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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:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,039 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #31

Dec 272010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 31,101 miles

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

I have a 2004 Trailblazer I bought new it only has 31100 miles on it and is in great condition and the transmission has gone out on it..their are. Many many complaints about same thing... some with less miles and some with more...I can not afford to pay 3000 dollars for a faulty transmission when it is obvious it is something to do with GM transmissions....an investigation needs to be done I am a husband a father and both me and my wife work full time but we can not afford this as many other people cant and Chevy will not stick up for their vehicles, ,,recalls must be done so the working class can survive without this vehicle I will lose my job and GM will get richer and richer to bad they don't make cars like they use too...all I did was get in my car start it let it warm up and went to put it in reverse and clunk and just grinding their must be something done I am doing research it looks like this transmission has been faulty since the 2002 Trailblazer came out but nothing has been done about it yet....

- Salem, NH, USA

problem #30

Feb 012010

Trailblazer

  • 111,000 miles
Last summer, my vehicle started stumbling at speeds greater than 50mph on the highway. I had my vehicle serviced several times, without the issue being resolved. I have had the throttle body replaced, tune-up, map sensor, air intake sensor, fuel system cleaned, fan clutch replaced, still had the stumbling problem. Approximately 2 weeks ago I was driving home on the highway, when I heard the engine rev up very high, but I wasn't going any faster. I then pressed on the gas, the engine raced, but I was just coasting. I was able to coast off the highway to the median, thank god nobody was behind me. I also thank god I didn't have my family with me. The mechanic said, that one of the gears inside, the tranny was broken, and the pump had shattered. I would hate to see this happen to someone, and they can not get out of the way, someone could get killed.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #29

Jan 042010

Trailblazer

  • 44,743 miles
Transfer case seals are leaking fluid, leaking onto exhaust system.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #28

Dec 212009

Trailblazer

  • 81,000 miles

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

2004 Chevy Trailblazer with 80,000 miles, transmission went out while on interstate, could not get speed above 25 miles per hour.

- Trenton, OH, USA

problem #27

Dec 122009

Trailblazer

  • 61,124 miles
I have a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV 4WD with 61000 miles on it and have lost reverse on it. My mechanic took it apart and found some pieces had broke and it will have to be rebuilt or replaced. After reading about other complaints with people having the same problem I would have to say it is the sun gear. I'm very unhappy to hear that GM doesn't admit to having a problem with this transmission, but it is obvious to me that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

- Hanover, PA, USA

problem #26

Apr 212009

Trailblazer 4WD

  • 36,000 miles
Transfer case failure; lost 4 wd while driving on ice in Alaska. T-case failure occurred at 36K miles. When case was opened, interior components were completely disintegrated.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #25

Oct 032009

Trailblazer

  • 67,150 miles

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

Fluid leak from transmission oil cooler lines due to corrosion.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #24

Jul 032009

Trailblazer

  • miles
I was driving in traffic and my truck would not accelerate or change gears at all. This was during July 4th of this yr. I had just had it serviced. I had there transmission serviced and was ok until Aug 29th. It happened while I was on the interstate.

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #23

May 092009

Trailblazer

  • 58,000 miles
I have transmission problems with my 2004 trail Blazer I first noticed it when I was driving down the road at 55 and all the sudden it was like the vehicle was put in neutral and I pulled to the side shut the vehicle off and tried to start again and it took off fine like nothing was wrong. Then a day or 2 later the same thing happened so I had it towed to the garage. They told me my transmission was bad I was shocked with only 58,000 on the vehicle they showed me the dipstick was rusted right off and asked me what happened I then asked them what happened. So long story short they wanted to charge $3000 to replace because the warranty ran out at 36,000 I refuse to pay when there should be a recall for a problem they admit they have. And to think the government or should I say we the people just bailed this company out as far as I'm concerned if they are going to make junk let go bankrupt.

- Wallingford, VT, USA

problem #22

Jul 092009

Trailblazer

  • 91,000 miles
Fluid leak from transmission oil cooler lines due to corrosion.

- Hudson Falls, NY, USA

problem #21

Jul 032009

Trailblazer

  • 82,000 miles

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

Steel transmission line rusted a hole and leaked out transmission fluid onto the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe. Replaced line, old line kept.

- Drennen, WV, USA

problem #20

Nov 092008

Trailblazer

  • 48,420 miles
The speedometer quit working on my 2004 Chevy Trailblazer about 9 months ago. Tach also has a tendency to stick. Transmission started going out 2 weeks after purchase (used in July 2008 with 42,000 miles). Transmission went completely out in November 2008.

- Clinton, AR, USA

problem #19

Nov 042008

Trailblazer

  • 101,576 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the transmission sun gear was faulty. An electrical component was burning inside the vehicle, along with ABS failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they stated that there was no guarantee that the vehicle was working properly. The oil needed to be changed, so the contact changed it himself. The failures occurred right after the vehicle was purchased from the dealer. The dealer performed a 120 point inspection, but they never repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 101,576.

