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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.

2.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,446 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #26

Mar 062010

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

I have a 2005 Trailblazer ls. My fuel guage is reading incurrectly, despite filling my tank full with gas the dial goes back to empty. The dial on the guage moves some times but mostly either remains on empty and nevers read the correct amount of gas. This has happened to me before about 3 years ago while I had my extended warranty, not to mention my friend had the same issue with her Trailblazer and gave the whole truck back. Needless to say I have family and the last thing I need to happen is to run out of gas because I can't tell how much gas is in my truck

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #25

Mar 182010

Trailblazer

  • 78,000 miles
On 3-18-2010 we purchased a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer from a dealership. Upon driving it home, we noticed the gas gauge was almost to empty. Within a few miles the gas light came on. We stopped and got gas but the tank was not empty. The gas gauge continues to "bounce" around from full to empty many times during regular driving. This obviously needs to be a recall and stop letting consumers pay $600-$1000 to fix a problem with the part.

- Longview, WA, USA

problem #24

Feb 152010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
2005 Trailblazer alternator voltage dips alot as you drive. Radio does not work unless it is 100deg, then only one speaker works. Gas gauge reads empty after I filled up. Ignition is very hard to turn, you have to keep inserting and removing key until it frees itself.

- Cairo, GA, USA

problem #23

Mar 012010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles

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

My gas gauge stop working in my 2005 Trailblazer, gas light comes on even when filling up.

- Lewisville , TX, USA

problem #22

Jan 012009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Yesterday I filed a report #10316373 to amend a report I sent in to add my VIN number. I submitted the wrong VIN number. The number I sent in was on a 1998 Chevy Blazer. I am sending a new report with the proper VIN number. Sorry for the error I submitted.[xxx]

- West Bend, WI, USA

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problem #21

Oct 012009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
2005 Chevy Trailblazer fuel gauge light is always on and fuel gauge is stuck at E. the issue occurred around 65K miles and is still occurring today with automobile at 75K.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #20

Oct 012009

Trailblazer

  • 73,000 miles

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

I was driving to town on I-10 when I ran out of gas and was almost rear ended by a semi. My gas gauge didn't register empty. I took my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer to gateway Chevrolet and was told it was the fuel level sensor and would cost me $525 to replace. I now personally know of 3 other Chevy to have the same problem, 2 Trailblazers and 1 Envoy. This is a dangerous situation and from all the complaints I'm seeing, I'm far from being one of few this is happening to. From the questions I see below I wonder if people have to be killed or harmed before anyone takes a look at this problem?

- Buckeye, AZ, USA

problem #19

Feb 152010

Trailblazer

  • 105,000 miles
Fuel level reads incorrect as well as oil level. Was told by mechanic that the fuel sensor and oil sensor is defective. This could cause accidents to improper readings and cars stalling.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #18

Feb 102008

Trailblazer

  • miles
I have a 2005 Trailblazer whose fuel gauge does not work. It happened back in 08 and I refuse to pay to repair a vehicle that is still fairly new. It constantly reads empty when I fill up the tank. I've had to rely on the odometer so I don't run out of gas. There is also a problem with the braking system. As I press on the brakes while going over a bump the vehicle will skip or skid and the steering locks up.

- San Dimas, CA, USA

problem #17

Jan 012009

Trailblazer

  • 65,000 miles
My 2005 Trailblazer's fuel sensor as explained in your DP10001 has been malfunctioning for many months. GM dealer doesn't seem to be aware of it, but it seems many owners (1000"S) have the seem problem, some have had their computer shut down the car while driving. Shouldn't there be a recall on this particular problem. The fuel gauge always reads empty.

- West Bend, WI, USA

problem #16

Jan 272010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 56,988 miles

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

The fuel gauge of our 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, fluctuates and seldom gives an accurate reading. On one particular day while my wife was on her way to work, the vehicle ran out of fuel while reading a quarter of a tank. She was on a 2 lane road that is posted at 55 mph and was nearly rear-ended. This seems to be a major and expensive problem with many GM vehicles. It is a matter of time before this problem results in a fatality whether directly or indirectly.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #15

May 052006

Trailblazer

  • miles
I bought my 05 Trailblazer in 07. About a year into it I started noticing that the gas hand would stop working. Then the speedometer. On many occasions the speedometer does what ever it feels like. God forbid im on a long road trip.

