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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:
3 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 11
Average Mileage:
53,851 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 2 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #414

May 042012

Trailblazer

  • 88,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was defective and would read empty when the fuel tank was full. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 88,000.

- Conway , MO, USA

problem #413

Aug 212008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Fuel gauge suddenly became inaccurate. Reads empty and chimes empty even when full. Since it happens intermittently, it has caused me to run out of gas more than once in past three years. Received blanket offer from manufacturer to cover half of the expense, so they know it is an issue, but should be a total recall for safety.

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

problem #412

Nov 012011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
Everytime I would fill up the car, it would go to E with the light on and now it stays on empty. Can't tell how much ga is in it. It should be a Chevrolet recall since it is happening to a lot of Chevrolet owns.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #411

Jan 052012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 102,000 miles

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

Fuel gauge reads empty and check engine light illuminates after fill up. Usually returns to normal in a few days.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #410

Mar 192012

Trailblazer

  • miles
My gas gauge went bad and at first I was not aware and my car just lost power in the middle of the highway. Now its going to cost me $500 to fix and GM doesn't want to take care of this step up to the plate this is nuts!!!! I have read multiple websites and I agree with every angry and upset customer if it a default then it should be fixed by the company. Very poor customer service.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

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problem #409

Aug 232007

Trailblazer

  • miles
Window doesn't roll down or stay up. Gas gauge broke.. engine light and catalytic converter light stays on. Handle design on door came off. Engine went out due to a pistol loose.

- Silex, MO, USA

problem #408

Sep 012010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles

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

This vehicle had the fuel level sensor fail at 98,000 miles at this time I went in to get a replacement part only to find that one was not available so with no other option we drove it without a fuel level gauge then GM sent out a special option coverage letter stating that they would cover 50% of the parts and labor of the repair so I again looked into a replacement part and found that one was now available so I had the repair done. Only to find out that now GM is refusing to cover the repair because now the vehicle has 142000 miles on it after spending months of trying to get them to stand behind their product I had the BBB look into the issue and got no where so I had the states attorney general look into it and got no where now it is time for everyone to say enough and force GM to recall all 865,000 vehicles and do the right thing already. I really don't care if this will bankrupt their company that is the risk that they take when they put defective parts into the market and then don't do the right thing and replace them at their own cost not pass the cost onto their customers as they are trying to do.

- Thompsonville, MI, USA

problem #407

Dec 222011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
After taking my vehicle in for yearly inspection my mechanic informed me that the alternator bearings are bad and that it needs immediate repair. I was informed that this is serious because the vehicle may give me problems at any time without warning. This is extremely unsettling to me because I have to have a vehicle I can depend on to drive my husband to an out of town hospital at any given moment, and drive on an extremely busy highway.(the schuykill expressway) my mechanic stated that this is very unusual because the vehicle had less than 30,000 miles and this doesn't usually till at least 100,000 miles. Another problem is the gas gauge has not worked for two years, again this is unsettling because of driving out of town at any time of day or night on a busy highway. General Motors said they would pay half of the repair but why must I pay anything when it is apparent that the part they used was faulty.

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

problem #406

Mar 142012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 58,400 miles
I just purchased a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer approximately a month ago. I have noticed that my fuel gauge tends to go ballistic when it wants and where it wants. It's like my truck can not decide if there is gas in the tank or not. I find this to be a major safety hazard. All I can find online is GM is offering to pay half on selected models as long as they meet requirements. Ok the government bailed GM out, how come they can't be forced to correct the problem that their shoddy parts created"!?!? from what I've found, this is a very wide range problem. Considering I just purchased this vehicle, I don't have the money to even pay half for the repair.....so what, I'm just stuck like chuck" at least Ford fixes their screw ups!

- Edgewood, TX, USA

problem #405

Mar 072012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
As many of the other complaints my 2006 Trailblazer is having a fuel tank sending unit problem, the fuel gauge will read empty then shoot up to half full, I was told that the repair will cost approx 600. To $700 which I can't afford. I don't believe it's time to force GM to step up to the plate and issue a recall seeing that so many others are having the same problem.

- West Long Branch, NJ, USA

problem #404

Mar 132012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

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

My gas gauge reads empty after I fill up with gasoline.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #403

May 032010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
After filling up my gas tank, we headed down the road. A dinging started so I looked down to see that my gas gauge was reading E. after researching this vehicle I found out that if I set my trip to not go over 200 miles before filling the gas tank, due to the gauge always reads E. after a while my check engine light came on. I went to auto zone and had them hook it up to find out that it was the sending unit that was reading bad. We have E-check in our state. My vehicle failed because my check engine light was on. I now have to spend at least $300 to get this fixed so that my vehicle will pass E-check so that I can get the tags that I need to drive the vehicle. This has been a big issue and disappointment for us.

