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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 8 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #289

Jun 192011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 97,000 miles

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

Fuel gauge was inaccurate. Would read full when empty, empty when full, etc. Had faulty fuel sending unit replaced by dealer to solve problem.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

problem #288

Jun 102011

Trailblazer

  • 64,600 miles
This complaint is concerning a defective fuel level sensor. On or near the incident date, the vehicle's fuel tank was filled to the top. This was the first time the tank was completely filled in several months (due to high gas prices). Upon driving away from the pump, the dash fuel gauge read 'empty'. prior to topping off the tank, the gauge was reading approximately 1/3 full. The gauge continued to read 'empty' until the level was down to approximately 7/8 full. After that, the gauge varied between less than 1/8 full to actual level and sometimes would read 'empty' briefly. After the fuel was down to less than 3/4 full, the gauge appeared to read normal until filled again. This pattern basically has continued to get worse. Now, when the tank is topped off, it still reads 'empty' but doesn't read 'normal' until down to about 1/4 tank. I have resorted to logging mileage and date when topping off the tank and refilling before the tank should be empty based on mileage.

- Pickett, WI, USA

problem #287

Mar 202011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
The fuel gauge began to be inaccurate. It would occasionally work but not consistently. After about 2 months the gauge stopped working completely. The problem was the sensor in the gas tank malfunctioned and needed replaced. Once the sensor replaced the gas gauge works accurately. The cost of the replacement was $465.

- Council Bluffs, IA, USA

problem #286

Jul 012011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 70,154 miles

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

Fuel gauge failing. 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer lt 4X4 4.2L I6 the fuel gauge will state an incorrect amount of fuel remaining. After filling fuel the gauge will state empty. After about 20 miles driven then the gauge will slowly come back and read full. As the fuel is used up in tank the gauge will be off by up to a 1/4 of a tank.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #285

May 152011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Fuel gauge indicated almost 1/2 tank of fuel but was really empty. Stalled in fast lane of 4 lane highway at 70mph. Near rear-end collision. Defective fuel pump sender assembly.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

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problem #284

Jun 012011

Trailblazer

  • 84,000 miles
My gas gauge suddenly began malfunctioning after filling the tank. The gauge went down to empty, setting off the visual and audible indicators for an empty tank. After driving for awhile, the gauge began to slowly rise. This now happens every time I fill the tank, but now the gauge never goes up to the full point, usually staying around half of a tank until it starts to decline again. I can no longer trust the gauge. I have heard that this is becoming a common problem on some of the Chevy models, particularly the Trailblazer.

- King Of Prussia, PA, USA

problem #283

Jun 022011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

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

I have a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer that about a month ago the fuel light came on and started to ding. I had just filled it about just an hour brfore that. I changed the gas cap and that didn't work. The gas gauge still doesn't work right and it's still dinging. I have to keep putting gas in it just about everyday so I don't run out of gas.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #282

Oct 062007

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 30,344 miles
Replace faulty fuel level sensor.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #281

Jul 202011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 65,075 miles
Fuel sensor has to be replace again (2nd time).

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #280

Oct 012009

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
When my mileage on my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer was approximately 50,000, the fuel gauge suddenly stopped working and reads that there is an empty tank despite being filled to capacity. From my understanding, this is a systemic fault with the fuel sending unit in the 2005-06 Chevy Trailblazer models that has the potential of putting consumers at great risk due to the potential of running out of gas on expressways, highways, etc. And, as a result of an unexpected loss of mobility, being unnecessarily subject to imminent personal harm from other vehicles. I have lodged a personal complaint with GM and understand that they are aware of this defect in the fuel sending unit as being a system problem, but have failed to issue any voluntary recall of the part. Due to the individual cost of approximately $800 for a consumer to procure this repair (which almost always seems to occur when these vehicles have surpassed 40,000 miles and are therefore outside of the warranty period), I believe it is very likely that a sufficient number of those consumers affected by this part failure, especially in the current economic climate, will be financially unable to afford the cost of repairing this defective part on their own and will, accordingly, be subject to unnecessary and substantial risk given the potential for them to find their vehicles out of gas without any warning whatsoever. Moreover, the potential for collisions due to the sudden deceleration or stranded vehicles on the roadways also poses a substantial threat to other drivers that is entirely unnecessary and extremely dangerous.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #279

