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:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,883 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.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the fuel gauge light illuminated on the instrument panel and a warning alarm began to sound, notifying the contact that the fuel tank was empty. The contact also stated fuel had been recently added to the vehicle and the fuel tank was not empty. The fuel gauge reading would fluctuate from empty to full while driving at any speed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: DP10001 (fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system), that may be related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000. Updated 8/29/11 updated 09/20/11
2007 Trailblazer fuel gauge reads empty even after fueling. Research shows it is a prevalent failure in this model. Monitoring the odometer is the only way to estimate remaining fuel. It can be dangerous not knowing correct amount of fuel remaining.
2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel gauge drops to "empty" and indicator light comes on. Happens when actual fuel level reaches approximately half a tank of gas.
Fuel gauge fluxuates you never know how much you have it will show you have a full tank it may be half or empty, it might show empty and will float any part of the gauge quarter or half full. This could cause a serious accident, at one time we thought we had a half tank of gas and ran out of gas on an interstate fortunately we pulled off side of road and walked to get gas we were out of gas. The only way to know you have gas is to keep a check with odometer reading. The low fuel light will come on and then miles left will coincide with the low full light but you may have gas in the vehicle. It is never consistent. I will stay at a certain reading for several minutes or so then you don't know which way it will go. There should be a recall on this vehicle. It has only 37,582 miles or so. We bought it off a friend when his wife passed away, he bought it new.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was defective and was providing inaccurate fuel level readings. The dealer diagnosed that the sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- New Orleans, LA, USA
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Turned on Trailblazer and fuel gauge showed empty with gas light on. This now occurs everytime we turn on the SUV and cannot tell how much gas is in the tank. We are currently having to reset our mileage every 275 miles to make sure we don't run out of gas.
Fuel gage sending unit shows that the tank is empty when it is full. It will work normally between 3/4 and 1/2 full and then drop to empty and sound warning chimes as if it is out of fuel. This is a huge annoyance and it is very common. I know 4 individuals that own trail Blazer and all of them have had or are having this same problem. When talking to the dealership about this problem they told me that it is the number one problem among Trailblazers.
2007 Chevrolet trail Blazer - fuel gauge does not give accurate readings. This recently started. Fuel gauge will indicate that the tank is empty / give warnings, and then only need 7 to 9 gallons to fill the tank. Tank capacity is like 16 gallons.
2007 Chevy Trailblazer fuel gauge no longer works and constantly reads "empty." The Trailblazer is my wife's sole transportation and puts risk to both her and my 3 year old daughter. In the instance that she runs out of gas due to her inability to know how much gas she has she is at risk of being stranded with my 3 year old daughter in the 100 degree Texas heat. Additionally, the risk of her being stranded away from home or on a highway puts her life in danger. The failure of the gas gauge and fuel detection unit occurred in January of 2011 and has not operated properly since. To fix the problem will cost $700. The fact that this is a known and common issue for these vehicles makes it obviously apparent that the fuel detection system is defective and the responsibility of Chevy. It is in the best interest of Chevy to issue a recall on the unit to maintain consumer loyalty to the Chevy brand. Otherwise, I am commiting to no longer purchase Chevy or GM vehicles.
The fuel gauge does not read the proper level. Even if I fill the tank the gauge reads empty. Previously when the tank would reach half full the gauge would read accurately. However; each time I filled up that level where the gauge would begin to work would decrease, and now it does not work at all. When there is approximately 1/8th of a tank left the gauge will read erratically, sometimes saying 1/4 full or empty. Also, this fuel level sensor has triggered the check engine light to register on the dash, when diagnosed by the dealer they told me it was the fuel level sensor triggering the code and not an issue with the truck emissions.
TL - the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet trail Blazer. The contact stated that the vehicle fuel gauge was defective. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who advised the contact to take the vehicle in to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000 and the current mileage was 75,000. Kmj
After filling my car up with gas, the fuel light began blinking and dinging with the gauge dropping to the empty level. I called a service center in victoria to inquire as to what they thought it could be and made an appointment to have it checked out. The center called me back telling me my warranty would not cover the visit and it would cost me approximately $140 just for them to look at it. I then made some calls to several auto parts stores to inquire the same and looked up online any recalls that may have been done in re to this issue. I cannot afford to get this fixed on my own. There is a smell of gas at times and it continues to fluctuate from empty to full, etc. I am a home health nurse and am on the road constantly. The car is also using more gas than usual and it is very difficult to determine how much I actually have in the tank. The smell of gas is nauseating and causes headaches. The idea of running out of gas in a secluded area is frightening. I don't even know where to start as far as parts because technicians have told me it could be multiple things I feel like gms should be responsible for fixing this defect before something tragic happens. After going on line I noticed numerous consumers withthe same complaints and no resolution. The engine also had been on.
My gas gauge used to jump all over and now just read empty. It is triggering the gas light and check engine light. I have run out of gas with my 1 year old pregnant on a hwy bridge where my sons grandmother had to push the car while a police officer followed to warn oncoming traffic. It was a scary ordeal and I don't understand why something like this is failing in a 3 year old vehicle.
My 2007 Chevy Trailblazer fuel indication (gauge) system intermittently stops working, it just started doing this 2 weeks ago. After filling up at a gas station and driving for approximately 30 minutes the fuel gauge goes to empty, and the low level fuel light illuminates, and remains this way so I have no idea how much fuel is in the vehicle. Occasionally when I start the vehicle in the morning it will momentarily give a fuel indication but I have no way of knowing if this is accurate, then the needle goes down to empty and the low level fuel light comes on within a few minutes. This is unacceptable. Everyday I get in the vehicle I have no idea how much fuel is in it, I keep an eye on how many miles I drive as a best guess as to how much fuel I have. If I run out of gas in heavy traffic in Washington DC then it will create traffic backups/hazards. I have had similar problems in my 96 Silverado, and 2001 Blazer, so this seems to be a problem that Chevy has known about for several years but refuses to fix it before someone gets injured or killed in an accident. Something needs to be done. My vehicle has not been repaired at this time.
This morning when I got in to my car I had a quarter tank of gas. After I had turned my car off and back on it show my tank was empty and the gas light was on. I filled up my tank and it still showed empty with the gas and check engine lights on now. I am now not able to tell how much gas I have in my car.
Fuel gauge incorrect readings resulting in several 'out of gas' situations. This has happened on busy express ways, remote rural areas, etc. Safety issues. Vehicle also has random warning lights that seem to come and go at will.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Yonkers, NY, USA