- Hinesville, GA, USA

problem #14

Mar 012009

Trailblazer

  • miles
I filled my tank up and the fuel light stayed, this happens every time I put gas in my truck, fuel gauge does not register correct fuel level.this is a 2005 vehicle I have already spent money on the 02 fuel sensor, I have also requated GM to check my light for my 2,4 and all wheel drive that blinks while driving and switches, I was told their was nothing wrong but it still occurs, after 3 years now my 4 wheel drive maintenance light comes on. Being a single lady as well as a single mother it is hard to trust mechanics as they always try to get over and I don't have the finances to keep major work done on such a new vehicle.

- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

problem #13

Jun 152009

Trailblazer

  • 100,000 miles
Recently, the gas gauge on my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer quit working. I filled up, and the gauge set at empty until I had drive 10-15 miles. Until then, the empty light would stay on and the "miles left" shows none which renders that alernate solution unusable. The only thing that works close enough to let me determine if I need to fill up again is the "trip a" feature. I can guess how many miles I normally go before a fill up.. but who's to say that is working right either" the improper functioning of this element of my vehicle is not only a pain in the backside, but also could be detrimental to the safety of myself and my child if the car were to run out of gas while traveling down the highway. I have found forums recently wherein many customers of GM are having the same difficulty with the same make and model. We are all frustrated to say the least. I have heard there were recalls for this issue prior to 2004 - seems GM didn't get it right after that time. How about a recall now"

- Danville, IL, USA

problem #12

Jun 252009

Trailblazer

  • 69,608 miles
After filling vehicle with gas, the fuel gauge began jumping wildly. It reset after some time. Later, the fuel gauge failed to read properly. Now the fuel gauge fails to ever read properly. This caused my wife's vehicle to run out of gas on the interstate in rush hour traffic.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #11

Jan 032007

Trailblazer

  • 50,000 miles
Fuel gauge on our 2005 trail Blazer stopped working. This car was about 1 1/2 years old when this happened. Just in simple talking I know 6 different people with this model that has had the same problem. It sound as if this is a problem with this model.

- Columbia, KY, USA

problem #10

Feb 252008

Trailblazer

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 55 mph on normal road conditions, the vehicle stopped because it unexpectedly ran out of fuel. The fuel gauge displayed inaccurate readings and the driver was unable to determine the vehicle's fuel tank capacity. Assistance was called to the scene and the vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer for inspection. The technician stated that the failure was related to the fuel sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on a separate occasion for the same failure and a part was ordered for the failed component. The vehicle cannot be repaired again until the part is available. The failure mileage was 36,000.

- Zionsville, PA, USA

problem #9

Jan 192009

Trailblazer

  • 41,000 miles
Fuel gauge does not function for 2005 Chevy Trailblazer. Potential to run out of fuel in subzero weather endangering occupants. This is well known and common problems with this model.

- Nicholasville, KY, USA

problem #8

Jan 122009

Trailblazer

  • miles
Massive electrical problems with Chevy Trailblazer 1. while going 10 miles an hour, the speedometer jumps to 120mph then to 50mph then to 120mph again. 2. when I fill up with gas, the gas gauge states that the tank is still empty then moves to full then to a 1/4 then to full then to half etc... 3. while driving at night, my headlights go highbeam to low beam as if I am manually flashing my lights at other cars. I have read on the internet where this is happening to many many people with this same model of Chevrolet SUV and that GM refuses to do anything about this. -I called GM and advised them of the entire issue. They advised me to go to a dealership and have them run a diagnostic as this was needed before they could help me. -I went to the dealer and paid $115 for the diagnostic, needless to say the repairs that the dealer found Ranger over $3000 dollars. -I then called GM back and they took the information that the dealer gave me (donna at 1-866-790-5700 X21153) -I just got a call back from GM stating that because of the mileage on the SUV that they were not going to do anything (they knew about the mileage before they sent me to the dealership!). so I wasted $115 dollars for something that was not needed by GM, and the fact that they knew about the mileage to start off with is a way to let the dealer make some money off the consumer.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

problem #7

Dec 012008

Trailblazer

  • 80,000 miles
Fuel reading is always on empty even after I fill up. I can easily run out of gas with out even knowing.

- Denver, CO, USA

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