Print this page

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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 8 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #294

Jun 302006

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 58,188 miles

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

Fuel gauge started registering as empty after I filled up. Check engine light also came on. When gauge is empty it prompts a chime to go off.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #293

Oct 012010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Fuel gauge quit working.

- Gilmer, TX, USA

problem #292

Jun 252011

Trailblazer

  • 93,600 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer ls. The contact stated that while rolling down the front drivers side window, smoke began to rise from the door panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the control module in the front drivers side door melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The contact also stated that the fuel gauge would display improper readings after refueling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the fuel sending unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 93,600.

- Fife Lake, MI, USA

problem #291

Jun 102011

Trailblazer

  • 100,891 miles

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

When I did a routine fill up on my vehicle and upon restarting the car after completion, the fuel gauge showed empty and the low fuel light came on. I turned the vehicle off and then turned it back on and it still showed low fuel. As I was driving the vehicle home, I noticed the check engine light came on. After driving the vehicle for about 20 miles or so, the fuel gauge showed correctly and the check engine light went off. However, upon the next fill up, it did the same thing. Now, it is at the point that it doesn't register the gas in the vehicle at all. One minute it shows empty, the next it shows correctly, and then it slowly goes back to empty. I have to use the trip gauge to know how much gas I have in my vehicle at all times. The check engine light comes on every time the fuel gauge shows empty. Lately, over the last few days, the car is starting to hesitate as if it was going to stall on me upon take off. I am getting worried that this vehicle is going to stall on me as I am driving and cause an accident.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #290

Apr 152011

Trailblazer

  • 105,000 miles
Although I had 1/4 tank of gas, I decided to fill my tank. When I started my car, the gas gauge showed that the tank was empty and the chime indicating that the tank is empty went off. I knew that the tank was not empty since I still had a 1/4 of tank before filling up. After driving the car a few days, the gauge eventually showed the correct amount. Now every time I fill the tank, the gauge shows empty and the chime goes off. I have to check the mileage constantly so I won't run out of gas. Now after a few days, the gauge will at one time show full and then a few minutes later show 1/4. the gauge is all over the place. When I notice that the mileage is getting close to what a full tank would take me, I have to make sure that I fill the tank completely so that I don't run the chance of running out gas.

- Homer Glen, IL, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #289

Nov 252010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 59,000 miles
Upon restart after filling fuel tank, fuel gauge drops to empty, and low fuel level warning indicator and audible warning are triggered. Occasionally while driving in this condition, cel will be activated, which when read shows fuel level sensor failure. Gauge will gradually float towards full, but will randomly go back to empty, reactivating the warning light and audible alarm. Once a significant amount of fuel has been consumed, the needle will begin acting as if it is working, although it is not entirely accurate, however the light and alarm will no reactivate until the next fill up. This occurs at every fill up. Due to the restrictive costs involved, this has not yet been corrected. Symptoms first noted late fall of 2010.

- Lapeer, MI, USA

problem #288

Oct 102010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles

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

For the last few months my fuel gauge on my 2006 Chevy Trailblazer has been acting crazy, reading empty regardless of actual fuel level. The check engine light now is on, reading code P0463 for high fuel input so I will fail my nys inspection.

- Pulaski, NY, USA

problem #287

Jan 052011

Trailblazer

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contac was refueling the vehicle when the fuel gauge reading began to fluctuate between empty and full. The low level fuel warning was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was advised that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: DP10001 (fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system) that could have been be related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Pacific, MO, USA

problem #286

Dec 032010

Trailblazer

  • 53,000 miles
We were midway through a 2 hour trip and stopped to fill the gas tank. Upon filling it the engine light came on and stayed on, the full gas gauge suddenly dipped to empty, then climbed back to 1/2 tank, then fell back to empty and the yellow low fuel light came on. The engine light and fuel light stayed on for the remainder of the trip and the entire trip back home. Since that instance the gauge has stopped registering fuel at all. Once in a while, when starting the car after it has sit for a long period of time it will register fuel and then drop to empty again. I am constantly watching the gauge and trying to keep track of mileage. Recently I was in the middle of a 3 lane interstate in paused traffic when the engine light came on and stayed on. This made me very nervous and I constantly watched the dash lights for fear the vehicle would stall. This is obviously a faulty part that needs to be addressed. I love the Trailblazer but no longer have complete confidence in driving it. I am uncomfortable driving far from home especially with my children in the vehicle. My vehicle is low mileage for 5 year old vehicle and has been very well kept. I don't feel like I should be having this serious of an issue with it. I have always driven a GM vehicle and used to work for a GM dealer. We currently own 3 GM products but if this isn't addressed, we will think long and hard about out next purchase before we buy GM again. It shouldn't take a tragic accident or a loss of life for the company to see this is a recall issue.

