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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.

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$410
Average Mileage:
76,450 miles
Total Complaints:
120 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace instrument panel cluster (57 reports)
  2. not sure (53 reports)
  3. replace or use a gps to show speed (3 reports)
  4. replace steppers on indicators (3 reports)
  5. change clusters on dash (1 reports)
  6. complaint #46 - resetting system (1 reports)
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #80

Mar 102010

Trailblazer LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

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

When I first purchased the car my spedometer went out and I had it replaced under the warranty about 14 months later (after the warranty of the part) my gauges started acting funny. Now I have no gas gauge no RPM gauge no oil gauge. Luckily my gas light still works and I try my best to calculate it. I don't even know if I should trust my speedometer. This vehicle has been more trouble than it's worth!

- Cynthia J., Parkton, NC, US

problem #79

Jun 172010

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Lights were going on and off and car was starting to stall out.

- mermaid, Scotia, NY, US

problem #78

Dec 152010

Trailblazer LT 3.2L.V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

I recently moved to the city and my wife needed a safe car to drive. Due to the average snow accumulation we decided to purchase a used 4 wheel drive SUV. after haggling with the dealer and getting a good deal (so we thought ) I drove the vehicle for a week and noticed that gage was reading 85 MPH but everyone was passing me up and then it stopped working altogether. I took it back and it has been two weeks and its still in the shop. No cost to me, But they gave me a crappy rental.

- John E., Peoria, IL, US

problem #77

Dec 152010

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

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

I bought this hunk of crap new in 05 since then Im on my 3rd set of tires(good tires to not cheap junk stuff) all of the radio speakers have been replaced, the blower motor switch was replaced, check engine light has been coming on and off at random, the speedometer is erratic and often shows speeds of 80 mph or more while sitting still, the drivers seat has a short in the power movement motor. Most of these issues where brought to my dealer and I was 200 miles out of warranty. Of course no help there, so I went to GM customer service for help and was pretty much told we have your money to bad for your issues. NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE A GM PRODUCT!!!!!! Im sorry the government bailed out such a horrible company.

- James M., Thorofare, NJ, US

problem #76

Feb 052011

Trailblazer LT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,868 miles

I just bought my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer LT on Saturday, 2/5/2011. When I test drove it, I noticed the fuel gauge was on "E" and the fuel low indicator light was on. I assumed the vehicle was nearly out of gas. Everything else worked and the truck was great, so I bought it. When I drove off the car lot, I went to the gas station down the street to fill up the tank, but when I tried to put gas in it, it would just shoot back out of the hole...it wouldn't go INTO the tank. I freaked out and called the car lot, and they told me to bring it back up there and they'd take a look at it. Back at the car lot, they said the gas tank was 100% full, and that's why it wouldn't accept the gas I was trying to put in. So, we figured the fuel gauge went bad.

I drove the truck home Saturday night and everything appeared to be OK, with the exception of the fuel gauge. Sunday I drove it across town, and suddenly the oil pressure gauge started going up until it reached 80 and it hovered there for a while. I started getting nervous, thinking there was a problem with the engine. But then the oil pressure gauge needle zoomed past 80 and pointed straight down, and stayed there. I didn't hear any strange noises or smell anything coming from the engine, so I figured the oil pressure gauge must be bad, too, in addition to the fuel gauge.

Monday morning on the way to work, the speedometer got stuck around 60 mph. I didn't notice it until I was stopped at a red light and saw that the speedometer said I was doing 60 mph. When I got back in the truck to leave work, when I started the engine, the speedometer had gone back down to zero. Driving home, it went all the way up to 100 mph, although I wasn't going anywhere near that fast in reality.

I started looking around online last night and discovered this website, along with several others, and the many complaints about this same issue. On the one hand, I'm glad it's not just MY particular vehicle. On the other hand, I'm very worried about what other things in my truck might stop working now. I've called GM, who said they won't fix it because 1) I didn't purchase the truck from a GM dealer, 2) the Trailblazer isn't included in the recall for this issue, and 3) my Trailblazer has over 80,000 miles on it.

