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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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,143 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 21 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #29

Jun 152009

Trailblazer

  • 140,936 miles

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

I am having a problem with my fuel gauge or fuel pump. June 15-24 2009 I was putting gas into my vehicle every day because it was reading that my tank was empty. On June 24, I completely filled up my tank and the light remained on as if my tank was empty. The light remained on until the next day. As I was driving to work, the gauge moved up showing that I only had a 1/4 of a tank of gas. My gauge is giving me a false reading of the amount of gas I have in my tank and I now have to depend on the miles per trip to make sure I don't run out of gas.

- New Brockton, AL, USA

problem #28

Dec 252008

Trailblazer

  • 55,000 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer - gas gauge fails to function - always stays on empty so I could run out of gas with no warning.

- Hyattsville, MD, USA

problem #27

May 052009

Trailblazer

  • 65,000 miles
My gas gauge read 1/4 of a tank and I went to the gas station to fill up and 2 hours after I filled up the gas light came on. I stopped to put more gas in thinking that maybe I stopped it too early and it wasn't full. I started driving and the gas light came on. So now my gas gauge doesn't work at all and I have to rely on my miles per trip to figure out when to fill up.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #26

May 092009

Trailblazer

  • 69,000 miles

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

I have a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer. I recently started having problems with the fuel gauge. It will show the tank is empty, even after filling it. I researched it online to see if others have this problem and have found many complaints about it. Chevy says it's a problem with the sensor and has a repair kit for it, but charges over $500 for the kit plus labor. I along with many others use this vehicle to Transport my children around, including my son with special needs to his monthly appointments at the children's hospital 200+ miles away. I myself have never run out of gas as this problem has just started in my car, but I know others who have. Something needs to be done because people are running out of fuel (others have complained that this problem unresolved leads to the trip meter and speedometer to stop working also) and causing accidents & injuries. We Trailblazer owners are hoping that enough complaints from owners and a little pressure from the NHTSA will cause Chevy to do something about this problem!! please help us!! on average this problem seems to crop up around 60,000 miles.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #25

Mar 152009

Trailblazer

  • 60,000 miles
This seems to be a pervasive problem with recent models of Chevy Trailblazers; the fuel gauge goes up and down erratically when the vehicle is either low on fuel or is recently filled up. Some sources indicate that the problem is with a faulty fuel pump sensor, which requires the gas tank to be removed and a sending unit sensor replaced. Faulty equipment should be recalled, and not left for the chance that the problem will happen while still under warranty.

- Stevens Point, WI, USA

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problem #24

Aug 182008

Trailblazer

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was not functioning correctly. The gauge would show that the fuel level was empty and caused the indicator to illuminate. The dealer stated that the failure was caused by a faulty fuel sensor, which would cost approximately $700 to repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. Most recently, the speedometer malfunctioned and would become stuck on 40 or 90 mph. Occasionally, the contact would have to use the rpms to measure her speed. She had not taken the vehicle to the dealer or notified the manufacturer. The current mileage was approximately 83,000 and failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

- Ridgeville, SC, USA

problem #23

Nov 222008

Trailblazer

  • 40,200 miles

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

Shortly after my 2005 Chevy trail Blazer was out of warranty the gas gauge failed and left me stranded. When I fill the tank it registers empty. Also left my wife and child stranded one other time. The gas gauge registers empty all the time now. After researching this on the internet I found that there are 100's of people that have this problem with either there Envoy or there Trailblazer. Also have had a smell of gasoline from time to time.

- Lavale, MD, USA

problem #22

Jan 012009

Trailblazer

  • 120,000 miles
Fuel sensor within fuel tank has failed twice within 130,000 miles. Idler pulley has been replaced three times within 120,000 miles.

- Sims, NC, USA

problem #21

Mar 032009

Trailblazer

  • 56,000 miles
I filled my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer and the fuel gauge started bouncing between the full and empty marks. Shortly afterwards my check engine light came on. I took into my dealership and was told I had to replace the fuel sensor inside the gas tank for approx $900. I do not have the resources for the repair at this time so I will fill up every couple days to make sure I don't run out of gas. I researched on the internet and found multiple websites that indicates this is common with 2005 Trailblazers.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #20

Oct 012007

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
The fuel hand has quit working, it has not worked since October of 2007, and it is to expensive to fix it and I know of three other peoples who's vehicles are doing the same thing and they are the same year model as mine although some are gmcs Envoy and some are Chevy Trailblazers.

- Columbia, KY, USA

problem #19

Sep 282008

Trailblazer

  • 58,000 miles

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

The fuel gauge will say empty when the tank is actually full. Also the gauge is not accurate, never goes about 1/2.

- Gleason, WI, USA

problem #18

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 #17

Feb 112009

Trailblazer

  • 70,194 miles
1. check engine light stays on consistently no matter what repairs I have done. 2. speedometer fails to constantly. I recently got a speeding ticket for not staying within speed limit. 3. dealership has constantly said they have not heard of any complaints by any consumers. 4. onstar system has failed from a year after purchase. 5. occasionally stalls and smells of gasoline.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 102008

Trailblazer

  • miles
The fuel gauge on my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer has stopped working. The gauge always reads empty even after filling the tank to the fill level. This problem just started happen out of the blue one day about 6 months ago. Have been reading online that many people are running into this issue with 2004-2006 Chevy Trailblazers. To date, I have not had the problem looked at, but will be within the next week.

- Freemansburg, PA, USA

problem #15

Jan 052008

Trailblazer

  • 35,000 miles
The gas gauge on my 2005 Trailblazer is defective. The gauge began to malfunction about one year ago. When I fill the tank, the gauge drops to empty. It then floats around and I never know how much gas I actually have. I have to use my trip meter to know when I need to fill up. This is a dangerous and worrisome thing to deal with. I would hate to run out of gas on the interstate by myself. I have researched this on the internet and apparently this is a widespread problem.

- Mentone, AL, USA

problem #14

Dec 242008

Trailblazer

  • 68,120 miles
Fuel gauge does not read properly. Needle on gauge floats from empty to full and will read low fuel when tank is full. Have read of other complaints regarding this problem. Why no recall?

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #13

Jan 012007

Trailblazer

  • 45,000 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer. After about 45,000 miles the fuel sensor no longer operates.

- Wallingford, NN, USA

problem #12

Feb 132008

Trailblazer

  • 125,000 miles
Fuel gauge inoperative. Even with a full tank, the gauge remains on empty most of the time. Occasionally, the gauge will rise to 1/4 and stay there for 40-50 miles then return to empty.

- Mulberry, FL, USA

problem #11

Dec 152008

Trailblazer

  • 47,841 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer fuel gauge no longer works. When you fill it up it registers empty and the low fuel light comes on.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 112008

Trailblazer

  • 65,436 miles
2005 Trailblazer lt gas gauge read empty when should read full, and when the truck is in drive the gas gauge goes up then goes back down.

- Smithfield, VA, USA

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