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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer is known for many things, but perhaps it is most famous for its faulty fuel gauge.

This gauge flip-flops more than a politician during election season. Some report that the gauge says "empty" after a fill-up, while others report the gauge says "full" when they're running on fumes. Either way, there's one thing everyone seems to agree on: the darn thing is just wrong.

Following hundreds of complaints and a few accidents allegedly caused by the malfunction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the issue in May 2011. Unfortunately for frustrated owners, no recall has been announced.

3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,010 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.

2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments

problem #10

May 052010

Trailblazer

  • 93,800 miles

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

Chevy trailbazer 05... gas gauge keeps moving from low to empty back to full, sometimes it stays at empty. Check engine light stays on. Fuel sending unit keeps failing. Unit was replaced in 2007 at dealership. Sending unit has gone bad again. Very expensive labor needed to fix this. When I fixed the first time I had warranty now it has expired. I checked online and it seems like everyone with a Chevy Trailblazer is having the same problem also my..to my knowledge this is a completely defect of the car. My major fear is to run out of gas on the highway and my car to stall. Leading to an accident.....also the instrument panel light keep getting darker..sometimes several lights come on.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #9

Jan 022009

Trailblazer

  • 37,000 miles
All lights headlights dash and dome flickering driving but not everytime. Alt has been relocated 2 times still have same problem.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #8

Jun 232008

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
Just want to address the gas gauge and speedometer issues. I have a 05 Trailblazer and had both of these problems. Fortunately I work with a great dealership and I purchased the extended warranty because GM would do nothing and the fixes are very expensive. You can live with the gas gauge not reading correctly by tracking your mileage but the stupid bell goes off all the time telling you your near empty but you cannot drive safely if you do not know how fast you are going and you certainly cannot go with the flow as everyone seems to drive faster than allowed and I do not think the officer who pulls you over will care if your speedometer does not work. I also notice that my interior panel lights will flash off and back on again, makes me think I am seeing things. I think GM needs to find answers and fix these problems. I love my TB but it just seems like a lemon and I will look at something different when I purchase again.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #7

Jan 122009

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

Massive electrical problems with Chevy Trailblazer 1. while going 10 miles an hour, the speedometer jumps to 120mph then to 50mph then to 120mph again. 2. when I fill up with gas, the gas gauge states that the tank is still empty then moves to full then to a 1/4 then to full then to half etc... 3. while driving at night, my headlights go highbeam to low beam as if I am manually flashing my lights at other cars. I have read on the internet where this is happening to many many people with this same model of Chevrolet SUV and that GM refuses to do anything about this. -I called GM and advised them of the entire issue. They advised me to go to a dealership and have them run a diagnostic as this was needed before they could help me. -I went to the dealer and paid $115 for the diagnostic, needless to say the repairs that the dealer found Ranger over $3000 dollars. -I then called GM back and they took the information that the dealer gave me (donna at 1-866-790-5700 X21153) -I just got a call back from GM stating that because of the mileage on the SUV that they were not going to do anything (they knew about the mileage before they sent me to the dealership!). so I wasted $115 dollars for something that was not needed by GM, and the fact that they knew about the mileage to start off with is a way to let the dealer make some money off the consumer.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

problem #6

Dec 112008

Trailblazer

  • 45,300 miles
My headlights and dash lights flicker while driving. Also while driving my lights will dim and the blower for heat & A/C will slow and then pick up to normal speed again. It also revs by itself, even in park and will go forward slightly when it does surge. These problems only started after the alternator was replaced. I think it is a safety hazard to have lights flickering and engine surges.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #5

Oct 262008

Trailblazer

  • 57,000 miles
I have an 2005 Chevy Trailblazer that the lights constantly are flashing. They dim and then come very bright again non-stop. This can not be safe because for several instances they are so dim that you can't see in the dark. I have had the vehicle in several times when it was under warranty and GM said it was normal when the fan kicks on. Well it is not normal or is it safe. I can not manually flick the lights as fast as they flicker when I am driving down the road. It is very unsafe and GM needs to find a fix for it.

- North English, IA, USA

problem #4

May 012006

Trailblazer

  • 10,000 miles

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

Headlights dim intermittently, heat looses power at the same time, now getting flickering of interior lights. Wasn't able to fix it. Bumper warping. Getting 10 miles to the gallon! paint on buttons wearing on radio. Sun roof leaked profusely, had it fixed. Rear window defogger doesn't work. Head liner sagged.

- New London, CT, USA

problem #3

Jan 102008

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles
While driving above 30mph, if take foot off accelerator, headlights will dim to almost no light as will the dash lights, on off, on off, when press on the accelerator, lights will go on normally with same brightness. Dome light button to left of steering wheel will work once every 50 tries, lights on left side of radio do not work, cd player will not take cds. I am unable to drive my vehicle at night, it has been to a certified Chevrolet dealership twice now, they have stated that everything is running correctly and that they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. The speedometer will read 0 (no matter how fast I'm going) which is apparently a known problem with Chevy vehicles, but they are not willing to fix it in the Trailblazer.

- Boyertown, PA, USA

problem #2

Mar 072007

Trailblazer 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
In March 2007 the check engine light came on and stayed on. I took vehicle to dealer to have it checked out. It turned out to be the secondary air pump either clogged, not running or something electrical with it. Ever since then all the exterior and interior lights became bright then dimmed for a few minutes when I start the vehicle. After leaving for work and stopping the vehicle to turn, and then again a few miles down the road, the headlamps started to flicker. Sometimes it flickered a few more times before I got to work, only 25 minutes from home. I have noticed the battery gauge fluctuated while this is happened. I was told that this was normal. Also, I am not sure this was related, but ever since the check engine"light problem the air conditioning system did not work properly. It didn't work on 5, but it did blow some on the other levels, and that varied too. I have had the air conditioning recharged, to no avail, it acted like there was a leak somewhere. Hopefully, GM or someone else will find the solution before there was an electrical fire or even a case of road rage due to other drivers thinking I wa S flashing the bright lights at them.

- Woodland, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 042007

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles
Exterior lights and interior lights dim out randomly while driving. The service department at GM says it is normal and nothing they can do. Chevrolet has issued a bulletin regarding this. How safe can it be to drive at night with headlights dimming out?

- Camby, IN, USA

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