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2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 87.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 18 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2026
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

My first complaint is that headlights, low beam, would not work. Only high beams worked. The issue stopped, unexplainable, on its own, has not occurred again. The 2nd complaint is the radio volume would 'slip' as if there were a loose wire to the speakers, and loss of sound became more frequent and for longer periods of time, e…

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My first complaint is that headlights, low beam, would not work. Only high beams worked. The issue stopped, unexplainable, on its own, has not occurred again. The 2nd complaint is the radio volume would 'slip' as if there were a loose wire to the speakers, and loss of sound became more frequent and for longer periods of time, eventually all sound stopped, it has not been fixed, as of yet. 3rd complaint, a brand new battery, in under a year of use, went completely dead, without any visible explanation. When an attempt to jump start the vehicle the cables from another cars battery were touched at my cars battery, it sparked, indicating to the person performing the task, there is a 'short' somewhere in the wiring system. I drive this vehicle less than 3000 miles per year, and use it sporadically with my second vehicle to keep the batteries active. I cannot explain why these issues are occurring but thought it important to mention them to other possible victims with the same issues.

NHTSA ODI #11747022

30,000 miles · Jul 16, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. ALL THE LIGHTS BLINK WHILE YOU RIDE ALONG. THE TWO BACK DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE STARTING TO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY. THE ITEMS THAT LET YOU KNOW WHEN A TIRE IS LOW IN AIR ARE FAILING. THE LAST ONE COSTING OVER $100 TO FIX. I AM GETTING VERY UPSET WITH THE ELECTRIC PA…

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THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. ALL THE LIGHTS BLINK WHILE YOU RIDE ALONG. THE TWO BACK DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE STARTING TO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY. THE ITEMS THAT LET YOU KNOW WHEN A TIRE IS LOW IN AIR ARE FAILING. THE LAST ONE COSTING OVER $100 TO FIX. I AM GETTING VERY UPSET WITH THE ELECTRIC PARTS IN THIS TRAILBLAZER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE. AS A PHOTO I CAN SEND YOU A PHOTO OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10885231

80,000 miles · Feb 29, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE NEW FUSE ONLY LASTED SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WILL B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE NEW FUSE ONLY LASTED SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED AGAIN PER THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10838940

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2015
Electrical System

THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS IN LINE BEHIND A CAR AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN BUT IT WOULDN'T START AND WAS STUCK IN DRIVE. IT WAS TOWED AND IDENTIFIED AS THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED. THIS WAS BACK IN 2011. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD T…

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THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS IN LINE BEHIND A CAR AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN BUT IT WOULDN'T START AND WAS STUCK IN DRIVE. IT WAS TOWED AND IDENTIFIED AS THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED. THIS WAS BACK IN 2011. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE JUST STALLS AND CUTS OUT WHENEVER WHEREVER WHICH IS DANGEROUS. I JUST REPLACED THIS IGNITION SWITCH LAST YEAR AS THE VEHICLE CUT OFF IN THE LOADING ZONE OF MY JOB AND WOULD NOT START RESULTING IN IT HAVING TO BE TOWED. IT'S 2015 AND THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN SO THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL OR DEFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IF NOT OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI #10809609

42,679 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineCrash

AS I WAS DRIVING IN MY YARD I HAPPENED TO BUMP THE IGNITION KEY AND THE MOTOR CUT OUT AND DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN AND AVOID BUMPING A POST CAUSING SOME BODY DAMAGE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING MY FRIEND IN THE YARD BECAUSE HE HAD MOVED FROM BY THE POST A MINUTE EARLIER. I HAVE HAD ONE MORE TIME WITH THIS …

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AS I WAS DRIVING IN MY YARD I HAPPENED TO BUMP THE IGNITION KEY AND THE MOTOR CUT OUT AND DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN AND AVOID BUMPING A POST CAUSING SOME BODY DAMAGE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING MY FRIEND IN THE YARD BECAUSE HE HAD MOVED FROM BY THE POST A MINUTE EARLIER. I HAVE HAD ONE MORE TIME WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE, BUT I AM NOW EXPERIENCING AN OCCASIONAL ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. COULD THIS IGNITION SWITCH ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE NEED TO BE RECALLED ALSO?

NHTSA ODI #10680598

81,600 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIGH BEAMS FUNCTIONED AND FOG LAMPS FUNCTIONED. DROVE APP. 5 MILES AND PULLED OFF ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. LEFT THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS AND RETURNED. STARTED THE CAR AND LIGHTS WENT ON FOR 1 MILE AND THEN WENT OFF AGA…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIGH BEAMS FUNCTIONED AND FOG LAMPS FUNCTIONED. DROVE APP. 5 MILES AND PULLED OFF ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. LEFT THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS AND RETURNED. STARTED THE CAR AND LIGHTS WENT ON FOR 1 MILE AND THEN WENT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LESS THAN A MILE OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678191

104,000 miles · Dec 19, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10667258

87,424 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Electrical System

WAS ON EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, FELT AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK WAS OVER 3/4 FULL. MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER OF ROAD, SAT THERE A MINUTE OR SO VEHICLE RECRANKED. I DROVE HOME. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC THAT EVENING, HE TESTED IT THE NEXT DAY AND SAID IGNITION SWITCH …

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WAS ON EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, FELT AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT TANK WAS OVER 3/4 FULL. MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER OF ROAD, SAT THERE A MINUTE OR SO VEHICLE RECRANKED. I DROVE HOME. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC THAT EVENING, HE TESTED IT THE NEXT DAY AND SAID IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REPLACED SWITCH, VEHICLE SEEMS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615771

71,223 miles · Aug 24, 2009
Electrical System

MY BLOWER IN MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER STOPPED WORKING. THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER ON THE RESISTER, MELTING THE ENTIRE PLUG. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CHEVY AND GMCS HAVE. THIS IS A NEEDED FUNCTION AND IF THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY AREN'T THESE COMPANIES DOING SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS???!! IN ONE WEEK I F…

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MY BLOWER IN MY 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER STOPPED WORKING. THE WIRES MELTED TOGETHER ON THE RESISTER, MELTING THE ENTIRE PLUG. I HAVE SEEN WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CHEVY AND GMCS HAVE. THIS IS A NEEDED FUNCTION AND IF THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY AREN'T THESE COMPANIES DOING SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS???!! IN ONE WEEK I FOUND 5 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CHEVYS... AND I LOVE IN A TOWN WITH ONLY 4K PEOPLE IN IT!! I CAN'T IMAGINE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281578

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.