Jun 192011

Trailblazer

  • 110,000 miles

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

My 2005 Trailblazer's fuel gauge showed a reading of almost 1/2 full, but was actually empty. As a result, my Trailblazer's engine died while I was driving on the interstate and I narrowly missed being rear ended by a tractor trailer. Before I could get off the highway. I researched the situation and found that wildly fluctuating fuel gauges are common in this GM model. In my opinion this defect could lead to a serious accident.

- Ball, LA, USA

problem #278

May 102011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I bought this vehicle in Dec 2010 for my birthday, then started smelling gas so took it back to dealer and they replaced the floater in gas tank and it was fine for awhile, then one day I went and filled up the tank, got in and started it up and it said empty and had the light on (when I knew it was full), since then I have had to rely on the miles to know if I still have gas, which is hard to do if you don't fill it up all the time. I am afraid of having my grandsons with me one day and running out of gas because it don't work..please recall this it is very dangerous to not know if you have enough gas when you have to go somewhere. This should not have happened since it was just fixed a few months ago. Will this be an ongoing problem? I grew up with Chevy's my dad use to say we were Chevy country and my uncle's vehicles were found on the road dead (Ford) I use to believe that Chevy was best vehicle made, but this is changing my mind.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #277

May 102011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I bought this vehicle in Dec 2010 for my birthday, then started smelling gas so took it back to dealer and they replaced the floater in gas tank and it was fine for awhile, then one day I went and filled up the tank, got in and started it up and it said empty and had the light on (when I knew it was full), since then I have had to rely on the miles to know if I still have gas, which is hard to do if you don't fill it up all the time. I am afraid of having my grandsons with me one day and running out of gas because it don't work..please recall this it is very dangerous to not know if you have enough gas when you have to go somewhere. This should not have happened since it was just fixed a few months ago. Will this be an ongoing problem? I grew up with Chevy's my dad use to say we were Chevy country and my uncle's vehicles were found on the road dead (Ford) I use to believe that Chevy was best vehicle made, but this is changing my mind.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #276

Mar 142011

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The vehicle's gas guage began fluctuating and has since completely went out.

- Lewisburg, OH, USA

problem #275

Jul 142010

Trailblazer

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge displayed an inaccurate empty reading. The fuel gauge adjusted and began to display various improper readings once the contact began to drive the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled on a few occasions when the fuel gauge displayed an empty reading. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 100,600. The VIN was unavailable.

- Asheboro, NC, USA

problem #274

Feb 152011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
Chevrolet Trailblazer has faulty fuel sending unit, making vehicle show inaccurate levels of fuel remaining. Vehicle has run out of fuel and stalled on side of road due to faulty readings.

- Shakopee, MN, USA

problem #273

Sep 122010

Trailblazer

  • miles
2005 chevorlet Trailblazer fuel gauge does not reflect accurate fuel level even after filled up and leads to an unaware level of gas being held within the tank.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #272

Jul 052011

Trailblazer

  • 66,465 miles
Fuel gauge reading erratically, often reads empty after fill-up. Suspect faulty fuel sending unit as stated by local mechanic who said this is a common failure form this manufacturer.

- Bay City, TX, USA

problem #271

Jun 152011

Trailblazer

  • 79,000 miles
Fuel gauge stopped working. When I fill up at the gas station, the gauge says E and the light comes on. I never know how much fuel I have or when I will run out!

- Fostoria, OH, USA

problem #270

Apr 012010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Vehicle ran out of fuel, when fuel gauge read 1/4 tank full. Incident was at an interchange of I-485 in daylight hours in charlotte N.C.

- Matthews, NC, USA

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