Problems · by component

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext air bags problems

50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext cite air bags, 4% of all 1,357 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
50
4% of all complaints
Crashes
45
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
66
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I was driving and a girl pulled out from a stop sign and hit my passenger side front of my trailblazer. Her airbags deployed immediately, meanwhile mine didn't deploy. My husband saved my face by throwing his arm over me!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11679602
“"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE POLICE REPORT AS A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT AS I WAS TOLD WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11196849
“THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START IT AND HE TURNED THE IGNITION KEY AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS EXPLODED ON BOTH SIDES. THE SALESMAN AT MCGRATH CHEVYLAND TOOK PHOTOS. THEY WERE TO GET AHOLD OF US THE EARLY PART OF THIS WEEK AND WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2016Air bagsODI 10934275
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SHOULDER, NECK, KNEE, AND ANKLE INJURIES. BOTH INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2016Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10863593
“I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO BAD WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS. LEAVING WORK DRIVING INTERSTATE I89 9STATE NORTHBOUND. CAME UPON BLACK ICE MY CAR FISHTAILED OUT OF CONTROL ; TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL BACK BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS HEADING TORDS A GUARD RAIL. I WAS ONLY DRIVING 50 TO 55MPH. BEYOND THE GUARD RAIL I DO NOT REMEMBER. I SUFFERED UPPERBODY AND HEAD INJURY AND MY FRONT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. OTHERS ARE TELLING ME AND MY HUSBAND TO LOOK INTO THIS AS MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAN YOU HELP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2016Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10823597
“ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55PM MY MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT ON BAUM RD LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE, FL. SHE WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER DETERMINED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CRASH REPORT, D1 (DRIVER ONE) WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON BAUM RD GOING THE NORMAL POSTED SPEED OF 55MPH, WHEN SHE VEERED TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE RD AND SUDDENLY TURNED RIGHT VEERING OF THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE RD AND STRIKING SEVERAL TREES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT END. D1 WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT AND MANAGED TO EXIT OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BEFORE COMING TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE RD. WHEN I WENT TO RETRIEVE MY MOTHERS THINGS FROM HER TRAILBLAZER, I NOTICED THAT NO AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. AND AS FAST AS MY MOM WAS GOING AND THE TYPE OF IMPACT & DAMAGE HER SUV SUSTAINED, I WOULD THINK AND HOPE THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY IN THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT, THUS PREVENTING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY MOM WAS NOT SO LUCKY, AND MYSELF AND MY FAMILY HAVE ENDURED GREAT PAIN FROM LOOSING HER SO SUDDENLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2015Air bags, Structure, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 10767586

Showing 6 of 50 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.