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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer is known for many things, but perhaps it is most famous for its faulty fuel gauge.

This gauge flip-flops more than a politician during election season. Some report that the gauge says "empty" after a fill-up, while others report the gauge says "full" when they're running on fumes. Either way, there's one thing everyone seems to agree on: the darn thing is just wrong.

Following hundreds of complaints and a few accidents allegedly caused by the malfunction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the issue in May 2011. Unfortunately for frustrated owners, no recall has been announced.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 11
Average Mileage:
53,851 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 10 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #254

Nov 242010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer with broken fuel gauge/ fuel sensor?? it started at about 50,00 miles. I have researched this and see it is a common problem. The dealership does not wish to fix it and the warranty is expired. The cost is about 600-800.00 and seems as this should be a recall.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

problem #253

May 102011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Faulty fuel gauge / fuel sending unit / fuel reading / fuel pump. I have had to have my fuel pump replaced three times now due to faulty fuel sending units. This is a major problem because my truck now shows that I am always on empty and can be a huge hazard and life endangerment. I don't want to be going down a highway at 70 mph and have my truck stall. I have replaced this unit twice already and I am now with a faulty one again. All original manufacturer equipment. No after market replacements. It seems that new manufacturer units will work for about 10,000 - 30,000 miles and then fail. This is an issue that I have seen reported hundreds of times by GM owners of Trailblazers and similar makes. My problem is with a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer V6 ls model with 126,000 miles.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #252

May 012011

Trailblazer

  • 88,000 miles
Fuel gauge goes to empty after refueling. It will remain there for awhile then gradually move up to full, then fall to mid level, and then empty again. Eventually it will go to full and stay until the next fill up however, it is getting progressively longer for that to happen.

- Delaware, OH, USA

problem #251

Aug 092010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that after adding gasoline to the fuel tank the fuel gauge would misread and display that there was no fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who advised him that the fuel level sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. Updated 06/06/11 updated 1/24/2012

- Horseheads, NY, USA

problem #250

Feb 102011

Trailblazer

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated after refueling, the fuel gauge displayed a reading of a quarter of a tank of fuel. The fuel gauge had since continuously displayed an improper reading. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they advised that fuel sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 61,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Saint Joseph, MO, USA

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problem #249

Mar 172011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
My 2006 Chevy Trailblazer's fuel gauge gives false fuel levels. When I fill it up the needle moves up a little and goes back to empty and the low fuel light comes on. I brought this vehicle when it was brand new. I've had so many problems with this vehicle from the dash indicators, radio, and now the fuel gauge. This is really dangerous because I can run out of gas while traveling and may have an accident. I've seen on the internet where a other Trailblazer owners are having the same problems with their fuel sensors. Feel that this part must have been defective from the factory and should be replaced by GM.

- Iva, SC, USA

problem #248

Jun 012009

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a faulty fuel level sender. It started as reading empty when I first fill up. And then after the fuel level would go down some, it would function normally. Now it shows empty about 90% of the time no matter how much fuel is in the tank. No corrective measures done at this time.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #247

Mar 212011

Trailblazer

  • 60,500 miles
Fuel guage went down to zero in the tank and alarm bell sounded. Tank was full at the time, then 2 days later it went back to full on the gauge. It is constantly changing. I called the dealer and they said there haven't been enough complaints aabout this to warrant a recall and repairs would be anywhere from $600 to $1200. This is dangerous and I could run out of gas with no warning. This should be fixed by GM free of charge.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #246

Oct 152010

Trailblazer

  • 60,000 miles
My gas gauge began failing several months ago. Could not afford to get fixed. Ran out of gas 2X. Using tax retur money for repair. Cost is $900!!!

- Southgate, MI, USA

problem #245

Jan 042011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 36,891 miles
Gas gauge began to give inaccurate readings until it finally failed and showed only empty had to replace level sensor and fuel seal in gas tank ttl cost $569.05.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #244

Jan 052011

Trailblazer

  • 27,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While traveling down a town road at 40 mph, my Trailblazer stalled in traffic. The vehicle would not start. The gas gauge was on 1/4 of a tank. We pushed the Trailblazer into a parking lot. We discovered that there was no gas in the tank. After putting in 3 gallons of gas it started. Since then everytime we fill up the tank, it reads empty and the light on the dash is lit with the engine symble. After about 5 gallons are used, it will work with no light eratically. We never know how much gas is in the tank with the gauge. We have run out of gas twice since then with autos hitting their brakes suddenly(not very happy).

- Cheektowaga, NY, USA

problem #243

Nov 172010

Trailblazer

  • 65,232 miles
While driving the vehicle on the highway my Trailblazer ran out of gas. The fuel gauge still indicated between 1/8th to 1/4 of a tank of gas left. This left my family stranded on the side of the road for approximately 30 minutes. Ever since this incident the fuel gauge readings are very sporadic and inaccurate.

- Merrimac, WI, USA

problem #242

May 052011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
Gas gauge in 2006 Trailblazer is erratic and inaccurate. When filled, the gauge goes to empty prompting a chime for low fuel. We never know how much fuel is left.

- Waunakee, WI, USA

problem #241

Apr 142009

Trailblazer

  • miles
Gas gauge stopped working and engine lights stays on.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #240

Nov 012010

Trailblazer

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact noticed that the fuel gauge sender was reading inaccurately and he was unable to determine how much gasoline was actually in the vehicle. He also noticed that the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. The current mileages were 101,636 and the failure mileages were unknown.

- Richmond, MI, USA

problem #239

Sep 182010

Trailblazer

  • 58,000 miles
My vehicles gas gauge simply ceased working with no apparent reason or warning causing me to run out of gas on a very busy highway. I took my vehicle to a repair shop who informed me that, more than likely, one of the three sensors in my gas tank had ceased working and that it would cost me approximately $1200 to repair the same, which I cannot afford and which has yet to be repaired causing me no end of grief and aggravation.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #238

May 032011

Trailblazer

  • miles
I own a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer with what I believe to be a faulty gas gauge. I was driving home last night and the gas light came on (which signals that fuel is needed) and within 5 minutes the car had stalled on a major highway (route 81). I "googled" Trailblazer and gas gauge and I saw the that the NHTSA has opened a probe of this issue, as it may be widespread. Therefore, I am submitting my issue so that the number can be properly tracked in the event a recall is opened.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #237

Jul 152010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
While driving on the highway the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer stalled. I pulled over to the side of the road safely and was unable to start the vehicle. We had it towed to a garage and had to pay over $500 in parts and labor to get it fixed. In the end the mechanic stated that they could not find the fault, it just finally started. The fuel gauge has since failed and reads empty all the time. Before the fuel gauge failed it would give inaccurate fuel readings. We have also had numerous stalls since that are resolved by waiting for 30 minutes and trying again.

- Cadyville, NY, USA

problem #236

May 012010

Trailblazer

  • 45,480 miles
Spring of 2010, I encountered an erratic malfuncting fuel gas. I actually ran out of gas just once! gauge would show full, empty, fuel light on, gauge moving up and down. Some days it worked fine. I finally had the "fuel pump assy / sender unit" replaced at a cost of $762. That fixed the problem. Not happy!

- Barnstable, MA, USA

problem #235

Mar 252011

Trailblazer

  • 135,000 miles
Inaccurate gas gauge. Unexplained stalls. The gas gauge initially would show more gas than was available and later digressed to always showing empty. Continuous problem. 6 stalls in which the vehicle would not start after staling. All stalls occurred in parking lost with no accidents. Waiting 30 minutes to restart the vehicle. From November 2010 to present.

- Cadyville, NY, USA

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