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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.

0.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
310,703 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

May 202020

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 7,156,000 miles

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

My gas gauge is sitting on bottom instead of top where it's supposed to be. I don't know how much gas in my car. An I have 2 small kids an one has a heart condition. An I'm on a fixed income. An also my head lights go off an on all the time day or night.

- Olla, LA, USA

problem #28

May 212018

Trailblazer

  • miles
Control panel on drivers door is no longer functional, during a heavy rainstorm I got out of my truck, closed the door and ran to my house. The next day the controls no longer worked. This is not the first time I've left my vehicle while raining but the first time the controls stopped working. This was a recall item in other years 2006-2007. Chery does not recognize this being the same issue in the 2005 model. Chevrolet Trailblazer recall - #13V248000. Fluid may enter the driver's door module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. The short may also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #27

Jul 072007

Trailblazer

  • 70,000 miles
Since the purchase my TB engine will stop when ac and heater is on on stop light, that it was delaying while driving. It got worse after "warranty was out, I believe in July 2007.no one can find the cause, but thinking its all system faulty., engine, electronics, fans. Could I afford a new car, I would not keep this car, as now I know it was the worse year making of all. Now I only pray to stay alive while driving and not get into some beyond my control but faulty GM model makers

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #26

Jan 102017

Trailblazer

  • 130,000 miles

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

Speedometer does not work any longer,4 wheel drive does not engage

- Blakeslee, PA, USA

problem #25

Nov 192013

Trailblazer

  • 75,000 miles
Nov.2013 was the frist time we had a proplem, right after that the oil gauge was not working. On an off we have noticed other type of problem that seem to be electrical. For the last year \year an half my gas is all over the place, always stopping to get gas as not to give out. Also, my gear and mileage gauge does not work. Now have no idea when to change the oil or rotate tires

- Scranton, NC, USA

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problem #24

May 192017

Trailblazer

  • miles
All of the gauges on the control panel do not function (speedometer, temp, gas) when the vehicle is turned on, the gauges may slightly move, but all are inaccurate.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #23

Dec 022016

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

Fuel gauge always shows empty, not working. No way to know how much gas is in the car. Oil gauge not working.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #22

Nov 072014

Trailblazer

  • 110,000 miles
I noticed my battery guage quit. Then after starting my truck a few different times, the gas guage read differently. Then my speedometer wduld stick on 100 when I was doing approximatly 60. Then the speedometer would not work at all. There needs to be a recall on it. My friend has a 2005 also and her cluster pannel went out too. Its a $400 repair. This has happened to quite a few 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazers from what ive read online. Come on General Motors. You need to recall these models.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #21

Feb 012012

Trailblazer

  • 110,000 miles
The rear spoiler looked like someone had tried to remove it with a screwdriver. Eventually it came to the point that it would "flap" in the wind when driving. When driving, it came disconnected from the vehicle while driving on interstate 5. had it not been for the electrical cord, it could have hit another vehicle on the freeway. I took it to a repair shop. The shop fixes it, but it began doing the same thing within a year. I took it to the repair shop again. Again, the fix failed. I took it a third time and it has just failed again, I will take it to another repair shop and possibly a dealer shop to look at it. I am reading that this is a problem with 2005 trail Blazer. I have paid for a repair once and find it difficult to have to pay for the same problem again that is no fault of mine or repeated tampering.

- Turner, OR, USA

problem #20

Mar 012015

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 128,000 miles
Odometer works then just stops going down the road and airbag light stays on now also if I plug in my cell charger the radio shuts off did not do this until issues with odometer.

- Grayson, KY, USA

problem #19

Jun 012006

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

Instrument panel cluster went out..