- Mansfield , AR, USA

problem #18

Jan 012009

Trailblazer

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact took the vehicle to midas for preventive maintenance. The transmission was flushed and the oil was replaced with a life X-tend oil, which caused the transmission to slip and make a loud noise when shifitng into reverse or drive. The dealer stated that the bearing failed. The contact feels that the oil that was placed in the transmission revealed that the transmission had previous failures. A report was filed with the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that they will investigate the failure. The X-tend oil manufacturer stated that they would pay for the repair if it is proven that the oil was the cause for the transmission failure. The current and failure mileages were 102,000.

- Mansville, AR, USA

problem #17

Jun 022008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
Both issues occur daily: Apparent transmission problems...vehicle cannot seem to "get in gear" when cruising anywhere from 40 - 70 mph. It bounces back and forth between gears - not normal driving conditions. Multiple trips to 2 different GM dealers has exposed no problems, as they "cannot replicate the problem". they must not have driven the car at those speeds as it does it religiously. Like many other complaints listed here, and throughout searches done for 2004 Trailblazer issues, my tachometer & speedometer are faulty. They do not work properly... at any time may show 8000 rpms or 100+ mph when sitting at a stoplight, or resting at 0 rpms and 0 mph when cruising on a highway. This is dangerous, and GM needs to fix this problem asap for models experiencing this issue. I'm very disappointed there has not been a recall - my family has always been owners of GM vehicles...but will be no more.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #16

May 142008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 46,000 miles
We took our car on Wednesday 5/14 to superior Chevrolet in cincinnati oh because on Tuesday evening the transmission felt like it was starting to slip and not driving correctly. The dealership contacted us on Thursday 5/15 to say they were waiting for the warranty representative to come out and give approval before it could be repaired. On Friday afternoon, we were advised the claim was denied because there was water in the transmission. The service manager said it was due to a GM defect with the dip stick - the way it was positioned allowed water to get into the transmission and rust, so the warranty was null and void. The service manager said he spoke w/his GM rep and they would agree to "do us a favor" and split the cost of the new transmission - $1200 still out of pocket for us. When we pushed back and asked why we would have to pay anything, they refused to answer - just told us to fight it with our warranty company. I've been researching online to figure out how to fight this and prevent other people from suffering as well. If it's a GM defect in the way the dip stick is positioned, the consumer should not have to pay for the damage caused by the defect. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. The car is a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer with a full extended warranty, but it does specifically state it's void if the problem is due to water. After reading on several chat rooms, there seems to be many people with this same issue.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #15

Jun 052007

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
In April 2007, the '04 Trailblazer's transmission failed. At the time the vehicle had less than 50,000 miles. I drive the car very well - mostly highway miles as I commute for work - and the vehicle had never been used to tow. The transmission was repaired at a Chevrolet dealer, and less than 2 months later, the transmission failed again. I am very unsatisfied with the quality of this vehicle.

- Herriman, UT, USA

problem #14

May 292007

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,605 miles
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2 wheel drive (2wd) transmission failure. Transmission failed while under normal highway operating conditions, speed approximately 55 mph, two lane highway, surface conditions dry, mileage 25605. Failure proceeded by strange noise, then complete disengagement / loss of power. Service engine check light illuminated; later diagnosed by GMC dealorship as an open / loose gas cap as the cause. The vehicle was manuevered / coasted without powertrain assistance to parking lot adjacent to the highway without injury / incident. Vehicle towed to dealorshi on. 6/15/07) informed by GM representative that component replacement / repair needed, specifics unknown, cost $2400 of which GM would pay 50%; my cost $1200.

- New Castle, PA, USA

problem #13

Apr 162007

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
I have a 2004 Trailblazer. I had taken it to the dealership service center on several occasions because of issues with it. The service engine light came on all the time. It would rev up the rpms for no reason and make a weird sound. It would not go into 4 -wheel drive or out of it like it is supposed to. And other things. I had it checked, and they said it was all fine and they couldnt duplicate the errors. However, subsequently, the transmission has gone out 4 times in the last 4 months. I have had it replaced 3 times. It is now at the transmission shop and they state that there is a problem with the engine has too much travel to it front to rear. The crank shaft specifically which is allowing the torque converter to pull away from the front pump and break the rotar assembly in the front pump of the transmission. This is getting expensive and frustrating. Are there any other people who have the same issues or is there an issue with the crank shaft" could it be the transmission is built wrong" this is rediculous!! I have only 70,000 miles on it. Why would I buy Chevy products if they continue to fail at such low miles.

- West Valley, UT, USA

problem #12

Dec 292006

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles
We bought a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer brand new. We had all scheduled maintenance performed. Then in December 29th of 2006 in the evening we experienced a loss of the transmission in third gear. We were trying to merge onto a highway and were almost rear ended by a semi-tractor trailer truck. I quickly pulled off to the break down lane to avert an accident. It has been roughly been six weeks since we dropped the vehicle off at a authorized Chevy dealer. Our extended warranty wants to rebuild the transmission. The Chevy service department wants to replace it. They are at a stalemate. This vehicle had only 68000 miles on it.

- Charlestown, WV, USA

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