Nice job, GM. You make a faulty piece of equipment and won't own up to it and fix it. It shouldn't matter where I purchased the vehicle, or how many miles it has on it. The point is, GM manufactured a faulty product and should take responsibility for it no matter what. What if I had the truck for 5 years and it had 250,000 miles on it before it ever displayed this problem? Does that make it MY fault? Certainly not. And to say that this isn't a safety issue is beyond ridiculous. In fact, the GM representative I spoke to said, "It is not a safety issue since you can feel how fast you're going, so the speedometer doesn't matter". WHAT???!!! I can "feel" how fast I'm going, so I don't need a speedometer??? You know, it can "feel" like I'm doing 50 mph when in reality I'm doing 80 mph. How is this a justifiable reason to say this is not a safety issue???

I'm very, very disappointed by my experience and I will never purchase another GM product. I will also document the hell out of my experiences with this Trailblazer, and I'm going to show it to everybody I possibly can in the hopes that it will deter others from purchasing any GM vehicles.

- hchavous, Maiden, NC, US

problem #75

Mar 152010

Trailblazer EXT LS 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,631 miles

THIS TRUCK IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SHI# WE'VE EVER HAD! BOUGHT IT AT GREEN CHEVROLET IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS ON DEC. 23, 2009. IT HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. SEEMED TO BE A NICE VEHICLE AT FIRST. AT LEAST UNTIL THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED EVERYTHING UNDER THE DASH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NAMED ABOVE. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $500 FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR AND $300 FOR THE RESISTOR, PLUS LABOR. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NEED IT FOR 3 DAYS TO GET IT DONE. I USED TO WORK IN A TRANNY SHOP- SO I KNEW THEY WERE BLOWING SMOKE UP MY A$$. I FIXED IT MY SELF FOR LESS THAN $80!!! THEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED SCREWING UP. I WAS DRIVING TO ALABAMA IN MARCH 2010. THE SPEEDO WAS POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE 'D' FOR DRIVE! I HAD TO USE THE STOP WATCH ON MY CELL PHONE ALONG WITH MILE MARKERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAST I WAS REALLY GOING. WHAT A PAIN IN THE A$$!!! I'M NOT TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT "FIXED" BECAUSE THEY ALREADY TRIED TO SCREW MY EYE BALLS OUT THE FIRST TIME! IT'S HIGH TIME FOR CHEVY TO GET THEIR $HIT TOGETHER!!! NO WONDER WHY THEY HAD TO BE BAILED OUT- BAD BUSINESS = BROKE. IF THEY TOOK CARE OF PEOPLE AND BACKED THEIR PRODUCT PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT AND PROBABLY BE MORE WILLING TO SPEND THEIR HARD EARNED DIME WITH CHEVY. I'M A UNION BOILERMAKER, I ALWAYS TRY TO SPEND MY MONEY WHERE I MAKE IT. CANT IMAGINE BUYING AN IMPORT BUT CHEVY IS MAKING IT EASIER EVERY DAY!!! DUMB F%^&ERS! SAME OLD $HIT- DIF. DAY!!

- Andy C., Germantown Hills, IL, US

problem #74

Nov 032010

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 165,000 miles

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

We have been having major problems with our instrument cluster also. First the speedometer quit and then the gas gauge... what is next on the dash???? We switched from Dodge to Chevy but now we are wondering why. I am going to try to call the number recommended on #33's comment and see what happens. Also, be careful because some of the wires to the driver side window is on the runner board and we just had that short out too. nothing would work electronically when this happened!!

- Wendy J., Wolcottville, IN, US

problem #73

Jan 012009

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

It seems as though everyone is having the same issues. Cluster has stopped working, so I only know how fast I'm going by relying on my gps. From time to time my lights (headlights and running lights) will dim, and once the car actually powered down (completely off, stalled). What sucks most is that I can't afford to get the repairs and I need to get the car state inspected so that I can transfer my reg. and license to my current state, and without the funds I may need to end up selling it. Anyone want an over-priced beater?

