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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.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,898 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 4 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #111

Oct 152010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles

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

Speedometer on my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer has malfunctioned and completely spun around and stuck at 120mph. This just spontaneously failed and my gas gauge is acting weird too. I have seen that this seems to be a common problem in this particular model and GM needs to issue recall and fix this!!!

- Taylors, SC, USA

problem #110

Mar 022010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
First the gas gauge stopped working. It always stays on empty even though I have a full tank. Then the check engine light started coming on randomly. Finally the speedometer stopped working. It will read 70mph even though I am stopped. There is a problem with the instrument cluster and clearly needs to be recalled due to the number of complaints filed.

- Fort Bragg, NC, USA

problem #109

Oct 172010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 105,186 miles
Speedometer failure while driving 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer lt on the highway. Needle doesn't move at all. Cannot determine speed of vehicle. Brought to GM dealership. Diagnosed as instrument cluster failure. Similar cluster failures have occurred on other GM model SUV's and trucks (Tahoe, Suburban, Sierra) and have been handled as "recalls". GM has not acknowledged that the same failures which have occurred in Chevrolet Trailblazers are a safety defect worthy of a similar recall.

- Somers, CT, USA

problem #108

Oct 142010

Trailblazer

  • 69,000 miles

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

2005 Chevy Trailblazer-gas gauge stopped working accurately. Stays around 1/4 tank while driving. Low level indicator comes on when car is first started and then moves back up to 1/4 tank even though the tank may be full. Two weeks after noticing the gas gauge I also noticed my speedometer was not reading accurately. Noticed this when I was sitting at a stop light. While car was stopped speedometer said I was going 20 mph. After reading all the complaints regarding these same issues, I'm very disappointed that no one is doing anything about it. This is my first Chevy and im sure it will be my last. If its relevant mileage is approximately 69,000.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

problem #107

Oct 272010

Trailblazer

  • 76,000 miles
The gas gauge on my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer has stopped working. It gradually stopped registering the actual gas. After filling the gas, it register empty. As I drove, the gas would register as full. Eventually it stopped moving at all. This has been going on for a period of 6mos. I started filling the gas more often. After filling the gas, 2 days later, the vehicle shut off in the middle of the highway, causing a near traffic accident because there was no warning. Clearly, I wasn't out of gas. I had just fill the gas and became accustomed to how far I could drive before I needed to refill. This was very dangerous. It is obvious a defect in the gas gauge. I wasn't sure until now after visiting this site that I am not alone. The speedometer has also stopped working. I'm sure if it is registering the mileage I drive. Not knowing how fast I am driving is surely a safety issue. I visited my mechanic is was given an estimate of $500 to repair. Surely it shouldn't take a death to rectify this issue.

- Inglewood, CA, USA

problem #106

Sep 282010

Trailblazer

  • 88,000 miles
Speedometer failure in 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Speedometer works erratically. Vehicle has almost 90,000 miles. Problem began around September 28, 2010, and has become more frequent, occurring daily now. Speedometer will gradually show a decrees in speed when vehicle is not decelerating, eventually displaying zero or below zero mph. This is a major safety concern and should be resolved by Chevrolet.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #105

Oct 222010

(reported on)

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

Letter from senator mccain on behalf of constituent who has encountered a problem with her 2005 GM Trailblazer instrument panels (dot/I#2010-1286) the consumer was informed it would cost between $500-600 to have the faulty instrument panel replaced.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #104

May 112007

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer's instrument cluster malfunction.

- Weslaco, TX, USA

problem #103

Sep 282010

Trailblazer

  • miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer speedometer malfunctions, jerks all over the place and does not display an accurate speed. Seems to not reset to zero mph when stopped so it just keeps increasing.