- Salem , IN, USA

problem #285

Apr 092011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
I am filing a complaint about my 2006 Chevy Trailblazer 4 X 4. after filling the fuel tank up, I returned to the car and as soon as I started the car back up, the gas gauge showed empty and the low fuel light was on. I knew this was not true as I had just filled the fuel tank. The fuel gauge will sometimes show "full" when the vehicle is in park but then drops off to empty or anywhere in between as I travel. I had talked to my local GMC dealer and they said there is a know problem with the fuel sending unit in the fuel tat send the tank level information to gauge on the instrument panel. The dealer indicated a investigation has start but no recall has been issued yet. I now have to rely on the trip odometer to gauge how far I can travel on a tank of fuel. Everytime I need fuel, I fill up all the way so a have good base line of my available mileage. This is really annoying issue. My concern is if the problem occurs with the fuel pump in the tank. If the fuel pump fails, I could be stranded some where or have a loss of power while operating the vehicle. This could be a huge safety issue that could cause a accident if the fuel pump fails.

- Milford, MI, USA

problem #284

May 012011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 61,000 miles

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

Fuel gauge not working when car is full of gas- until recently it worked well. A few fill-ups ago, the gauge would go up and up, but when completely full it went back to empty and lighted the check engine light. According to internet there are several thousand cases with same problem and same model year, NHTSA has almost 700 cases for this problem. This is dangerous as I can run out of gas if I loose count of the miles per tank. Hopefully if it happens it wont be in an intersection.

- Weston, FL, USA

problem #283

Mar 222011

Trailblazer

  • 52,000 miles
Car fuel gauge failed to show accurate amount of fuel. Sporadic readings

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #282

Nov 082010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
2006 Chevy Trailblazer gas gauge failure. Worked erratically at first, now does not work at all.

- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #281

Apr 182011

Trailblazer

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. After refueling the vehicle, the contact noticed that the fuel gauge began to fluctuate from empty to full. The contact stated that the fuel gauge did not display the accurate amount of fuel that the vehicle contained. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostics or repairs. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number: DP10001 (fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system) that could have been related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

- Brewerton , NY, USA

problem #280

Aug 102010

Trailblazer

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel gauge had malfunctioned. In addition, the fuel and check engine warning lights were also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any assistance and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 74,000.

- Hamburg , PA, USA

problem #279

May 092011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 46,000 miles
Gas tank was on empty, went to gas station to fill up, gas gauge read full when I pulled away, suddenly dipped to empty. It would then periodically switch between empty and full. Same thing happens every time I fill it up [about 3 more times now].

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

problem #278

May 152011

Trailblazer

  • 75,000 miles
Fuel gauge failing to register correct amount of fuel. Took to local mechanic and they said the fuel sensor has failed and need to replace entire fuel pump system. Quoted repair cost of $900 (including parts and labor)

- Springboro, OH, USA

problem #277

May 012010

Trailblazer

  • 48,000 miles
In May 2010, my 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer began having problems with the fuel gauge. The check engine light kept coming on and off. When I took it to a mechanic, he said it would be about $800-$1,000 to fix. Of course this is an extreme expense considering that I am a teacher and clearly do not make enough money to be able to pay for such a repair. I was told if I keep it on the trip and just get gas before 275 miles, I should be ok. The check engine light continued to come on and off...the fuel gauge always reads empty. Now, a year later I am still battling this, but now the check engine light stays on all of the time! I'm reading online and seeing that many other people are also having this same problem with their 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Why hasn't GM recalled this so that people will actually feel safe when they are driving their 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. This is very serious. From what I am reading, everyone has the problem when their warranty is expired. No one is buying ht extended warranty because until then, there are not any real problems with the 2006 Trailblazer. When will GM recall this and fix it for their customers?

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #276

May 102011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
Fuel gauge fluctuation on 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Reads empty when full frequently. Is inaccurate and unpredictable.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #275

Mar 152011

Trailblazer

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 55 mph the contact noticed the fuel indicator light illuminated on the instrument panel and the warning sound made a noise to indicate that the vehicle was out of fuel. The contact stated prior to the fuel gauge indicating the fuel tank was empty it also indicated there was half a tank of fuel in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated the fuel gauge needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an investigation under NHTSA action number DP10001 (fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system) which could be related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Toronto, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?