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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:
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

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 6 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #332

Jul 132007

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles

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

Dash lights come on all the time.had it in to local dealer.we have took it in all the time they have replace everything they could to find problem.still didn't fix it. Warranted run out.even took in and pd for ourselves still not fixed lights come on now and stay on.can't keep taking in don't have money to take in.

- Van Buren, AR, USA

problem #331

Mar 192014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Starting up my car last Wednesday morning, I went to roll my window down on the drivers side and there was a hesitation then it stopped and I smelled something burning.from that point forward I was no longer able to roll my window down or up and lost all functions from that contact pad....in looking thru the varies recalls for this vehicle I noticed the recall for the drivers door module in 2006,2007. If this recall initiated with the 2005 Trailblazer in 08/12, why is this model not included in the recall"??" why will I have to pay the $400 in repairs somehow this doesn't seem ethical. Especially if you knew this was happening in the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer...I am sure I am preaching to the choir but maybe you can provide me with incite as to the logic!!!!!!!!

- Jamesville, NY, USA

problem #330

Jan 012006

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Multiple gauges on the instrument panel stopped working. They include: Fuel gauge, speedometer, voltmeter, and tachometer. The first to go out was the fuel gauge. Then speedometer, followed by the voltmeter and the tachometer about the same time. Chevy has fixed the fuel gauge issue by recall. But has not addressed the other gauges on the instrument panel.

- Northridge, CA, USA

problem #329

Feb 102014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 96,100 miles

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

I was driving down the highway in a rainy state with the driver's window partially cracked. Water began dripping in onto the driver window control panel, so I closed the window. A few minutes later I went to roll down my window and none of the controls worked. There was a faint electrical burning smell. All four window controls on the panel would no longer function as well as the heated seat buttons. The door lock still functioned as well as the window lock out button. I'm just glad this happened with the window up. Swapping the passenger side door control panel with the driver's side door control panel allows you to raise and lower the window, so it is the control panel that is defective. I see that the 2006 and 2007 models were recalled for this due to fires, but no recall exists for the 2005 fires as fires haven't been reported yet.

- Kent, WA, USA

problem #328

Mar 012014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 94,000 miles
Saturday night (03/1/14) on our way home it started snowing heavily, the visibility was low and our windows were fogging up and the front heater blower went off on our 2005 Chevy Trailblazer and would not come back on. While trying to find a place to safely pull over we almost hit another vehicle because we couldn't see through our fogged up windows.. after we pulled over and turned the car off the blower motor came on and continued to run with the car off and the key removed from the ignition, so we re-started the car, and the blower went off and never came back on... then today I went out started the car to warm up the engine and the blower came on. I drove to the store shut the car off and the blower continued to run so I re-started the car and turned it off again and the blower motor stopped. When I re-entered the car to go home the blower once again would not turn on at any speed. So I figured if I didn't have heat at least I had a heated seat but after about 5-10 mins the seat part of the seat got so hot it was burning my butt and thighs so I had to shut it off. Then about 1/2 home the blower just started blowing again, I pulled into the gas station shut the car off and the blower motor once again continued to run with the car off and the key out of the ignition so again I put the key in started the car then turned it off again and the motor stopped. This could be a very serious issue with not being able to defrost the windshield/windows in these hazardous driving conditions< plus not having heat in below zero temps is a health hazard as well. ( since we live in such a cold snowy state).

- New Haven, MI, USA

problem #327

Feb 112011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
I have any issues with my fuel gauge and dash reading for years now. I thought it was an issue with just my truck but in reading other complaints it seems as there is an issue. I bought my truck new and currently have 178,000 miles on it. I was told bythe dealer that the gas gauge issue would not be covered as it's 10 years or 120,000 which every came first. My dash board has not been working for some time first it was the speedometer and then the oil and other's components soon followed.

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #326

Feb 082014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 170,784 miles

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

I just purchased this vehicle yesterday from a dealership. They filled the gas tank up before I drove it off the lot because, they said, "the gas gauge isn't working." I was looking up what it could be and noticed there was a lot of people with complaints of this, 668 people. I suppose I'm the 669th person. There wasn't a recall that I could find, but investigations were being done?

- Sumner, IL, USA

problem #325

Jan 282014

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Vehicle's headlamps will power surge, dim while driving periodically. Fuel sensor showed constant empty until repaired by the recall. Vehicle will occasionally surge forward revving on it's own at random times. The blower resistor pack has burnt up twice, the blower motor has been replaced as well as the melted wires.now the vehicle will not start. The power windows, locks, radio, dome lights, dash lights are inoperative and the vehicle will not attempt to turn over. Seems like this vehicle has had a lot of electrical issues.

- Dayton, IA, USA

problem #324

Dec 122013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 155,000 miles
Driving at a low speed through a residential area the engine would serge between 2K RPM and 4K RPM. If surging is allowed to persist then it is followed by the vehicle's power steering shut off ultimately ending in the engine shutting off. After vehicle is restarted the cycle starts again after a short period of driving.

