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:
2 / 32
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
74,595 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.
I have an 06 trail Blazer & I have had nothing but problems with the driver side window controls I am unable to use the keyless entry or unlock the doors with driver door or even put down the windows in my truck & this is not a good thing if I have to wonder if my driver door is going to start on fire or not. Also the drive side module has burn marks on it as of right now I have been lucky with no fires in the door but if this did me or someone in my family could be seriously injured because of this faulty part & for this one part to cause so many problems to so many people I think that this needs to get looked at & fix now be fore something tragic happens to someone.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the front driver's door caught on fire. The contact disconnected the fuse to stop the fire. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the dealer replaced the buttons on the front driver's door. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,020 and the current mileage was 128,000. Updated 03/09/12 updated 03/13/12
I am failing compliant case of fire hazard on the blower resistor, have complained to the Chevy garage about this they have known the problem was there since 2004 and never reported this, the wires burnt filling the Trailblazer hazard smoke causing my grandchildren to cough and nauseated, along with my wife and me. They will not cover to repair this.I am seeking help on this matter.also there is a bad short somewhere causing a the battery to drain which may cause a fire....... not sure of what this is. I have contacted state representative [xxx] the congressman. Please contact me a.S.a.P if any more details needed. My wife uses this for work and I am very concern on the fire which may occur I am an auto mechanic for 40 + years and I know there is a server problem of a defect in this vech. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated the driver side door caught fire. The contact was driving 25 mph when the door started to smoke. The contact stopped the vehicle and poured a bottle of water in the door to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated the door needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 56,390. Updated 03/06/12
Started vehicle, went to lower drivers side window and it would not go down. Master window controls as well as outside mirror controls and remote keyless locking/unlocking of drivers door were no longer functional. Researched the most likely problem and discovered many other owners experiencing trouble with the "drivers door module". I pulled mine out of the door and discovered the module was melted and burned and it was severe enough to leave burn marks on the insulation inside the door. The entire switch burned out and appeared to melt/smolder inside the door. Not sure if this happened the instant the switch was activated or if it happened sometime else while parked. Called the dealer and they acknowledged that "they replace these all the time" and were happy to sell me one to for over $500 installed/programmed. I declined because I could not get a satisfactory answer as to why a fuse didn't stop this from occurring and causing such an expensive piece of electronic equipment to catch fire inside my garage. Upon reading of an investigation by the nhtsb tonight, I feel compelled to let you know this is a dangerous situation that needs immediate fixing. By the dealers own admission these are replaced frequently. GM didn't acknowledge the fuel sending unit issue until after many people were inconvenienced or injured and it appears they are doing the same with this situation. Beyone the obvious fact that this is a faulty part, please initiate a recall on this before it catches someones home on fire while parked in the garage.
- Baldwinsville, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
While driving my 2006 Chevy Trailblazer I noticed the strong smell of an electric fire. Almost immediately after noticing the smell smoke began to come out of the door panel on the drivers side. By the time we were able to pull off the road onto a side street (about 30 seconds) the smell and smoke had increased considerably. We had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and we were told the drivers side window switch went bad and caught fire. We had to have the electrical replaced on the entire driver's side of the vehicle. I noticed that this same issue has been reported by others for Chevy Trailblazer's of the same model year and would request this issue continue to be investigated in the event a recall is necessary. Updated 6/26/12
2006 Trailblazer 4WD. The driver's side window become erratic during operation at first. Then entire electrical system was affected over next day or two, including making door locks operate on their own, heard electrical crackling sounds in door and dashboard. Smelled electrical fire fumes slightly once. Engine warning light came on, followed by light warning that stabilatrak had issues. Took it into Chevrolet dealership (harbor, 9911 w 300 N, Michigan city, in. Phone (219) 210-4266.) after the service department investigated, they reported that the issue was a burned out drivers door module that had obvious charring on it. The service tech noted on invoice sheet that he found the engine light was indicating a P0171 diagnostic issue which he traced to the "failed/shorted" driver door module. The solution was to replace the module and program the new module. The next day after getting back the vehicle, the engine warning light came on again. A check by me using my obd unit shows that once again the P0107 is the issue. I have also again heard crackling in the door, but no electrical issues seen thus far. Will be heading back to dealership first chance that I get. Cost of the unit replacement was $524.62.
