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:
4 / 10
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,530 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.

2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer:

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

2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 12 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #212

Dec 172009

Trailblazer

  • 64,900 miles

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

My speedometer dropped to zero as I was crossing railroad tracks, and my cd player stopped accepting cd's during that same time period for no apparent reason. The gauge later stuck at first 20 - 15 mph, and then to 10 mph when the SUV is stopped. After about 2 months, it corrected itself. The gas gauge then went out. It would register the tank as empty no matter if it was filled. This began 2/2010. I, a disabled driver, have run out of gas on a deserted road 12:15 a.M. in the winter due to having to calculate miles driven with the tachometer to determine approximate gas consumption. Unfortunately, that calculation doesn't account for engine idling in traffic jams. I sat in the middle of the road in my cold SUV praying no one came around the curve and slammed into me since I ran out of gas in the middle of a dark rural road. I was terrified in this situation and rarely drive at night if I can help it because of the manufacturer's known defect and negligence. I have paid over $500 to repair these manufactures defects, only to have them malfunction again within 1 week of repair. I was told by the mechanic that he would not attempt to fix it a second time. Once again, my speedometer is no longer registering the correct speed, and I have been pulled over by a police officer for speeding. I showed the officer my speedometer, and to my surprise he let me off with a warning and told me that he has pulled over other Trailblazer drivers for speeding who in turn had the same or similar issues with their speedometers. I have had interior lights malfunction, and driver side head light malfunctions where the light keeps going out. The headlight was checked by a mechanic and was not deemed loose or blown.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #211

Mar 012010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
I bought a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer in March 2010 and have had multiple problems since then. My check engine light came on while I was driving and the ac stopped working, it was diagnosed as the ac fan blower. I replaced the blower but that didn't fix the problem. I then replaced the resistor and the harness. Finally when I replaced the harness the ac started working again. The next problem is with the gauges. My fuel level gauge is erratic and never tells me the right fuel level and the cruise control randomly stops working. It has stalled numerous times because the fuel gauge is reading wrong. I'm afraid someone might hit me and my family. I've invested hundreds of dollars for problems that GM needs to take responsibility for!!

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #210

Feb 152011

Trailblazer

  • 99,920 miles
Gas gauge malfunctioning, engine light keeps coming on and off. In looking at different web-sites, this is common for this vehicle. I purchased the vehicle on 06/20/2010 and have had several things go wrong in the (8) months that I have owned it.

- Crofton, MD, USA

problem #209

Jul 012009

Trailblazer

  • 42,000 miles

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

[xxx] of Chicago, il, petitioned the Agency in a letter dated November 27, 2009. The petitioner requests that NHTSA open an investigation into the performance/reliability of the fuel level sensor installed in model year 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The petitioner alleges that the fuel tank level sensor is defective and could result in a subject vehicle running out of fuel, stall, and being rear ended by another vehicle. ODI will evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #208

Apr 132010

Trailblazer

  • 85,000 miles
Fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge, and speedometer completely stopped working. I also had to replace the ac/heater system because of the wiring harness. I had to fix things twice for a cost of over $600 in 8 months! GMC really needs to recall these things because so many vehicles have had problems. Every complaint on here is the same! recall it now! it is not our fault... it's yours so fix it!

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

problem #207

Aug 212009

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The car originally stalled while driving on 95 South. Now it randomly stalls on an average of twice a month. It is very dangerous, power steering shuts off completely. In order to get in running again, I have to open the fuse box where ever I am able to pull over, usually on a highway and push up onto one of the fuses. I brought it to the dealer and they fixed it for just over $100. After about a month it began doing it again. So the problem has not been fixed.

- Milford, NH, USA

problem #206

Feb 072011

Trailblazer

  • 104,868 miles

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

The fuel gauge, oil pressure gauge and speedometer have stopped working. The fuel gauge reads empty when the tank is full. The oil pressure gauge hovers around 80 or points straight down. The speedometer will read 120 mph when stopped at a red light, or will read 30 mph when on the highway traveling at the same speed as other cars, generally in the 55-65 mph range. The speedometer issue is incredibly unsafe, as you have no way to know your true speed. The oil pressure gauge is unsafe as well, as you have no way to know if/when you're really having an oil pressure problem. My calls to GM have resulted in no resolution, as I was told that I shouldn't need the speedometer since I can "feel" how fast I'm going (as stated by a GM representative).

