Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Owners filed 1,734 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (733).
Complaints
1,734
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
70
Reported by owners
Fires
27
Reported by owners
Injuries
71
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
35
53
69
122
184
353
388
114
87
122
68
39
34
29
12
9
3
6
1
1
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2006 | 53 |
| 2007 | 69 |
| 2008 | 122 |
| 2009 | 184 |
| 2010 | 353 |
| 2011 | 388 |
| 2012 | 114 |
| 2013 | 87 |
| 2014 | 122 |
| 2015 | 68 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 29 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
733 reports7 crashes12 fires
“FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. NOW, THEY ARE MOSTLY OFF WHICH MEANS I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT ANYMORE UNLESS I WANT TO BLIND PEOPLE OR GET STOPPED. I HAVE CHANGED HEADLAMPS, RELAYS AND FUSES TO NO AVAIL. NOW, I SEE THAT MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL SUV HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS YEAR MODEL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. IF YOU WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR ONE YEAR MODEL HAVING A PARTICULAR ISSUE, WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO THE SAME WITH ALL YEAR MODELS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE? COME ON CHEVROLET AND NHTSA, LET'S GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED TO SAVE SOME LIVES. IT IS VERY SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND A MAJOR PAIN TO HAVE TO BE SURE YOU ARE HOME BY DARK OR NOT BE ABLE TO GO OUT AFTER DARK BECAUSE YOUR HEADLAMPS ARE OR MAY STOP WORKING.”
Fuel system, gasoline
511 reports1 crash3 fires
“2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR FUEL LEVEL SENSOR RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SENSOR RECALL AND THE MANIFOLD REPAIRS, *JS”
Exterior lighting
157 reports2 fires
“MOST RECENT, I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT. NOTHING ELSE, JUST THE MAIN HEAD LIGHTS. ALL.OTJER LIGHTS STAY ON. HIGH BEAMS WORK, PARKING LIGHTS STAY ON. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!!”
Fuel system, other
112 reports
“I FILLED MY GAS TANK FULL AND IT THEN THE GAS LIGHT COMES ON. I AM HAVING TO KEEP TRACK OF MY MILES SO THAT I DON'T RUN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE THE FUEL NEEDLE KEEPS GOING UP AND DOWN, NOT READING ACCURATELY. NOW EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I PUT GAS IN THIS HAPPENS. VERY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WANT TO TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN AND YOU ARE NOT SURE WHEN YOU'LL SEE THE NEXT GAS STATION. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS? *JS *KB”
Fuel/propulsion system
109 reports1 crash1 fire
“MY 15 YR OLD DRIVER IN TRAINING,, was leaving town with myself and her father the engine just stopped running causing us to lose all movement of car had to coast to the side of highway { busy with semis} had to call tow truck to come get it ,, it wouldn't start after trying a few times . and also the seat belts lock tight and will not give when pulled on them leaving you strapped tight in the seat you have to unhook them to release them .. very uncomfortable when you traveling”
Vehicle speed control
87 reports3 crashes1 fire
“SPEEDOMETER FIRST SHOWED SPEED OF 60 WHEN SITTING STILL. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTING IT 3 TIMES AND THE SPEEDOMETER RESET. BUT A FEW DAYS LATER IT ONCE AGAIN STUCK AND I HAD JUST STARTED IT. THIS TIME AT 48 AT ALL TIMES WHETHER THE ENGINE IS ON OR OFF, IDLING OF TRAVELING. IT CONTINUES TO BE STUCK AT 48 AT ALL TIMES, NEVER DECREASING OR INCREASING.”
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.