- Felton, PA, USA

problem #102

Oct 042010

Trailblazer

  • 106,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 45 mph, the speedometer failed. The contact stated the speedometer showed he was driving 100 mph when he was driving approximately 45-55 mph. The vehicle was not seen by the dealer or a local mechanic. The failure and current mileage was 106,000.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #101

Jul 122010

Trailblazer

  • 31,280 miles

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

Speedometer, oil pressure gauge and volt meter stick, drop to lowest point or surge to highest point. Speedometer will stick at one speed or stick and then only move up from that point. I have no idea what speed I'm traveling when this happens. It happens most often when it rains and will remain inaccurate for a several days. Not knowing how fast you are going is dangerous.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #100

Aug 022009

Trailblazer

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the instrument cluster does not function. The fuel gauge does not function. The oil pressure gauge works sporadically as well as the speedometer. Chevrolet was contacted and they stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 76,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 02/01/11 updated 02/03/11

- Killeen , TX, USA

problem #99

Mar 152010

Trailblazer

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. After starting the vehicle the contact noticed that the speedometer had suddenly risen to 50 mph while the vehicle was still in park. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings. The failure mileage was 63000 and the current mileage was 69000.

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #98

Aug 312010

Trailblazer

  • 90,000 miles
Gas gauge and speedometer on Chevy trailblaizer 2005. No correct reading.

- Burlington, Ontario, Canada, 00, USA

problem #97

Aug 132010

Trailblazer

  • miles
I own a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, recently my speedometer started acting crazy, now it either works or it doesn't, sometimes it says your at 0 or sometimes it says your going 120 mph, sometimes it sticks on 70 mph!!! I feel this should be a very important recall.

- Owenton, KY, USA

problem #96

Jul 222010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
Speedometer malfunction.

- Boerne, TX, USA

problem #95

Jul 192010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 73,528 miles
The speedometer completely stopped working and now the oil gauge is also not working. This is dangerous for me and my children since I do not know how fast or slow I am driving. It will cost around $500 to fix this problem.

- La Habra, CA, USA

problem #94

Apr 012008

Trailblazer

  • miles
My 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer has a malfunctioning speedometer. It randomly goes up to various speeds and sometimes no speed at all, meaning it hangs between 120 and 0. this problem usually occurs two or three times a month. This is a big safety hazard because at times I am guessing my speed and my children are always in the car with me. Chevrolet/GMC should have already recalled this a long time ago. They know it is an ongoing problem with its consumers, so how can they not fix something that is their fault? I don't think the buyers should be responsible for paying $500 or more out of pocket to fix something that is happening to everyone's vehicle. That is not right.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #93

Jun 182008

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
I've seen the other listings also describing this complaint, same symptoms. Without notice, speedometer will cease to work correctly, so you have no idea what your actual traveling speed it. This is an immense safety issue. I have shared my concerns with my lawyer and if a recall is not issued to all the Chevy Trailblazer owners a class action law suit will costs GM much more money than a recall. In just one google search many complaints were found. Example: [xxx], al, usa 2010feb 12 Trailblazer 3.2L V6 it's very hard to drive a car without the speedometer working. I am afraid that I could get a speeding ticket and I have never had one. My speed shows I am doing 120 mph when I start my car. This is a pain in the butt. I have a 2005 Trailblazer the speedometer works when it wants to. I have owned Blazer since 1984. I can't believe Chevy wont back up the consumer. It will be the last Chevy I ever own.[xxx]West monroe, NY, usa 2009dec 15 Trailblazer ls V6 automatic transmission 61,000 miles I was a Chevy man intil I bought a 2005 Trailblazer, now Chevy can kiss my [xxx]. how in the [xxx] does your instrument cluster go out at 60,000 miles and its not on recall and to top it off all of the other Chevy's SUV and some of their trucks are on recall for the very same thing? tell me please tell me that that is not a bunch of bull. I will never by another Chevy again. Its said that my 96 Dodge Dakota runs better than my 2005 Chevy. Go Dodge you can't go wrong with them. So now I'm a Dodge man, good job Chevy normanm fort leonard wood, mo, usa 2010feb 01 Trailblazer SE automatic transmission 89,000 miles has anyone heard where Chevy stands on the issue. I can't believe this $450 to fix Chevy should fix [xxx] mi, usa 2010jan 27 you really need to see this as a safety issue and set forth a consequence of recall to GM to fix all these bogus speedometers. [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fostoria, OH, USA

problem #92

Jun 012010

Trailblazer

  • 59,000 miles
Cluster panel gone bad. Speedometer was showing 21 mph while I was stopped. Took to dealership diagnosed with the cluster panel being bad. GM has had other recalls for similar part and this should be no exception. 2005 Chevy Trailblazer 59,000 miles.

- Huntington, IN, USA

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