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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.

7.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
73,450 miles
Total Complaints:
86 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (56 reports)
  2. replace instrument cluster (22 reports)
  3. use a GPS on the dash (5 reports)
  4. not fixed, too expensive (1 reports)
  5. replace stepper motors on gauges in instrument cluster (1 reports)
  6. unhook battery, then reconnect (1 reports)
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #66

Apr 082011

Trailblazer LX 4.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,285 miles

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

My speedometer sometimes goes to 0 & I am moving down the road. Sometimes it says 30 & I am sitting still, and 55 & I am going 75. What are we going to have to do to get a recall on these trailblazers. I have read so many complaints about the same thing that it makes me sick just to know Chevrolet won't do anything. If they are honest people & they want to go to heaven, they better do what is right or face God & yes there is a God. They will find out on judgment day & it won't be long. I hope they read all these complaints.

- Peggy P., Lavonia, GA, US

problem #65

Mar 262011

Trailblazer LT 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,800 miles

i to have had this problem occer today. and after seeing the long list of complaints and the fact that other years and models have had this problem and were recalled im boiling mad. also had the fuel sensor problem that i paid to have fixed.

i have been a gm person for 33 years. i do love my trailblazer but after the problems i have had with this thing and the way i got treated at the dealer, after the warrenty ran out, i am boycotting gm all together now. time to go foreign. (and they wonder why we buy foreign). its time gm stand to the plate and fix these issues if not hope to see and cant wait to see them go under. gm was bailed out with our tax dollars then treat loyal customers in this way is utterly acceptable. i to am fileing a complaint with the nts but people i really dont see anything comeing of it for the simple fact that if your speedometer is broke it is our responsibility when the speeding tickets come. and thats revenue for the ailing states. so dont hold your breath on these complaints going any where, do your selfs a favor and start buying foriegn. good bye gm and at this rate the american car makers all together

- pete3782, Smithville Flats, NY, US

problem #64

Jun 012008

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Hate that I ever bought this car!

What ever happened to quality work?

- Robin H., Mt Holly, NC, US

problem #63

May 012010

Trailblazer LT 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

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

It all started with the fuel gauge going out, then in less than a year the speedometer went haywire too! I made a complaint to Chevrolet but they refused to acknowledge it as their problem therefore refusing to pay for the repairs. I have been living with these annoying problems for approximately 2 years now. The cost to get this problem fixed is too high so I decided to live with it even though I worry about going over the speed limit and getting pulled over every time I go out!

- Aiman H., Homer Glen, IL, US

problem #62

Mar 112010

Trailblazer LT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Fuel gauge and now seep o. Recall the trailblazer GM and do it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- wyatt43, New Albany, OH, US

problem #61

Dec 072010

Trailblazer LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

It sounds like I am not the only one to have this problem...While driving home last night from looking at trading in my Trialblazer, at consistent 35 mph, my speedometer raced well beyond the 120mph mark and stuck straight south between the wrong end of the Zero and 120. Let me know if you have a solution that does not cost over $500 to fix...

- Patrick D., Eagan, MN, US

problem #60

Apr 102010

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

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

First I do like my car but I just don't understand why Chevy has recalls on other Chevy for the same problem! It is the same instrument cluster in them So what is the big deal Recall Them and FIX THE STUPID THING!!!!!!!! It has done it at least 4 times and it seems everytime you start the car the needle goes down some . Its been 3 days its on 20 mph now I call Chevy and complained But no LUCK :((

- basilc, Wellsburg, WV, US

problem #59

Dec 042010

Trailblazer LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

Never would have thought I would be having a problem like me spedometer not working or that anyone else would be. Very disappointing especially when you are on the freeway. Just happened again yesterday for the second time and after reading all the complaints, looks like it is something that will not go away. And by the sounds of it, will cost a good amount which I will have to think about. Only 65,000 miles on it maybe I could get a good trade in. Won't be at a Chevy dealer.

How many complaints is it going to take before Chevrolet takes ownership and pays for someones death?

- brendajmac57, Crivitz, WI, US

problem #58

Nov 192010

Trailblazer LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

speedmometer stop working. yoy can be going 50 or 100 miles. i love Chevrolet but may buy a Ford.

- barbarail, Creston, IL, US

problem #57

Jul 302010

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Speedometer all over the place. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it does not. But how do I know if it is really working???

- mermaid, Scotia, NY, US

problem #56

Jan 022011

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,518 miles

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

Just found this site. After reading the many complaints about the TrailBlazer speedometer and the cost involved, I decided it would make more sense to just use my Garmin GPS mounted on the dash. I will check out having my speedometer fixed properly, but not while Chevrolet is holding a gun to my head. Maybe a trip to the wrecking yard to get a whole new instrument cluster. But I have to keep in mind that this one went out in less then 40,000 miles.

- honker1, Gresham, OR, canada

problem #55

Jan 062011

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

This Trailblazer continues to disappoint us. We bought it used in 2009 with very low mileage for a great price. Now I see why the previous owner was so anxious to be rid of it. We’ve had three fairly significant problems in less than two years. First, the remote keyless entry went out. Then the latch on the back door broke. Those two problems cost $600 to fix. Now, at a mere 68,000 miles, the speedometer went out. The dealership quoted $550 to fix it – crazy! I will never buy a Chevy again, and I will never give a crooked GM dealership a penny of my money. We are now officially a Ford family!

