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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.

2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,889 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.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments

problem #16

Jun 112021

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

.+Electrical system. Have read this speedometer issue can also cause other malfunctions on instrument panel such as cruise control issues..+Driving a car with a broken or faulty speedometer is very dangerous. Not only can it put you in danger, but it can also jeopardize the safety of your passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians on the road. As for the law, you can also be ticketed for operating a vehicle with a broken speedometer, which can cost you fines and court fees, and even risk suspending your drivers-?? license..+My mechanic has not had the chance to look at it yet as he isn't open till Monday..+No other warnings were given prior to failure.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #15

Oct 302020

Trailblazer

  • 123,826 miles
When driving you can only go up to 30 miles an hour, and rpms go very high and vehicle does not go anywhere.

- Auburn, MI, USA

problem #14

Feb 162017

Trailblazer

  • 167,200 miles
Vehicle was serviced for a faulty fuel level float sensor, which was registering that there was no fuel in the gas tank when the tank was full. 7 days later, while driving on a busy freeway, all of the gauges on the gauge cluster started spinning out of control and the vehicle lost complete power while driving 65 mph. I had to merege across 4 lanes on the freeway in heavy traffic and nearly got run over. No power to the engine at all - it just died while I was driving. Of course, onstar and the Chevrolet dealer that performed all of the service on the vehicle were no help. While waiting for onstar, my vehicle was towed off the freeway.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #13

Jun 092016

Trailblazer

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning. The contact was able to slow the vehicle down by depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Abington, MA, USA

problem #12

Aug 032015

Trailblazer

  • miles
When I make left or right turns the truck shuts off all the gauges read as normal except for the RPM's I loose power stearing and cannot exelerate it does not happen at an spacific time or place it is just random so I do not know when it may do this some days nothing happens other days it happens 2-4 times and it is a bit scarey when you are making a left turn especial I am not sure what this is or what is causing it but this I have had the battery and the alternater checked and other components checked out but they could not find anything and of course while the dealer had it did not do it so I am not sure but this is deffentley something that needs to be looked into like I say when I make turns I lose power, loose my stearing and the ablity to accelerate and all gauges read normal except the RPM's they are the only one that go down to zero

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #11

Oct 302014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 163,863 miles
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.

- Brandywine, MD, USA

problem #10

May 232014

Trailblazer 4WD 8-cyl

  • 38,200 miles

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

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!!!

- Bridgeville, PA, USA

problem #9

Jan 012014

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
I was driving down the highway when the check engine and low power lights came on. I lost all acceleration and my RPM's dropped to nothing. Codes that came up were for the throttle body. I read a complaint that states GM knows about this issue. Why haven't they done anything about this?

- Kimberly, WI, USA

problem #8

Nov 092013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
This SUV is nothing short of a rolling hazard. The "check engine" light is on and off, again, for the past 6 days. Tried to start it up this morning and the engine light was on. As soon as I was about to back out of the driveway, the vehicle started to idle in a manner that caused the rpms to crank way up and then plunge until almost shutting the engine down with violent shaking and loud roaring noise. Yesterday, the stabilitrak warnings (2) came on the dashboard - I was only going 3 mph exiting a parking lot. There was no inclement weather and the road was bone dry. I haven't been able to pick up power and it seems like the more I press on the gas pedal, the slower I go. I live in houston and the traffic conditions really don't allow for a "sudden stop" or loss of power on a freeway where people are traveling at an average speed of 70 mph. I have had 4 other instances of this "check engine" light in 3 yrs. The dealer isn't much help and GM Chevy is no help at all!!!! the tv commercials they run about Chevy trucks are "like a rock" are very true. This Trailblazer is as useless as a rock.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Aug 132013

Trailblazer

  • 47,000 miles
This is the second time this has happened - what happens is I will be driving ( speed once at 35 once at 60 ) and my Trailblazer just shuts down. Instantly. You have no power to get over to the side of the road. P0601 code - this is what shows on my mechanics system. However, when you research that code online. Some folks have spent thousands trying to stop this issue and no resolve. This is highly dangerous - you go from 60 to nothing. My TB has less than 50K on it.

- Spokane , WA, USA

problem #6

May 112013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 121,000 miles

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

My son and I were out today shopping locally only about 1 mile from our home. The car was fine and everything was great until all of a sudden, the acceleration on the car started to decline even though I had my foot on the gas the car just seemed to do nothing. I was in the middle lane and traffic was vicious, I turned on my hazards and attempted to try and push on the gas. I car came to a stop but the engine was still running, it felt like I was in neutral but I was clearly in drive. I contacted onstar they called the police to make sure we did not get in an accident, as I stated earlier, we were in traffic. I received a push to a safe side of the street and tried to restart the car over and over again, the car started up fine, it just would not go anywhere, no movement. I had to get it towed to my home because it was 110 degrees and I had my youngest child with me. We waited 2 hours for the tow truck, I was dehydrated and faint by the time we made it home. My husband contacted the dealership as we just purchased the car in February of 2013 from ezcarsandcredit in riverside ca, they said don't worry about it, they will have the manager call us back to take care of the problem, that was 4 hours ago and still no call.

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #5

Nov 142012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact was accelerating from a stop sign at approximately 25 mph when the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle accelerated rapidly and the contact was unable to control the vehicle. The contact tried applying the brakes but the vehicle would not stop. The contact then suddenly powered the vehicle off, causing the wheels to seize as the engine rpms continued to increase rapidly. The vehicle was restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 90,000. Updated 04/30/13

- Agusta, ME, USA

problem #4

Jan 152011

Trailblazer

  • 38,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 25 mph and going up a hill, the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated the failure occurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the throttle body assembly needed to be replaced. The part for repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #3

Oct 252010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 36,400 miles
In a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer, the gas pedal sometimes does not work, concerned about pedal not working in an intersection or anywhere. Took in for repair and was told computer has no report of it happening. Don't know what is causing it and don't know how to fix. Have heard several same situations but no fixes. Very concerned for safety and my life and others.

- Hunlock Creek, PA, USA

problem #2

Dec 222009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 48,730 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While the contact was driving 10 mph he attempted to pass the vehicle in front of him reaching 40 to 50 mph and noticed that the accelerator pedal had become stuck to the floor and the brakes would not stop the vehicle. After several attempts at slowing the vehicle by using both the brakes and the hand brake, the consumer activated the emergency lights, switched the transmission into neutral and continued to use both the brakes and hand brake, bringing the vehicle to a stop. After stopping the vehicle and turning off the engine, the consumer had to physically pull the accelerator pedal off the floor with his hand. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they replaced the throttle body. The current and failure mileages were 48730. Updated 3/8/10 updated 05/13/10.

- White Lake, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 152007

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The front passenger seat track cover was loose. In addition, the transmission would slip and the engine made a hissing sound while driving between 45-50 mph. The vehicle would drive in reverse and then shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times. When the contact removed his foot from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would stop and not move again until it reached 5-8 mph (stabilizing track). The master cylinder also failed. When making a left or right turn, the power steering would make a loud screeching sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer six times. The dealer confirmed the failures. The current mileage was 49,000 and failure mileage was 13,000.

- Park Forest, IL, USA

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