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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 1 of 22)

problem #432

Dec 302022

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

For several years the low beam headlights would go off and on intermittently. Now, they are mostly off which means I cannot drive my vehicle at night anymore unless I want to blind people or get stopped. I have changed headlamps, relays and fuses to no avail. Now, I see that many others with the same make and model SUV have been having the same issue but no recalls have been issued for this year model. This is a major safety issue when we have to drive with the high beams on and when the lights go off unexpectedly. If you will issue a recall for one year model having a particular issue, why would you not do the same with all year models having the same issue? come on Chevrolet and NHTSA, let's get this problem solved to save some lives. It is very scary to be driving and have your headlights go out and a major pain to have to be sure you are home by dark or not be able to go out after dark because your headlamps are or may stop working.

- Oklahoma City , OK, USA

problem #431

Jan 062021

Trailblazer

  • miles
The gauges don't work properly and when the gauges are tapped the Trailblazer stalls. The vehicle was in motion on a highway.

- Bellevue, PA, USA

problem #430

Dec 112020

Trailblazer

  • 80,000 miles
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer (bought new) with approximately 79,000 miles. The fuel gauge light is illuminated indicating I am low on fuel however my gas tank is full. I noticed the problem after filling my tank (no light on at the time). After filling the tank, the fuel light came on and the gas gauge bounced back and forth from quarter tank to half tank and now the light stays on with gauge showing empty. I would appreciate any help you can give or recommend any possible action to take.

- Chino, CA, USA

problem #429

Aug 292020

Trailblazer

  • 168 miles

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

Most recent, I am driving down the road my head lights go out. Nothing else, just the main head lights. All.otjer lights stay on. High beams work, parking lights stay on. This is not safe!!!

- Brainerd, MN, USA

problem #428

Oct 222020

Trailblazer

  • 19,000 miles
Lights go on and off setting still

- Frisco, AL, USA

problem #427

Feb 122019

Trailblazer

  • miles
The speedometer isn't working. I've been hearing how common this issue is. Every now and then it will jump to a random spot when I start the vehicle and stay there. But it never moves while driving

- Rockmart, GA, USA

problem #426

Jan 252019

Trailblazer

  • 130,000 miles

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

In motion or parked my speed and my tac just stop at random numbers. I have to shut my car off if my speed is stuck. Everytime I do this my speed drops 5 mph so if I'm stuck at 20 I have to do this 4 times just to get back to 0 mph I have called Chevy. They told me it will cost me over $800 to fix this. Kinda strange the recall doaent effect only the Trailblazers don't you think. I have been in the automotive feiod for over 10 years now and I know alot of Chevy have had this recall so it's time for you guys act.

- Colville, WA, USA

problem #425

Nov 302018

Trailblazer

  • miles
Vehicle purchased 2008. It had 35,412 mi. In 2011 the vehicle would have a rough idle and stall in traffic. Sometimes as many as 3 times on a six mile round trip. Always would stall driving around town. I had replaced cam vrr temp sensor fuel throttle. All coils plugs water pump battery motor supports belt windshield washer bottle and motors flush fuel lines. Wheel hubs and bearing rounds crankshaft and power steering pulley power steering pump oil changes 2500 to 3000 miles synthetic oil. All fluids changed and flush rear differential transmission shifter cable. Several diagnostics at Chevrolet. Left there they drove it cut off once. Finally, I kept watching gauges oil pressure dropped 44 to zero. Car cut off rectangles it pulled over wait 30 mins. No oil on dip stick. Called Firestone took it there. Oil sending unit defective. Changed all oil. They found it. This was a big safety issue over several years for me. Afraid get run over by truck. The vehicle has not cut off one time. I reported to Chevrolet. Put in bank there. Please check oil sending unit. Seen numerous Trailblazers with this issue. On the web.

- Hopewell, VA, USA

problem #424

Oct 012018

Trailblazer

  • miles
I am experiencing all issues identified with recall due to door switch sensor being defective. Intermittent working of door locks not locking or locking and won't unlock. Windows won't work sometimes, and sometimes they will. Lights won't shut off in interior, or won't go on. Delay feature where radio, and other features stay on after turning ignition off, and still in vehicle won't work, and sometimes do work. These things happen when vehicle is either moving, or not moving in park. They happen both city driving, and highway as well. All of these crazy electrical problems began several months ago, and when in the vehicle and I am in park, and shut off ignition, and the doors won't unlock, the key fob won't work to unlock doors either, and I am trapped inside vehicle until someone is close enough to hear me yelling for help, and can hand them my keys out of sunroof in order to put it into lock on the door and manually unlock the door. I absolutely must have this fixed because nobody near my residence to either let me out of vehicle, or to call. Closest person I can call is over an hour away. I am on disability of $720 a month and can't afford this repair.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #423

Mar 022018

Trailblazer

  • 125,000 miles
Gauges (fuel, battery and oil) quit working. So now the check engine light is on.

- Denver, IN, USA

problem #422

Jun 102017

Trailblazer

  • 200,000 miles

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

RPM, gas, and voltage meter are not reading properly at all. Everywhere U go everytime U start the truck up it does not read properly.