- Clinton, OH, USA

problem #402

Feb 212012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 51,096 miles
Fuel gauge reads empty and low fuel light illuminated after filling gas tank, fuel gauge rises and falls intermittently.

- Kearny, NJ, USA

problem #401

Feb 012012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
I have several times now been driving with 1/4 tank of gas and run out of fuel. Now today I fill the tank and the gas gauge reads empty with the light on. I just put in 22 gallons so I know it is not empty. I have heard of this problem many times online and there needs to be a recall, this occurs through no fault of owner.

- Brookfield, MA, USA

problem #400

Feb 012010

Trailblazer

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that after refueling, the fuel gauge provided an erroneous empty reading. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 62,500.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #399

Feb 102009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
Drivers door control panel burned causing failure of door locks, windows, etc. Gas gauge continually showed incorrect amounts of fuel causing running out of fuel. Replaced the part and it happened again.Chevrolet took no blame.recently Chevy notified all owners that there is a problem that they will fix up to 1/2 of the actual cost.(my share will be $218 for their mistake) back tail lights have blown out over and over again since purchase. Finally replaced entire units on my own andit continued to happen. Contacted Chevrolet dealer and Chevy customer service.went to dealer and had the taillights repaired but Chevy again took no responsibility but kindly sent me a$1000 voucher for use on a new purchase of a Chevrolet.the dealer repair cost was apprx.$680. Still own the vehicle and will have make fuel gauge repair.

- Watertown, CT, USA

problem #398

Jan 312011

Trailblazer

  • miles
My Trailblazer has experienced the same problem as some other ones that I have read on here. My gas gauge quit completely, at first it would read full then go down and now it stays on empty with the light on. If there are so many Trailblazers having this problem why isn't there a recall and why isn't Chevrolet fixing this instead of putting it on the consumer to do it. I have ran out of gas on the highway and had to pull over and was lucky that I could maneuver it over to the side of the road. What are they waiting on for some people to get killed before they do anything about it? when it dies nothing works and you are stuck where it dies. This is a serious problem which needs to be addressed by Chevrolet and they need to fix the problem, they shouldn't be putting faulty things on vehicles and not own up to it. They need to own up to the problem and fix it. Also I can't afford to have it fixed. I have been told by a mechanic that the fuel pump should be replaced not just the sensor.

- Gardner, KS, USA

problem #397

Jan 252012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
I filled up and the meter immediately pointed towards empty then the light came on. Reads empty 95% of the time. The needles will raise to the 1/4 line and drop within seconds.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #396

Oct 102011

Trailblazer

  • 60,200 miles
Gas gauge just stopped working all of the sudden. Even after I fill the tank all the way up, the gas gauge is unresponsive. It reads as empty and the warning sign/beeps continue throughout my drive. I haven't called Chevy yet because I wanted to look online to see the estimated cost and possible causes. Much to my surprise, there are about a million other Chevy customers with the same issue. Is there a reason a recall hasn't been issued yet" I read Chevy doesn't consider this a "safety" issue therefore no recall has been extended. Are you kidding me" I would think your car dying in the middle of the desert and being stranded in the middle of nowhere would be a safety issue. Or your car dying on the highway at 75mph..again pretty serious situation. How about if I'm driving through an intersection and my car dies because I have no clue how much gas I have. Then I get T-boned and am at best in critical condition at the hospital. Am I the only one that thinks this is a very serious issue and needs to be recalled because it is in fact a safety issue. Is it not considered a safety issue until we have reported deaths because of it. I'm about to deploy to afghanistan and will unfortunately be leaving this issue for my wife to deal with. I pray that nothing happens to her or my 3 year old daughter because someone wasn't man enough to admit they were at fault and issue a recall to fix a problem so many consumers are having. I will never buy another vehicle from Chevrolet or GM for that. So disappointed.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #395

Jan 282012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Fuel gauge warning light did not come on and fuel gauge remained on empty even after filling the gas tank up. I now have to guess as to my fuel amount and fill up every 300 miles to be safe so as to not run out of gas with my 6 month old son in the car. The cost estimate for replacing this component is over $800 which I do not have. I believe that with so few miles and such a common complaint, GM should issue a recall so no one runs out of gas on the interstate and gets rear ended.

- Twentynine Palms, CA, USA

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