- Maiden, NC, USA

problem #205

Dec 202010

Trailblazer

  • 61,000 miles
Speedometer quits working or reads completely wrong, very dangerous.

- Bucyrus, MO, USA

problem #204

Sep 152010

Trailblazer

  • 62,000 miles
Own a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer and speedo stops working at times and this has been on going since 6 months ago and now oil gauge and fuel gauge are not reading right. And they read wrong all the time now. Haven't paid anyone to repair problem yet except paying someone to manual check oil pressure and engine has good oil pressure but gauge reads 0.

- Reidsville, NC, USA

problem #203

Feb 012010

Trailblazer

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that none of the temperature gauges on the instrumental panel were working which made it impossible to determine how much oil or fuel was in the vehicle. He was also unable to determine the temperature of the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealer nor was it repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Geneva, AL, USA

problem #202

Jan 292011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles

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

I have a Trailblazer lt and the lights have a serious flickering problem going down the road. It is actually dangerous! when you are driving down the road the lights just flicker to oncoming traffic. Chevy claims this is a normal problem with Trailblazers. There has been no corrections for this problem. I explained how would this person feel if they had their child in the car when your Trailblazer was facing oncoming traffic and your lights flickered causing the opposing traffic to come into your lane? this is not safe....someone needs to do something about this issue and find out what the problem is and recall it!!!

- Timmonsville, SC, USA

problem #201

Jan 292011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
Speedometer quits working and engine light comes on. It has happened twice. Once on December 4th and yesterday January 29th. Both times on the freeway.

- Crivitz, WI, USA

problem #200

Jan 252011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 70,362 miles
The speedometer won't go back to zero and sticks making it look like you are going 90-120 mph. It cost $450 to get the cluster panel replaced and should be under the recall along with the Chevrolet trucks.

- Kenton, OH, USA

problem #199

Jun 012010

Trailblazer

  • 42,627 miles
Since June 2010, the fuel level gauge on my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer has not functioned properly. Regardless of the actual fuel level, it reads at 1/4 tank or below, which causes me to rely on my trip odometer to estimate my current fuel levels. I have checked with the Chevrolet dealerships, and they are charging between $500 - $800 to correct this problem! as the previous owner of two GM vehicles and the daughter and granddaughter of General Motors retirees', I am sorely disappointed in General Motors refusal to admit the failure of the fuel gauge system that has affected thousands of vehicles.

- Lower Burrell, PA, USA

problem #198

Nov 012010

Trailblazer

  • 45,000 miles
My RPM gauges started messing up need my speedometer started next. They started sticking and jumping up. My 2005 Trailblazer only has 47,000 miles on it and the check engine light stays on all the time. Has been serviced regularly so I really don't know what it going on with it!

- Texarkana, AR, USA

problem #197

Dec 212008

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer, the speedometer quit working and also the oil pressure gauge.

- Weston, WI, USA

problem #196

Jan 032011

Trailblazer

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The gauges on the instrument cluster malfunctioned and no longer display the correct information. The dealer confirmed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle will be repaired by the dealer but not under warranty. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 84,000.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

problem #195

Jan 112011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
Speed-O-meter erratic and does not register properly. Sometimes does not work at all. Has resulted in being stopped and ticketed by law enforcement for speeding.

- Firestone, CO, USA

problem #194

Nov 262010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I bought a Trailblazer 2005 the heater resister wire harness has melted wires, and the speedometer would stick after 20 miles of driving. Had no idea how fast I was going and the melted wires are plain dangerous. I've read many many complaints online about these problems yet nothing has been done to correct them. I was doing over 100 mph before I realized the speedometer wasn't reading correctly it said 72 mph. I've read many people smell smoke when the wire harness melts. Could easily start a fire.. both seem very dangerous to me and I cant believe they have not recalled them yet..are we waiting for someone to get killed first?? I've never filed a complaint like this before and I have no idea if it helps, but I needed to try something. Thank you

- Malta, MT, USA

problem #193

Jan 062011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 91,600 miles
We just purchased a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer ls 4WD, we have had it for four days and today the speedometer stopped working, it has wound all the way around, we pulled over and tried to restart the car in the attempt to reset it. We had to drive all the way home without being able to tell at what speed we were driving, which is highly unsafe. In my belief this is misleading information, by not knowing how fast you are going.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?