- Upton, KY, USA

problem #421

Aug 172018

Trailblazer

  • 33,400 miles
Driving in city speedomoter quit working properly. Dont know what speed is while driving car has 33000 miles, has not been driven in 3 years as it was my fathers and he no longer drives as he is 97 years old

- Ladson, SC, USA

problem #420

Jul 282018

Trailblazer

  • 112,000 miles
Our vehicle died at a turn signal light in a dangerous intersection. No warning from the vehicle as it was running normal. It would turn over but no start. Police force a tow out of the busy intersection right away. It starts up at the mechanics. They tested fuel filter and other stuff. We get on the highway in traffic and get 6 miles out and no warning we die and had to push the car to the shoulder on in dangerous conditions. Sit for 2 hours and it fires up. So we found shade and waited for cool down. 2 hours away from home and it took us 9 hours to get home. We drove it to the store and when we were done shopping it fired up. Went around the corner to other store and shopped 2 hours and came out and it would turn and no start. Tried starting every 30 minutes to hour from 9:30pm to 1:40am and then it fired right up then drove 30 minutes to home. After researching and finding quite a few with same year make and model having the same issue we found that it is the pwr/trn relay plug in area in the fuse relay center. When we broke the plastic off the relay and wrapped a rubber band around it so it's constant contact and plug it in, it will fire up every time. I can drive it all day like that with no issues. I have to turn the key from running to accessory mode then remove the rubber band and then power off the car. Don't want to fry com. The relays are good and problem is the fuse relay center. Chevrolet said themselves that this model is notorious for fuse relay center problems and usually require replacement. It's a known defect. There are two pictures attached from one of the other people with same vehicle same problem and in order to make his fuse relay center work properly he had to wire/reroute his pwr/trn relay as seen in the picture. This needs to be investigated as this is a well known issue with Chevrolet and the Trailblazer.

- Gold Bar, WA, USA

problem #419

Sep 192012

Trailblazer

  • miles
I have a 2005 TB ls, and it's a pos. As soon as I drove off the lot I've had nothing but issues. My brakes pulsate, go to the floor, get stiff as a board, basically they don't work. I have to pump the brakes quickly in an effort to avoid a crash. I filled the gas tank to full, huge mistake. The moment I did that the check engine light has flashed and sporadic idling. It has a loud whine under the hood, front turn signals and hazard flasher randomly stopped working. Car will die if I run the A/C for more then 15 mins. It will pull to either side when I apply my brakes. I have always kept up with proper maintenance, tune up, etc. This is absolutely terrible, that so many have the same [xxx] issues and yet Chevy will not recognize/take responsibility for their obvious flaws and lack of mechanical knowledge..I just want out of this [xxx] lease and a replacement car!!! parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #418

Jun 012018

Trailblazer

  • miles
The headlights go off after a while of use as if the over heat and go off once they cool off they come back on but they go off after about 15 mins of use. Only the brights will work at this time. So not only is it a safety hazard to me that my lights just go off out of nowhere then I have to turn my brights on which is a safety hazard to other people and against the wall you have a recall on the 2006 model for the same problem why would you not have the recall on the 2005 model that obviously has the same issue they go off on back roads they go off on the highway they go off in the city they go off in the country they go off anywhere that I'm driving anytime that the headlights are on that will go off after about 15 minutes of use whether the car is being driven or it is stationary. This imhas been a problem with this car for many years but I just recently bought it for myself and I feel it's an issue that you all should resolve I have looked online and there a lot of people having the same issue

- Clarksville, IN, USA

problem #417

May 232018

Trailblazer

  • 157,000 miles
Takata recall all the gauges on my Trailblazer have stopped working except the gas and temperature gauge. While I was driving 2 weeks ago on the highway my gauges just quit working and the needles dropped to the bottom.

- Port Royal, PA, USA

problem #416

May 212018

Trailblazer

  • miles
Control panel on drivers door is no longer functional, during a heavy rainstorm I got out of my truck, closed the door and ran to my house. The next day the controls no longer worked. This is not the first time I've left my vehicle while raining but the first time the controls stopped working. This was a recall item in other years 2006-2007. Chery does not recognize this being the same issue in the 2005 model. Chevrolet Trailblazer recall - #13V248000. Fluid may enter the driver's door module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. The short may also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke, or a fire.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #415

May 052018

Trailblazer

  • 155,000 miles
While driving at night I have an intermittent problem where the headlamp low beams just go out. I have moved relays around but it doesn't correct the problem. I have been stopped by police several times because I am blinding other drivers because I have to drive with brights lit. I see they recalled the 2006 and later models for this problem. I work at a shop and we see, on average, 10 per year that are 2005 and that's just in our small community. If I set a half hour, sometimes an hour then the dims start working again. The most recent time was May 5th of 2018

- Clifton, CO, USA

problem #414

Mar 102015

Trailblazer

  • 100,000 miles
It all started whaen I filled the tank of gas even when full the gauge went crazy never marked the real amout now all the panel is not functioning ans sometimes turns all light and stops working air windows etc.

- Aguadilla, PR, USA

problem #413

Jan 212018

Trailblazer

  • 150,000 miles
So I can't really drive at night as my dim lights just stop working. Yes I have brights and I have been stopped twice and ticketed once for the issue of failure to dim. This is ridiculous as they are recalling all the newer models but not the 2005. I am frustrated because I have even moved relays around but nothings helps except to set on side of highway for a couple hours before they apparently col down? you tell

- Clifton, CO, USA

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