports
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172,654 miles · Nov 5, 2018
Electrical SystemService Brakes

MY WINDOW IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE MALFUNCTIONING.... IT WOULD LET DOWN ON IT'S OWN.THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WHEN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11149537

79,800 miles · Jan 7, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes

ON A EXIT RAMP (CONCRETE) GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING, PUMPING THE BRAKE CORRECTED THEM AND STOPPED THE CAR. BRAKES NOW SEEM NORMAL. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOW LOCKED. THE CAR HAS NO DAMAGE ON THE BODY OR TIRES. G M HAS OPENED A CASE…

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ON A EXIT RAMP (CONCRETE) GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING, PUMPING THE BRAKE CORRECTED THEM AND STOPPED THE CAR. BRAKES NOW SEEM NORMAL. BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOW LOCKED. THE CAR HAS NO DAMAGE ON THE BODY OR TIRES. G M HAS OPENED A CASE FOR US. WAITING THEIR CALL BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10818815

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…

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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

112,763 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS USED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE PARTS MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,763.

NHTSA ODI #10650656

81,567 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Service BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THERE WERE FACE, BACK AND NECK INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THERE WERE FACE, BACK AND NECK INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,567.

NHTSA ODI #10598846

67,671 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SAW CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS NOT STOPPING AT ALL. SHE HIT THE STOPPED CAR, PUSHED BOTH OF OUR CARS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE OTHER SIDE. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ONSTAR DID NOT CONTACT HER. THE RE…

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MY DAUGHTER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, SAW CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS NOT STOPPING AT ALL. SHE HIT THE STOPPED CAR, PUSHED BOTH OF OUR CARS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE OTHER SIDE. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ONSTAR DID NOT CONTACT HER. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS SPECIFIC CAR WAS FOR THE ONSTAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION OR EMERGENCY. WHEN I CONTACTED ONSTAR LATER, THEY REPORTED THEY DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT A COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. I CONTACTED GM TO HAVE BRAKE, AIRBAG, AND ONSTAR FAILURE INVESTIGATED. RECEIVED REPORT FROM GM INVESTIGATOR STATING NO FAILURE IN AIRBAG SYSTEM, THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ONSTAR NOTIFICATION. SHE WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH UPON IMPACT (PER CDR). THE CAR WAS TOTALED - OVER $13,000 DAMAGE. IF A CRASH AT 45 MPH, REAR-ENDING, CAR TOTALED DOES NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572502

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.