- Hill Afb , UT, USA

problem #323

Nov 212013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 148,605 miles
I was driving on the highway when I slowed down & stopped for an accident ahead of me. I did not slam on my brakes and I did not go over any bumps that would jar the vehicle. I was stopped for approximately 20 minutes. When I began accelerating I noticed the speedometer was no longer accurately reading my speed. I was doing around 50 mph, but my speedometer was reading 22 mph. I tried turning the car off once I got home, then restarting it, but it was still reading 22 mph. When I drove it the next day, it started out reading 10 mph, and has varied since then, but still not reading accurately.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #322

Nov 072013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles

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

I went into town to grab dinner and as I am driving along, my headlights shut off. The only thing that remained on, were the orange turn signal lights. I frantically turned the headlight knob on an off and nothing happened. I was looking for a place to turn off the highway, however it was night time and I had no headlights. I ended up pulling over to the gravel side of the road, and turned the car off. Now I am stuck on the side of the highway at night time, with no working headlights. I turned the car off and got out, tapped the headlights and looked for any physical damage and did not find an answer. Upon starting the car again, it sounded like someone had turned on a vacuum cleaner. The noise pitched up for about 5 seconds before pitching back down. After re-starting the oil pressure gauge moved from its normal position at "12 O'clock" to an abnormal "6 O'clock". I tried to call onstar for a vehicle diagnostic, however now my radio would not work either. I tried the headlights again, and they still would not turn on. I turned on my high beams, and proceeded back home. While en route my speedometer was reading 10mph over my actual speed. When I pulled into my driveway and turned the car off, the speedometer stayed at 10mph. I find it very hard to believe that all of these things happened all at once as a coincidence. This is a huge safety concern as I lost the ability to see at night, as well as the ability to monitor my speed all while trying to drive. Not to mention all of the motorists who were blinded by my high beams on the way back.

- Green Lake , WI, USA

problem #321

Aug 072013

Trailblazer

  • 125,000 miles
While driving my vehicle, the speedometer stops working. It works when you start the car, then when stops are made, it stops working altogether and goes to zero. I have researched the internet, and this is a huge problem for this vehicle, and GM should have recalled this faulty part years ago. When I took it to get repaired the service place said it was a cluster that would cost over $500 to get fixed. Once again, this is a huge problem and GM should take care of ts customers.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #320

Oct 052013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the speedometer failed to operate normally without warning. The contact also mentioned that the fuel and temperature gauges failed to operate. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure and current mileage was 48,000. Updated 11/29/13

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #319

Apr 112012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The fuel gauge stopped working then all the other gauges of the instrument panel began intermittently then permanently stopped working. Aside from the battery gauge, the least important of them all.

- Parma , OH, USA

problem #318

Feb 092009

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
First, fuel gauge, then the entire instrument panel stopped working.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #317

Aug 272013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 107,000 miles
The window and lock controls on the driver door handle just stopped working leaving my window open. It is not a fuse. I began looking for other issues online and have come across this issue on earlier model Trailblazers. I am in a cold climate as the other recall is applicable to.

- Alden, NY, USA

problem #316

Jul 132012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 93,000 miles
I was driving during summer time and my fuel gage went from full to empty for no reason. I had just filled up, so I knew there was gas in the tank. It has since given me random readings. If I let the gas level fall below 3/4 of a tank. It will go to empty even if I filled the tank. It does work randomly sometimes.

- Ashland, MA, USA

problem #315

Aug 182011

Trailblazer

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the speedometer failed. The contact stated that when she came to a complete stop, the speedometer was still on 55 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #314

Sep 042012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Cluster went out and we had to have it replaced.

- Mount Vernon, MO, USA

problem #313

Jul 112013

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 91,800 miles
Driver side master power window switch does not work the driver side window at all! out of the blue this stopped working. Further research shows that the 2006-2007 models were recalled not the 2005! really, this car is "currently registered in a cold weather state which uses salt to clear the roads" (direct quote from General Motors and Isuzu recall 258,000 SUVS, the associated press, August 19, 2012) since 12/2005 which is when the vehicle was purchased. Just because my vehicle did not have a fire "yet" but I have the "exact" problem which arose before these vehicles did catch fire, mine is not recalled? not only was the transmission recalled in 2008, I had a problem with the "blower motor" not working when you turn on the heat. You could only turn on the heat to no. 4. the truck was taken for service on 1/10/06, 1/30/06, 2/7/06 and 2/17/06 which was not even 2 mo. After purchasing said vehicle before the problem was corrected. In 11/06 the "fuel pump module" was replaced and covered "only" because I had the extended warranty and I had to pay the $100 deductible, because I had gas but it was not registering. Again, I continue to have this problem. When calling GM on 7/24/13 about the window switch recall, I now find out that there is a "special coverage" for the "fuel level sensor". this is covered until 7/24/14, per GM (866-694-6546), unless you have more than 120,000 something miles. Was not sure of the mileage exactly since mine is below that figure. The window switch is a serious malfunction that needs to be covered in "all years" of this vehicle. While sitting at a red light with your foot on the brake, the vehicle will just rev up and want to take off. I guess this isn't a "big deal" either. You can't even listen to the radio to distract you with all these problems going on because the radio only comes out of "one" speaker! go figure, it is GM!

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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