Problems · by component

2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer power train problems

58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer cite power train, 3% of all 1,734 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
58
3% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT NO TURNS IN MY 05 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER GOING ABOUT 60MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOW CLICK SOUND AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE OR KEEP MY CURRENT SPEED IT WAS BEYOND UNSAFE SO I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ENGINE RUNNING STILL I PUT IT IN EVERY GEAR TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE IT DID NOT I TRIED R,D,3,2&1 GEARS AND THE TRUCK ONLY REV'D UP AND DID NOT MOVE .IT WAS NO SIGNS OF THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT OR GOING BAD IT STILL SHIFTED SMOOTH IT JUST WENT OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS I FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE CHEAPLY MADE .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2020Power trainODI 11340524
“OUR VEHICLE DIED AT A TURN SIGNAL LIGHT IN A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. NO WARNING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS RUNNING NORMAL. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NO START. POLICE FORCE A TOW OUT OF THE BUSY INTERSECTION RIGHT AWAY. IT STARTS UP AT THE MECHANICS. THEY TESTED FUEL FILTER AND OTHER STUFF. WE GET ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AND GET 6 MILES OUT AND NO WARNING WE DIE AND HAD TO PUSH THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER ON IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. SIT FOR 2 HOURS AND IT FIRES UP. SO WE FOUND SHADE AND WAITED FOR COOL DOWN. 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME AND IT TOOK US 9 HOURS TO GET HOME. WE DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND WHEN WE WERE DONE SHOPPING IT FIRED UP. WENT AROUND THE CORNER TO OTHER STORE AND SHOPPED 2 HOURS AND CAME OUT AND IT WOULD TURN AND NO START. TRIED STARTING EVERY 30 MINUTES TO HOUR FROM 9:30PM TO 1:40AM AND THEN IT FIRED RIGHT UP THEN DROVE 30 MINUTES TO HOME. AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING QUITE A FEW WITH SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WE FOUND THAT IT IS THE PWR/TRN RELAY PLUG IN AREA IN THE FUSE RELAY CENTER. WHEN WE BROKE THE PLASTIC OFF THE RELAY AND WRAPPED A RUBBER BAND AROUND IT SO IT'S CONSTANT CONTACT AND PLUG IT IN, IT WILL FIRE UP EVERY TIME. I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2018Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11119524
“WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM 45 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR MY WHOLE TRUCK VIBRATES AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS SEIZING BUT IF I ACCELERATE MORE OR REDUCE MY SPEED IT GOES AWAY. I WAS RESEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND OUT I WASNT THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. I WAS JUST THINKING OF EVERYONE'S SAFETY INCLUDING MY OWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2017Power trainODI 10983428
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEARSHIFT IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY INCREASE ONE GRAM RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FORWARD GEAR WAS LOCKED IN WITH THE LOSS OF PARK AND REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,672.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2017Power trainODI 10959848
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAILED GM/AC DELCO TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE FITTING, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION COOLANT TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2016Power train, EngineFire reportedODI 10882089
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 360. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERY AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE SERPENTINE BELT DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ...UPDATED 04/19/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED RIGHT AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION AND ALTERNATOR FAILED THE AIR CONDITION NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND THE GAS CAP HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/20/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2016Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10851967

Showing 6 of 58 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.