- Felipe L., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #72

Dec 012010

Trailblazer LS 4.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,491 miles

well, my gauges do not work right, don't actually know what speed i am going, if i have enough gas, if my battery is actually charged, check engine light on, cd player does not work, ...seems to me either an electrical failure or a short somewhere, i have contacted gm at these numbers, note not the call center they have 313 665-4898, 800 231-1841, this is the number to get them on, took sometime to find, but here is what they say....get a diagnostic so they can see the problem, but i have also found on line their qa reports when the car came off the line, shows these issues plus more. so if you have had a diagnostic, call this number so they can repay you and hopefully if enough people call, we can get a recall, this is a huge safety issue in my opinion plus a ticket getter...hopefully you guys can pass this along to others so you can actually talk to gm itself, i am working on getting daniel akearson's e-mail, hate to bother him while golfing, but he is in charge and should stand behind his product, i will also be sending a letter to the government finance committee, they don't need bailout monies if they cannot use it the right way

lou

- Luis T., Lakeland, FL, US

problem #71

Sep 102008

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

I have had my trailblazer in to the dealer for countless problems but when the cluster went bad, I was at my witts end. I have a friend that works at not a Chevy dealership that told me to contact GM because the Tahoe's had a recall on their clusters but they didn't recall the Trailblazers, yet, apparently they have the same cluster panel. I contacted GM and reported the problem. They replaced the cluster but I had to pay the labor which was irritating too. I will never buy another Chevy! I believe that everyone needs to call GM with this problem as well as the lights dimming on and off. Also my radio had to be replaced cuz the lights went out on part of it and now the 2nd radio has the same problem!

- 2005tblemon, Salt Lake City, UT, US

problem #70

Nov 012010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

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

Where to begin....I bought a GM Certified used Trailblazer with 43000 miles on it. It now has 75000. Thankfully with it being GM Certified it came with a 12 month 12000 mile warranty. The first issue was that I would fill up and my gas gauge would read empty. I took it in and they replaced the fuel pump and fuel sending unit since it left me stranded on the freeway and was covered under the GM Certified warrant. Problem solved with the fuel light issue.Not long after that the instrument panel would randomly flash different lights on and off. The ck engine light, the transmission svc light, amongst others. Along with this problem my lights would dim and my interior light would randomly turn on. I took it back in to the dealership and of course they couldn't find anything wrong and it wasn't doing what it was. They decided to replace my ignition switch and this solved the problem for a few months. Why didnt they replaced the instrument cluster to begin with???

Now the issue at hand is the ck engine light stays on for a few days and then goes off, and the spedometer will say were going 120 when we are sitting still and 0 when we are on the freeway. How can this be safe? We have to rely on our GPS to tell us how fast we are going. The part is going to cost us 400. Not sure on how much the labor is going to be to install it. I am waiting on a call back from the dealership on this one.

Why hasn't this issue been recalled when there are so many complaints. I called GM customer service and they told me that I needed to call Cheverolet to obtain a service req. # that would begin with the numbers 71. GM also stated that if I don't feel like the situation has been resolved in about a week then to call GM back at 313-556-5000. The number to call Cheverolet and file your complaint is 800-222-1020. Cheverolet told me that if they had enough complaints then there would be a recall. I got the 71# that GM told me to get. We will see I guess...right!?!

- Stephanie T., Jacksonville, AR, US

problem #69

Nov 272010

Trailblazer LT 5.3

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

The problem is a real pain in ass!!! should have a recalled issued a long time ago. just bought this truck n 2 days later I'm doing a hundred n twenty sitting still n it wouldn't go down i couldn't tell how fast i was going. when needle started going down it never went under 60 mile an hour. somebody is going to get hurt out there.

- Sheila B., Michigan City, IN, US

problem #68

Nov 032010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,871 miles

with this many complaints this item should have been recalled by gm.

- tcsalvage, Brogue, PA, US

problem #67

Oct 082010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,000 miles

Why is this not being recalled? I see so many people are having the same problem with the speedometer. When I took it to a shop they were not able to fix it. They then had to call the Cheverolet place to be told only 3 places in North Carolina can work on it and it will be over $400!!!

- heavensangel924, Dudley, NC, US

problem #66

Nov 142010

Trailblazer 4.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 104,322 miles

Thinking about never buying a chevy again after years of chevy ownership. I guess i've just been stupid for too many years

- toneyj, Millstadt, IL, US

problem #65

Dec 302009

Trailblazer LS I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

Our speedometer started sticking intermittently in the summer of 09 (or maybe the winter of 08--it would stick once or twice, and then resolve for a few months). That summer, I took it to the local repair shop, where they cleaned the needle and some "magnetic junk" sticking to the back of the needle apparatus. It seemed to do okay for a little while. By the fall of 2009, it was happening every other week, and by the time we took the truck for a trip over the holidays, it was sticking half the time (usually would stick on 15mph or 45mph, rarely got stuck at a ridiculously high speed). It was getting very frustrating. The dealer was going to charge $600 to replace the panel, and I didn't like that, either.

