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CarComplaints.com Notes: It would be ill-advised to blaze any trails with the 2004 Trailblazer. Its faulty fuel gauge could leave you stranded.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,256 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 5 of 19)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #300

Nov 232011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First, all my lights on the instrument panel would flash at random times (like the seatbelt, ABS, check engine soon, etc.). then my tachometer (RPM gauge) stopped working. Next my gas gauge stopped working. Next came the speedometer. It would get stuck at different speeds as a starting point and I would have to subtract that starting point speed from my speedometer speed to find the actual speed. For instance, if the speedometer was stuck on 25 mph when I was stopped at a red light, then once I picked up speed to 100 mph, I knew I was traveling at 75 mph. For the last 5 months though the speedometer hasn't worked at all.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #299

Dec 192012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
There are a few things. And I just would like to know if there is a recall or possible recall issue at hand. The first thing that happened was the RPM gaudge. It will stick at 3000rpm or higher. But the engine is not over reving and the needle still moves up and down as if it would when reading correctly. But doesn't drop below the 3000rpm. Then it randomly resets and works correctly then will again randomly stick at 3000 empty or higher. The next thing that happens is the battery light will randomly flicker. Not all the time just at random. I had the battery tested and its holding a charge just fine. The weird thing next was I killed the power. No key in at all and it still flickered on my dashboard. Then stopped the next day. Another thing I was driving home 1 night from work. Turned my blinkers on to turn onto my road and my interior lights slowly come on and slowly turn back off. My head light wire on the drivers side burnt out about a yr ago which I replaced. Now I'm having issues with the drivers side. The bulb for my low beam is not blown. If U hit it comes back on. My drivers side speaker has not worked since I purchased my Trailblazer. And it will randomly work. This is recent. I really think there is an electrical problem. And my consent is a fire. Ive had it just under 2 yrs. And I'm only the 2nd owner and it had 34000 miles on it when I bought it in June of 2011.

- North Conway, NH, USA

problem #298

Jan 172013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the instrument panel failed and the speedometer was providing an inaccurate speed reading. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 03/01/13 updated 4/24/13

- Pickens, SC, USA

problem #297

Nov 202012

Trailblazer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the speedometer seized temporarily. The vehicle was diagnosed by a certified mechanic who stated that the instrument cluster would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the problem. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Latrove, PA, USA

problem #296

Jan 042012

Trailblazer

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the entire cluster gauge was inoperable. The contact was unable to see the current vehicle speed due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the cluster gauge need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 102,000.

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #295

Jan 152013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The instrument panel randomly goes off then on, sometimes freezes. Happens at any speed. No special characteristics that causes it.

- Harrisville, NY, USA

problem #294

Jun 062011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,978 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the instrument panel failed and none of the gauges were operable. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that all of the stepper motors on the back of the gauges need to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 45,978. The current mileage was 94,000. Updated 2/12/2013

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #293

Nov 052012

Trailblazer

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he discovered that the brake lights were not functioning correctly. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the sockets for the lights had become burned. In addition, the passenger side headlight intermittently failed and the socket for the passenger headlight was also found to be burned. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000 and the current mileage was 96,112.

- Jackson, TN, USA

problem #292

Sep 052012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 75,476 miles
After driving my ls Trailblazer to the store, I got back in to notice the speedometer was no longer resting at "0". this was before I even started the vehicle. It was sitting at the "55" point! upon starting the vehicle, the gauge did not move back to zero. So as I drove away, going no more than 10mph, the gauge suggested I was going 65! I was scared driving home because I did not know my exact speed. Upon getting home and shutting off the vehicle, I noticed the gauge rested at the "50" point. So I turned on the vehicle, then quickly turned it off. The speedometer was now resting at "45". I continued to quickly start and then shut off the vehicle, eventually working the gauge back down to zero. But this does not seem like the right thing to do. There is obviously something wrong. In the past, I have had smaller scale incidents with the tachometer gauge. It would zero itself at 1 or 2 rpms, thus indicating my engine was revving higher than it actually was. Moreover, a couple times my fuel gauge was pointing outside of the E to F range! there is something seriously wrong with the electrical system. GM, you need to recall this and fix it please.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #291