- Eric V., Colorado Springs, CO, US

problem #54

Sep 182010

Trailblazer LS 4.2L I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Speedo malfunction like many others seem to have. I am not usually one to rant but this is pissing me off. I cant pin it on the hot or cold weather like others seem to be able to. Here in Seattle during this fall/winter we have had some weird swings of quite warm cold outside and it happens on either type of day whenever it feels like it. Last time we were driving a friend back from the airport at midnight and I was about to politely ask my wife to speed up so we could get home cuz the speedo said she was going 45 on the freeway (which might not have been unusual) but she was beginning to fly past cars as she sped up. Then the speedo kept reading slower as we went faster. It comes and goes. Works correctly when it works which seems to be about half the time. I will register my other complaints in the appropriate areas but will say here that I also have about every other one I have read about on this same rig. Gas gauge, whining pulley, check engine, DTC's wont clear etc. LEMON and even when it was under warranty they wouldn't fix any of it. I should have known from the blazer I had before this one which had similar problems but I wanted to believe in Chevy and Buy American (no cap A on purpose, SAD)

- unclelarry, Seattle, WA, US

problem #53

Aug 312010

Trailblazer V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Well the speedometer is the fourth big thing to go wrong with this car since I bought it two years ago. First was the fuel tank sensor luckily I had the 12 months warranty from buying it used. Then it was the electrical unit on the driver seat also under warranty. Then I heard a knocking sound and the Chevy dealership said they couldn't find it, but once the warranty ran out it got worse so I took it back and they found the problem and it was the bolts on the exhaust manifold were broken off. They tried to make me pay 1700 dollars to get it fix and had no record of me bringing it in for the knocking sound before!! Thank god my wife is good at confrontations and she managed to yell her way into them paying for it. Now i have a speedometer not working, I think I bought a lemon!!!! They told me 400 bucks to replace it and I told them to stick it up there asses!!! Don't buy Chevy or maybe the dealership that I go to isn't worth a damn!!

- George K., Dayton, OH, US

problem #52

Sep 082010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

COME ON CHEVY!!!! fix this problem before Ford or an import company takes your business, you have the money and your not about to go under. my wife drives this vehicle and would YOU put YOUR wife in one thats doing that???? Oh i forgot you dont have to worry about paying for that......you just write it off!!!!

- mccammon, Nesbit, MS, US

problem #51

Jun 142010

Trailblazer LS 4.2

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

I purchased my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer in 2008 at 44,000 miles. I thought that I was getting a really good SUV. I had no clue that I was getting into a bad one that would have all the problems that I was experiencing. I thought chevy made good cars. I guess I was wrong.

Well about a few months ago I noticed that the speedometer was reading something different then what I was doing, It even had the nerve to spin all the way around. I did not know what was going on. I then noticed that shortly after that I filled up my truck and the gas hand just went to EMPTY!!!! I thought that I had put some bad gas in the truck HA HA SO I called the dealership and explained to them what was going on and the told me that I was looking at 1200 to get the truck fixed. I did end up running out of gas and replacing the fuel pump which is very expensive. I still have to make car payments and I am just sooooooo unhappy with the TRUCK THAT I ALWAYS WANTED. UGGGGGH!!!! I am looking to trade in or just send it BACK!!!!!!!!!! Tired of spending all the money in repairs in a ROUGH ECONOMY!!!!

- kei-keiw, Camden, SC, US

problem #50

Sep 152010

Trailblazer LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

I, like many other '05 Trailblazer owners, am having a problem with the speedometer cluster. It is always misreading my speed. I never know when it is going to act up. Last week it happened on the freeway. It read that I was driving 95 mph but I had no idea how fast I was really going. Sometimes the needle drops below the 0 and doesn't work at all.

I have contacted my Chevy dealership and GM directly about the problem and was told that I need to pay to have it fixed because it is a major safety hazard....DUH! I would get it fixed but I don't have $500 laying around to do so right now. Plus, I think it should be the responsibility of GM to insure the safety and integrity of their product. A recall has been issued for the 2003 and 2004 Trailblazers so they obviously are aware of the problem. Now I am worried that my fuel gauge will start misreading since this seems to also be a trend.

I just entered a complaint on the government's traffic safety website. Here is the link if you would like to voice your concerns as well.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Hopefully GM will do something about this if enough of us complain!

- jkcrpeterson, Lehi, UT, US

problem #49

Jun 152010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,200 miles

First it was the fuel gauge (happened right before warranty went out), then it was the speedometer (happened about 2 weeks AFTER warranty ran out)! They said they'd have to take the dash completely apart to fix it and with the parts, it would be almost $400. Now I find out it's an ongoing problem with this model...why doesn't Chevy offer to replace this item? It seems to be way too common for it not to be covered under a recall of some sort.

- bertchic, Glendale, AZ, US

problem #48

Oct 042010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,320 miles

Speedometer quit working....it is annoying not having a speedometer because this can lead to tickets.... I see that there have been many complaints about this issue.... I wish they would fix it.....

- heavensherrill, Jacksonville, AR, US

problem #47

Oct 012010

Trailblazer LT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

This is just another problem that Chevrolet hasn't recalled. My fuel gauge stopped working not too long ago.......which is an aggravation and now "out of nowhere" the speedometer goes crazy ! I saw many other complaints on this issue and I think Chevrolet needs to STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM !!!!!

- Sherri B., Steelville, MO, US

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