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #18

Jun 252013

Trailblazer

  • 82,000 miles
Summary: Cluster gauges are going out. The speedometer quick working and is intermittent at best on a daily basis. It either indicates a lesser or greater speed than actual or just falls to point straight down. I have been using a mounted gps to indicate speed. Initial repair cost estimates were $500+ for the parts since they will only replace the entire gauge cluster. With labor, the estimate was in excess of $800. Oil and battery guages have failed since. Based upon the number similar complaints on this same thing, this appears to be a manufacturing defect that needs to be corrected by GM.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #17

Sep 202013

Trailblazer

  • 202,972 miles
In 2007 we had installed an internal ignition switch then again in 2010 and now again 2013. The car would just stop and nothing would come on. This is what is installed each time it is done, installed 15242754 sl-N-switch installed 12177251 sl-N-fuse

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #16

Mar 012008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
I purchased my '05 Trailblazer new off the lot never had any problems until the speed odometer stopped working. Couple years later my oil & gas gage stopped working. I based my speed off my RPM & calculate my gas mileage after each fill up. Now my dashboard lights are dimming & I've noticed on many occasions my headlights flicker...I have replaced the battery twice & the water pump twice. Now when my check engine light or this other little chk gage light comes on, I don't know if a malfunction of if something is truly wrong. Now it's running rough, acts as if it wants to cut off. They have checked all that they can but because the chk engine light isn't on, there's no way for them to identify the problem. And unfortunately, when the mechanic rides with me of course the car won't do it...and although, these are separate issues I can't wonder if replacing the battery is connected the same system as the dashboard. I've been told by 2 differ mechanics it would cost up to $600 to replace the whole system. But after reading all the complaints, many having the same issue as me I can't help but wonder if this problem could or should be on a recall & if not, why? if you view the complaints why not look into the very present & persistent problem! its very frustrating & aggravating to play a guessing game when your up & down a highway daily! not to mention a safety hazard! surely, your company isn't so money hungry that you can't take responsibility for you product & offer to pay for some or all the costs to repair! I'm a single mother of 3 & I was blessed enough to pay my car off a year ago but I've paid more in repair costs & stressing whether or not I'll make it safely to & from my destination! I never had this many issues with my grand Jeep Cherokee. I am truly disappointed in your vehicle...

- Guthrie, OK, USA

problem #15

Jun 052011

Trailblazer

  • 49,181 miles
Driving on the interstate I noticed a pop and upon further review of the vehicle, I found that the third tail light assembly has broken free from the clips that hold it on to the vehicle. It is still attached by 1 bolt but this is very dangerous if the assembly breaks free. I have seen several complaints on this particular vehicle that could cause severe damage to oncoming traffic and potentially cause an accident. This needs to be addressed by the manufacturer immediately.

- Greencastle, IN, USA

problem #14

Feb 052011

Trailblazer

  • 100,000 miles
Fuel is always shown as empty even though I put gas in it. Blower on ac/heat quit working

- Bucyrus, OH, USA

problem #13

Jul 152006

Trailblazer

  • 36,000 miles
In 2006 while driving the headlights would flicker. The dealership said this is normal. Now when driving the headlights will cutoff for approximately 10 minutes and will then cut back on. It can be after driving for 2 minutes or 30 minutes. The high beam lights work fine when the "regular" headlights will not. For the past 2 years the gas gauge, speedometer, and oil pressure gage do not work properly. I can be stopped and the speedometer will show I am going X mph. It varies on the amount of miles the speedometer is off. The oil pressure gauge always sits below the low line. The gas gauge is not correct but does move. This vehicle is a peace of junk.

- Elgin, TX, USA

problem #12

Jun 012010

Trailblazer

  • 42,627 miles
Since June 2010, the fuel level gauge on my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer has not functioned properly. Regardless of the actual fuel level, it reads at 1/4 tank or below, which causes me to rely on my trip odometer to estimate my current fuel levels. I have checked with the Chevrolet dealerships, and they are charging between $500 - $800 to correct this problem! as the previous owner of two GM vehicles and the daughter and granddaughter of General Motors retirees', I am sorely disappointed in General Motors refusal to admit the failure of the fuel gauge system that has affected thousands of vehicles.

- Lower Burrell, PA, USA

problem #11

Nov 012010

Trailblazer

  • 45,000 miles
My RPM gauges started messing up need my speedometer started next. They started sticking and jumping up. My 2005 Trailblazer only has 47,000 miles on it and the check engine light stays on all the time. Has been serviced regularly so I really don't know what it going on with it!

- Texarkana, AR, USA

problem #10

Jan 162011

Trailblazer

  • 72,900 miles
Misleading information on the speedometer of the Trailblazer. The has stopped registering the correct speed during travel. While stopped at a red light the speedometer was reading 20 mph. This can be dangerous for drivers because they do not know what speed they are currently traveling. While traveling at 45 mph the speedometer was reading 75 mph.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

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