Jul 132011

Trailblazer

  • 87,000 miles
While taking my girls to school my speedometer reading was 50mph faster than I was actually going and my tact was not registering at all. When I stopped the car I turned engine off and restarted the car and neither gauge works at all and hasn't in over a year. I took the vehicle to my local dealership and they want $800 to fix it and said it was a malfunction in the cluster and I have checked and it is a severe problem with this make and model. I have been driving without these gauges working and judge my speed with the traffic, but I am a single mom with limited resources and purchased a GM vehicle because of the safety reports. I feel that with all of the other same complaints does it take a loss of life to get this issue resolved.

- Ashland, KY, USA

problem #290

Jul 022012

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have the same problem that an earlier blogger as, all my gauges are stuck, the speedometer is stuck, the oil gauge stuck, gas gauge stuck, I think GM needs to take control of their problem and correct it, not just say it's not a problem they will not fix. There needs to be a recall for this problem pin the Trailblazer trucks.

- West Grove, PA, USA

problem #289

May 292012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 79,548 miles
I have a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer and the cluster is going bad. Finding out that I'm not the only one that has this problem. I had the same problem with my Chevy Avalanche and it was recalled. I think that this a problem while driving. I think someone should do something before someone gets hurt. Because the gauges go out the on and while driving. It could hurt a young driver that doesn't what to do. GM knows the problem but will not do anything about it. It the same problem that they did a recall on with the trucks. So I think they should fix this problem. So could you please help before someone gets hurt bad over this problem. Thank you please help!

- Alexandria, OH, USA

problem #288

Apr 122011

Trailblazer

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While traveling at various speeds, the contact noticed that all of the gauges on the instrument panel failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 101,000 and the failure mileage was 98,000.

- Goldsboro, NC, USA

problem #287

Apr 052011

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the digital instrument panel failed. The contact was unable to read the speed traveled, mileage or fuel levels. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the instrument panel was not under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 73,000.

- Saint George, UT, USA

problem #286

Dec 152011

Trailblazer 4WD 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Fuel gauge has been fluctuating wildly for a couple of months, generally reading empty (even after fill up) but occasionally full (when a fill up is needed). Dealer said fuel gauge sensor was bad & that it would be approx $900 to fix. Looking into the problem online I see there are thousands of people with the same problem.

- Independence, KY, USA

problem #285

Nov 012011

Trailblazer

  • 98,000 miles
The stepper motors in the instrument cluster have failed. This is an extremely common problem and people are now making a living off of charging for the repairs because GM is refusing to issue a recall.

- Bessemer, AL, USA

problem #284

Oct 092010

Trailblazer

  • miles
The driver's side window relay switch is bad. I have had several quotes from dealerships and looks like the cost is around $400. (for them to replace and reprogram). There is a huge safety issue if you cannot roll down your window on the driver's side and roll down and lock or unlock any of the doors or windows from the driver's side as well. I have read many complaints on various websites from consumers with the same problem. With the majority of these switches going bad, they need to recall this, as it is very costly andnot at all safe. Especially if an officer needs to approach you and you have to open your door first. That could lead to an unsafe incident toward yourself as well as any law enforcement agent. If you can please address this issue, it would be greatly appreciated. I have researched any recall on this and have not had any luck. Thank you for your time in addressing this issue.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

problem #283

Sep 012011

Trailblazer

  • 101,000 miles
The speedometer in my 2004 Trailblazer regularly becomes stuck while I'm driving.

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #282

Dec 012011

Trailblazer

  • miles
Instrument panel stopped working. First the tachometer - then the speedometer.

- Middletown, MD, USA

problem #281

Sep 012010

Trailblazer

  • miles
Instrument panel gauges malfunction and show improper readings. For instance tachometer shows 5000 RPM at idle. Alternator gauge is off the scale. Temperature gauge is also showing false reading. Oil pressure gauge is also false. Incident date is approximate. Individual gauges failed over time.

- West Chester, PA, USA

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