I smelled something burning and tried to roll my window down with no success. I have a friend who is a mechanic, remove the master switch from the door. There burn marks and melting on the plastic outside components. I am fearful that this could have caught fire and me or someone in my family would become seriously injured or worse. And who is to say that is would not do it again if the piece was only replaced. I feel this should be seriously looked at by Chevrolet before something tragic happens.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel gauge would fail intermittently. In addition, the check engine light would illuminate sporadically. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 94,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While driving down the road the headlights will start flickering the traction control lights will come on it the dash and all of the buttons on the drivers door will stop working and the rear heater will only work when it wants too the power light on the rear heater will not even come on then your driving along and it will light up and start working the only way to get the buttons on the door to work again and the lights in the dash to go off is to pull over and shut the truck off and then restart it up again but you may be doing this again with in the hour if still driving and if you don't look for those lights on in the dash you could be in trouble cause if they stay on long enough you will go to stop and the brake paddle will go to the floor and you won't stop but if you quickly hit the brake again it stops the truck is extremely dangerous to drive anymore it scares me every time I get in it I think there should be a recall on these trucks from what I have seen online alot of people are having the same problems and if I hit someone because of this thing I will sue GM for making junk.
All repairs done within 20,000 of use (purchased used at 50,000 currently have 70,000) back windshield water pump does not work brake lights/left signal light are not working correctly, back up lights illuminate when braking left front driver side tie metal rods visible due to suspension errors causing too much wear on tire service stability track error check engine light on bottom of car is rusting out ABS failed on ice car runs rough left outer tie rod end replaced front/rear alignment done front brakes replaced rear brakes replace left front wheel barring replaced left rear brake caliber replaced driver master switch replaced windshield washer pump replaced fuel level sensor replaced left outer tie rod replaced (second time) front end alignment ignition switch replaced water pump replaced solenoid replaced front hub R/F replaced front disc brake pads replaced brake rotor replaced rear disc brake pad replaced rear brake rotor replaced gas cap replaced tail light assembly L/R. battery replaced.
The gas gauge on my 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer began to show an empty tank when I filled up, after driving about 50 miles the gauge would properly show the amount of gas I had in the tank until the next fill up. The problem has gotten worse and I have read that other Trailblazer owners are having the same problem. The defect seems to be common, expensive to repair, and should be the responsibility of Chevrolet.
Fuel sending unit began sending intermittent false readings, resulting in running out of gas mid-intersection, while on freeways where the loss of speed might result in an obstruction of traffic, in mid-acceleration where the loss of acceleration might result in an immediate danger to the occupants and surrounding vehicles, or while driving while gauge indicator indicated the availability of fuel within the system to perform combustion.
After changing the vehicle's battery, the fuel system, air system and 4X4 system have all failed. GMC is aware of my issue and hundreds of others. They refuse to fix this known issue, this vehicle is very dangerous to drive.
My fuel indicator has all sorts of mis-readings. Examples: Reads empty with low fuel light on when just filled, begins to read somewhere near 3/4 at a mileage point, (50), that it usually reads full. Very annoying and distracting to driver. Distracts the drivers attention to driving. Dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The 2006 Trailblazer had issues with the 2-wheel drive/4-wheel drive actuator and sensor. I had the sensor replace under warranty because the indicator light on the actuator handle was in a different range than what the knob indicated. After replacement, the truck indicator light would occasionally change while driving. There were no warning lights indicating that there was an issue with the power train system. The transfer case eventually burned up due to continuous switching between high and low hears while driving. The truck lost power while driving at 65 miles an hour in mountainous and snowy conditions. The transfer case, and sensor and actuator were all paid my the car owner.
While driving our gas gauge went down to empty even though we had a full tank. This posed a safety hazard as we were then unable to determine how much gas we actually had. It seems the fuel gauge is faulty. This could lead to running out of gas while driving causing a potential accident.
Fuel gauge began to show incorrect and erratic levels. It now shows that the tank is alway empty and puts on the service engine soon light every time I fill the tank all the way up. I have been told by the dealer that is needs a new fuel level sending unit at a cost of nearly $600.
There was a burning smell in the car and then the high setting on the air fan speed stopped working. Then about a month later the second to highest speed stopped working also. I opened my glove when my wife was driving and then the highest setting started working again, then stopped working a few minutes later. I looked in the dash behind the glove box and found that there was a connector for the fan motor controller was heating up and started melting. I checked the connection and inside the connector was burnt and blackened. I contacted General Motors about my 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. They setup an appointment at the nearest Chevrolet dealer and had it checked. They found that the fan motor connector was bad and that the fan motor controller was bad also, they contacted General Motors and told them it wasn't a defect and it was not a safety hazard. I cannot believe that the connector almost catching fire is not a fire hazard or a defect. They wanted to replace the connector and the motor controller. I denied the service because they wanted to charge me $365 to do so. When I found the parts elsewhere for $75 and im going to do the repairs myself. I have pictures of the burnt connector and fan motor controller. I will be repairing the issue once the parts are delivered. I am also experiencing the fuel level problem also, the fuel gauge says its empty when I fill it up.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer ls. The contact stated that while rolling down the front drivers side window, smoke began to rise from the door panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the control module in the front drivers side door melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The contact also stated that the fuel gauge would display improper readings after refueling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the fuel sending unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 93,600.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Milwaukee , WI, USA