IllustrationCAN TURN OVER BUT DOESNT START HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING WITH KEY UNTILL IT STARTS AND WILL ONCE IN AWHILE JUST LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES CAN PUT IN NEUTRAL AND WILL START BACK UP BUT SOMETIMES HAVE TO PULL OVER TO WAIT AND RESTART CANT DRIVE ON FREE WAY AFRAID IT WILL DIE OUT IN TRAFFIC
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
What owners actually said
193 reportsLOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON MANUALLY. COMES ON AND OFF AS IT PLEASES. HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT RELAY TO NO AVAIL.
I WAS DRIVING IN THE EVENING AND BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF AND WON'T COME BACK ON.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OFF. NO WHITE LIGHTS ONLY THE AMBER LIGHTS WERE ON, THE NEXT DAY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WAS RAINING PRETTY HARD. I HIT A POTHOLE THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE AND MY AIRBAGS, ONLY ON THE SIDES, DEPLOYED.
LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ALL THE TIME
MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER HAS A CRACKED MANIFOLD WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE (HDM) FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, WHICH PREVENTED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FROM ILLUMINATING WHEN NEEDED. JACKSON CHEVROLET (660 S MAIN ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457, (860) 316-4063) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HDM RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE (HDM) FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, WHICH PREVENTED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FROM ILLUMINATING WHEN NEEDED. JACKSON CHEVROLET (660 S MAIN ST, MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457, (860) 316-4063) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HDM RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ17002 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 14291. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
IT BAG FOR FRONT DRIVER LIGHT IS ON DO NOT KNOW WHY? THERE IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT AND I'VE HAD IT CHECKED BY TWO COMPANIES CANNOT FIND IT I'VE HAD NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR AND STILL CAR STOPS WORKING I GET CAR JUMPED AND CAN PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO TRY TO START CAR AND WHEN I SHUT CAR OFF TOO SOON OR WHY I TRY TO …
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IT BAG FOR FRONT DRIVER LIGHT IS ON DO NOT KNOW WHY? THERE IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT AND I'VE HAD IT CHECKED BY TWO COMPANIES CANNOT FIND IT I'VE HAD NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR AND STILL CAR STOPS WORKING I GET CAR JUMPED AND CAN PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO TRY TO START CAR AND WHEN I SHUT CAR OFF TOO SOON OR WHY I TRY TO START CAR IT'S NOT WORKING AND THEN I CANNOT GET KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES CAR ONLY HAS 84883 MILES ON IT THIS HAPPENES IF FRONT OF HOUSE WHEN I GO TO START CAR. I AM LISTING LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS TODAY BUT THE AIRBAG FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE IS ALWAYS ON NOW FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS
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.
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.