Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext problems

Owners filed 1,313 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext with NHTSA between Mar 2006 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (541).

Complaints
1,313
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
31
Reported by owners
Fires
63
Reported by owners
Injuries
44
People reported injured
Deaths
14
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel system, gasoline541
  2. Electrical system297
  3. Fuel system, other136
  4. Exterior lighting127
  5. Fuel/propulsion system82
  6. Visibility60
  7. Power train56
  8. Visibility/wiper53
  9. Engine47
  10. Structure36
  11. Air bags35
  12. Engine and engine cooling29
  13. Steering28
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)26

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20066
200718
200849
2009120
2010205
2011319
2012194
201364
201489
2015106
201651
201725
201818
201919
202010
20216
20227
20234
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel system, gasoline

541 reports3 crashes6 fires
“AFTER I FILLED THE FUEL TANK IN MY CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN RESETTING MY TRIP METER WHEN EVER I FUEL UP,BUT MY HUSBAND FORGOT TO AFTER FILLING UP AND RAN OUT OF FUEL WHEN HE WASN'T SURE OF HOW MUCH GAS THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY HAD. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AFTER I FOUND THAT THE NHTSA HAD A DEFECT INVESTIGATION ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE REPLACED IF THE VEHICLE WAS 120,000 MILES OR UNDER AND UNTIL AUGUST 2015.NOW I HAVE 122,000 MILES I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART MYSELF? THE PROBLEM AND DANGER OF ENGINE STALL STILL EXISTS DUE TO LOW FUEL LEVELS NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE IS.THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE DID NOT INFORM US THAT WE HAD TO DISPOSE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER 120,000 MILES BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE UNSAFE AND NO WARRANTY TO REPAIR A DANGEROUS RECALL.I FEEL THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR NO MATTER WHAT THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS BECAUSE THE DANGERS STILL EXIST.I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THIS AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10668757

Electrical system

297 reports2 crashes41 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V248000 (Electrical System, Visibility). The contact stated that on several occasions while the vehicle was running or while driving at various speeds, the passenger's window switch was depressed from the driver's side door panel, and there was a clicking sound coming from the front passenger’s side of the vehicle, and the window failed to roll up or roll down. Additionally, the contact stated that on several occasions, when the driver's side window switch was depressed, the window failed to roll up or roll down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2024Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11613711

Fuel system, other

136 reports
“ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER LT MY GAS GAUGE SHOWS I HAVE AN EMPTY TANK OF GAS AT ALL TIMES EVEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS FOUR TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO RESTART. IN BOTH OF THIS INSTANCES I HAD TO WALK ON THE HIGHWAY AND OFF AN EXIT TO FILL UP A GAS TANK AND THEN WALK BACK, ONE TIME BEING AT 02:00 AM. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING I COULD BE HIT BY A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY OR STALL WHERE A BREAKDOWN LANE IS UNAVAILABLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TANK WILL NEVER READ ANYTHING ELSE THEN EMPTY WITH THE GAS LIGHT ON AS WELL. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2014Fuel system, other, EquipmentODI 10598367

Exterior lighting

127 reports4 fires1 related recall
“The headlamps have quit working when driving at night but will come back on later. This has happened several times. I found GM recall number 14291 that is supposed to include 2006 Chevy Trailblazers and pertains to this problem. The local dealership told us that our vehicle has a vin number that is not covered. It would seem that all model 2006 Chevy Trailblazers would use the same HDM modules in them when they were built. Is ours covered?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2023Exterior lightingODI 11546344

Fuel/propulsion system

82 reports2 crashes2 fires
“Driving vehicle turn it off turn back on drive somewhere and turn it off and go swimming for an hour came back go to go start it and would not start I believe it's the anti-theft system as we replaced the ignition switch and the ignition cylinder but my illumination selector for my gear selector nor my tachometer works nor do my front two windows or locks”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2022Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11465236

Visibility

60 reports10 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SPRAYED UNCONTROLLABLY AT MAXIMUM PRESSURE. EVEN THOUGH THE SPRAYER ACTIVATED UNCONTROLLABLY, THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED PROGRESSIVE CHEVROLET AT 330-879-3697 (LOCATED AT 8000 HILLS AND DALES RD NW, MASSILLON, OH 44646) AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2018Visibility, EngineODI 11112562
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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