One of these message boards pointed me to Mr. Whizard Technical Service, which specializes in fixing these instrument panels. I checked them out on the BBB, and they had the best rating possible. They fix these cluster problems in Trailblazers and the like for about $170; the only thing is, you have to remove the cluster from the truck and mail it to them. They give excellent instructions on how to do this, though. Anyway, they told me the problem is a plastic piece, part of the "stepper" or maybe the "stepper" itself, that was used in these trucks' instrument panels. It is prone to cracking, and when it cracks, the indicator stops working, whether that be the speedometer or fuel gauge or whatever. They replaced all of these along with a 2 year warranty. I haven't had a problem since.

So: Happy about the good fix for a reasonable price. Unhappy, verrrry unhappy, that GM won't own up to the faulty parts.

- wendyil, Columbia, IL, US

problem #64

Oct 012010

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Just paid $100 for diagnostic that gm said I needed to see if they would cover gas gauge speedometer and check engine light. Well don't fall for this. I was told it is from natural wear on the vehicle. WHAT? Don't have the $550-$600 FOR EACH to fix so I will continue to drive this piece of crap like I have been since they malfunctioned at 65.000 miles. That's what I get for buying a chevy. Last one that's for sure.

Update from Nov 7, 2010: What I should have said is $500 for dash cluster replacement and $456.15 for fuel level sender. This is on my paper from dealership. Taking it back in because it stalls out if I put on the blower fan.

- Laura T., Hellertown, PA, US

problem #63

Oct 052009

Trailblazer LS V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

This is my 4th chevy & last. I now have an exaust manifold leak along with the crazy speedometer that seems to never work correctly. Now my gas gauge is gone haywire as well. I have been quoted around $1,200 just to fix the speedometer & gas gauge. Never have any problems like this with any of my Dodge trucks. I think the best fix for this piece of crap is to run it into a tree & total it out. Look out deer!!!!

- snocattracker, Rosco, MI, US

problem #62

Sep 162010

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

Read about removing battery terminal, instead remove the fuse for the IPC. First turn key on but don't start engine. ext pull fuse (located in engine compartment, main fuse center on driver side fender) Then turn key off and put fuse back in. A diagram of the fuses is on the underside of the fuse box cover. You want to pull number 24 for the IPC. Takes a total of 2 minutes. Hope this helps some of you out there that have really felt the love from GM considering I have 4 of their vehicles, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment or just love a constant challenge. I must admit that my 06 toyota carolla has performed flawlessly with 138K on her. I know where my next vehicle is coming from!

- Richard M., Great Meadows, NJ, US

problem #61

Jan 012010

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

I bought this trailblazer in November 2005. It was considered used but did not have that many miles. All was fine the first 2 years.Then all the sudden my check engine light comes on and then goes off for no reason what so ever. My gas light is currently on showing that I have no gas even though I filled the tank last night. My speedometer goes crazy showing that I am going 60 when I am actually going 30 mph. This is insane. Oh and to top it off my setting #5 has never worked for the a/c -heat. Then right before the blazing hot summer (texas) my air conditioner decides it is not going to blow through the dash. I have to set in on the floor setting so that my kids in the backseat can at least get a slight breeze meanwhile I am sweating by butt off in the front seat. Oh or I forgot to mention you can always set it on the defrost selection so that it will blow through the very top but then you have to have the winshield wipers constantly going because the windshiled fogs up so bad you can't see past your nose...yeah just great!!!!

You know I still have until June of next year to pay this sucker off at $420.00 every month. By the time I think this is all said and done with I will have paid near $27,000 for this piece of crap. I love Chevys and have always owned American cars. I used to make fun of Ford but you know here lately I have heard more problems out of Chevy owners than out of Ford owners. Maybe they are not so bad after all.

I seriously don't think I would ever buy a Chevy again. Maybe all these people buying Toyota have more sense than we do..lol. If you think us trailblazer owners have problems check in to the Equinox owners (also made by chevy) they have bigger nightmares!!!! I am starting to believe Chevy sucks!!!!!

- andreag, Houston, TX, US

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