2008 Chevrolet TrailblazerRecalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 195 owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Most complaints involve electrical system (66) and air bags (34). The EPA rates it 13–17 mpg combined.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Electrical system66
- Air bags34
- Engine21
- Exterior lighting17
- Seat belts12
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Steering11
- Power train10
- Electronic stability control (esc)10
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Trailblazer model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,277 |
| 2003 | 1,266 |
| 2004 | 1,368 |
| 2005 | 1,734 |
| 2006 | 1,347 |
| 2007 | 782 |
| 2008 | 195 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2021 | 201 |
| 2022 | 113 |
| 2023 | 75 |
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 12 |
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 11
- Injuries reported
- 9
- Deaths reported
- 0
What owners report most
Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while parked in her driveway, the passenger side door caught fire without warning. The fire occurred overnight and in the morning, the contact and her boyfriend discovered both her passenger side door and front passenger seat melted. The contact believed that the fire smoldered overnight and eventually burned out on its own. The fire department was not notified and a fire report was not filed. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact's boyfriend discovered that the wiring inside the door had melted which may have caused the fire. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000”
Air bags
“Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...$6,435.00....if you can find the parts. driver was shaken up by the deployment but not injured.”
Engine
“I was driving on the highway just reaching 55 mph, that is when all of a sudden, my suv stalled out with no warning no sound nothing. I tried to restart it and sounded as if it was trying to start but wouldn't. after a couple of times of trying that is when a tow truck came and as he was putting my suv on the flat bed I noticed huge amount oil on the ground. I got it towed to Chevy dealership for service and that is when they told me that the 6th cylinder cracked also a rod went through causing a hole in the engine block. I asked what could have caused it, because I'm on top of my maintenance and my suv only had 94,000 miles on it. That is when he explained to me that it was nothing that I did and that there was nothing that I could've done to prevent it and that there was nothing I did wrong that caused it. So, the leaves me asking, isn't that a manufacturing issue?”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Engines
- 5.3L 8-cyl · 4.2L 6-cyl · 6.0L 8-cyl
- Transmissions
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drive
- Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TrailBlazer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| TrailBlazer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| TrailBlazer 4WD Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| TrailBlazer 4WD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 19 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| TrailBlazer 2WD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 6.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 14 | $5,550 | 635 |
| TrailBlazer AWD Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 6.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 13 | $5,950 | 684 |
- 17mpg comb.
- 16mpg comb.
- 16mpg comb.
- 16mpg comb.
- 14mpg comb.
- 13mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2008 Trailblazer questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 10, 2026.
What are the most common 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems?
Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (66), air bags (34), engine (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer get?
The EPA rates the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer at 13–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).