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.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at approximately 11:30 a.M. while my husband and I were driving on the West side of the standing rock sioux reservation my 2006 Trailblazer ext caught on fire. We both smelled smoke, parked (didn't turn off the ignition) and flames began to shoot out from underneath the front driver's side of the vehicle. We got out and ran to the West side of the roadway as the fire engulfed the entire front motor area. My purse was still in the burning vehicle and I told my husband he ran back to the burning vehicle to retrieve it. He sustained burns to his hands, face, legs and feet. In addition he received smoke inhalation to a degree of a "black out" stage. We witnessed the tires burn up one after another, beginning with the front driver's side, then the passenger side, the rear driver's and the passenger's side - at this point we moved further away from the burning vehicle as we expected the car to explode once it reached the gas tank area, but somehow the gas tank didn't explode. In fact, the spare tire which sits underneath the gas tank received a slight singe and did not burn (along with the gas tank). The only warning we had was the "smell of smoke" - the Trailblazer's dash warning light did not appear to indicate anything was wrong. In addition, on or about October 25, 2014, another Trailblazer (same area) also burnt up (as reported by bureau of land management).
We own a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer with 86492 miles on it. Yesterday after filling the vehicle to a full tank of gas. The fuel gauge would drop to empty and the empty tank light will come on.
I was driving approximately 40 mph and all of a sudden I lost power in the vehicle. I had no acceleration, I lose power steering. Vehicle was still powered on but I could not pick up speed or steer vehicle. I had to pull over to the shoulder and cut off ignition then restart vehicle. Once restarted I had full functionality again. This has happened 4 times in the last 30 days. Vehicle has also started stalling when attempt to start up.
My door module went bad. The part has a recall, the manufacture doesn't have a fix. The manufacture wants me to pay for another defective part. Then reimburse me when they have the fix. I couldn't make sense of this since the part is under recall just swap it out for another defective part. When ever they have a fix let me know I will take my vehicle. Why pay for something that has a recall. If your going to reimburse me anyway! I will like to keep my 500+ and not wait for GM to pay me back. Plus they want to pay a diagnostic fee when I told them what the problem is.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet trail Blazer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V404000 (electrical). However, the part for repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience the failure.
- Freemont, NE, USA
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The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V404000 (electrical). However, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the delay. The vehicle had not exhibited the failure.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the electric power panel on the drivers side door was overheating. The contact was included in recall NHTSA campaign id number: 12V406000 (electrical system, visibility). In addition, the contact indicated that the front passengers seat seatbelt was not retracting. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.
I was driving down the road and all power went out and steering locked up with no brakes. The car shut off and wouldn't start. I had the car towed and they ran a test on it and replaced the ignition switch. I have the receipt showing I had it repaired.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the electrical system on the driver side door failed. As a result, the window could not be opened and the exterior mirror could not be adjusted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the power window switch became inoperable once the key was inserted in the ignition. The problem recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
I was driving to work and all of sudden I had no gas peddle and my SUV came to a stop. I had it towed to a shop and was told my ignition switch went. I called GM today was told my SUV wasn't part on the recall but they have been getting calls about Trailblazers and could be in the future. Something needs to be done about not doing a complete list right up front.
2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Consumer writes in regards to problems with dealership management not getting key lock ignition fixed. The consumer stated a month after purchasing the vehicle, she began having problems with the key lock in the ignition. The truck would not crank, the windows would not roll up or down, the radio did not work and the entire dashboard shut down. She had an accident on Jan 13, 2012 and the air bags did not deploy. On June 21, 2014, the vehicle shut down and she had to leave the vehicle, for five days, before she could have it towed to the dealer.
While driving down the interstate the low beam headlights shut off. We pulled over as it was nighttime and turned on the high beams. A few minutes later we were able to use the low beams again. This has happened repeatedly since then. Just once in awhile until recently. Just last night, July 09, 2014; they turned off at least eight times going to and from church which is about 7 miles from my home. This is a very dangerous and scary thing to happen. We mentioned it to the dealership awhile back and they said unless it was happening right at this moment they wouldn't be able to find out the problem. I love my vehicle, except for the electrical issues (lights, wipers, stereo, etc.). please help!
My husband and I were traveling home from a weekend out of state. We were coming into Chicago traveling towards Wisconsin where we live. Just before the first toll booth on I80/I94 traveling at highway speeds, we hit a slight bump in the road and lost all power to the car. We managed to coast the car over from the far left lane of a 5 lane highway to the right shoulder of the road out of harms way. The car was towed to a Firestone dealership on a Sunday afternoon; we were told after a systems analysis was completed that the car would have to be towed to a GM dealership. The closest was in homewood, il. After GM fixed the car, I asked what would cause something like this to happen. I was told by the dealership, it is something that just happens. Knowing the gravity of what could have happened, this is very upsetting. I really believe the Trailblazer should be also noted on the GM recall of autos before another family has to experience what mine did or worse. Thank you
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the front driver side power window and door lock failed to operate intermittently. In addition, the radio remained operable even though the engine was turned off. The vehicle had not been diagnosed ore repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Once the vehicle is parked the key will not turn off the run position, resulting in the vehicle not turning off completely and the key can not be released. Ignition switch will not operate correctly. Sometimes after letting the vehicle sit for awhile the key will then be allowed to turn off and release. Possible faulty ignition switch??
Driving down interstate 79 in Pennsylvania at normal speed when my airbag light lit up and my air bag disengaged flashed, followed by more lights on the dash going on, and tracking disengaged flashed, then engine light came on, engine failure flashed as I started moving toward the right hand lane in heavy traffic. Just as I made it to the right lane my power cut out and I was going 20 - 25 mph in two seconds flat. I swerved to the berm of the road as the four wheeler semi truck that was behind me nearly clobbered me. I inched on the berm at 20 mph to the bridgeville exit and got to the colussy Chevrolet dealer where my car stopped dead in the service dept. First, they thought battery, but the battery was fine. It was ignition switch failure which caused my air bags to disengage and my losing power. I was lucky I wasn't killed!! the cost of repairs was $337 but I was told that my 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer was not on the GM recall list, even though I had the exact things go wrong with the vehicles on the ignition switch recall list. And they repaired it the same way, with no guarantee that this wouldn't happen again!!! this is not a "vehicle" recall, it is a "parts" recall and my vehicle had to have the ignition switch replaced. I called the GM ignition switch recall hotline and they escalated my case up and up and everyone said the same thing....they are sorry for my distress, my inconvenience but my vehicle is not on the recall list so they cannot replace the cost to repair my vehicle. Perhaps if the semi truck that was behind me killed me, they might acknowledge my safety concerns for the ignition switch (part) and not my vehicle!!!
I washed my vehicle and the next day when I went to use it the drivers side door window panel wouldn't work. I had noticed a funny smell a few times before this but was unable to determine the cause. I tried intermittently to use the panel to open the windows or lock or unlock the doors to no avail. Two days later when I was on my way home all 4 windows started opening and closing all by themselves. One would go up and the other would go down. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. The only thing I knew was that I had washed the vehicle. Of course the windows were up and in checking I couldn't see where any water could get inside the vehicle. I was told it was a known problem and I would need a new switch at the cost of almost $300 for the door panel switch. This would not include labor costs to make it work on my vehicle. I couldn't believe just washing my vehicle could cause such a problem so I decided to go online to see if others had the same problem. I found that there is apparently a recall. I will contact the 800 number and see what recourse I have in getting my panel replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Hall, ID, USA