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.
Problem started with engine not starting while vehicle was hot. It would fire, but not completely start. Now two months later, and lots of $$$ with towing and replacing couple things that mechanics thought were the problem, it is starting to not fire, even while cool. But the next day, it starts fine. Cannot depend on it to go anywhere or trust that I can turn it off and have it start up again. But nobody can figure out what the problem is.
Update from Dec 7, 2013: And months, many mechanics and lots of money later, trailblazer is still doing same thing! Unbelievable!! Is there anybody on this planet that knows why it is doing this? Vehicle engine doesn't have to be hot any more. It just does it! One day starts fine, but don't turn it off cause you don't know when it will start again. Somebody, Please help!
Engine stalled while idling. Towed to mechanic next day. Truck started first time. Took for test drive later that day (106 deg outside temp). Truck stalled again. Mechanic took 10 hrs to diagnose (first thought that it was computer) and 15 min. to install part. Works fine now.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
starting problems, especially while hot
Problem started with engine not starting while vehicle was hot. It would fire, but not completely start. Now two months later, and lots of $$$ with towing and replacing couple things that mechanics thought were the problem, it is starting to not fire, even while cool. But the next day, it starts fine. Cannot depend on it to go anywhere or trust that I can turn it off and have it start up again. But nobody can figure out what the problem is.
Update from Dec 7, 2013: And months, many mechanics and lots of money later, trailblazer is still doing same thing! Unbelievable!! Is there anybody on this planet that knows why it is doing this? Vehicle engine doesn't have to be hot any more. It just does it! One day starts fine, but don't turn it off cause you don't know when it will start again. Somebody, Please help!
- Nancy N., Salisbury, MD, US