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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:
$490
Average Mileage:
61,600 miles
Total Complaints:
78 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (36 reports)
  2. replace faulty level sensor in fuel pump assembly (34 reports)
  3. recall the damaged part (4 reports)
  4. replace fuel sending unit (2 reports)
  5. replace fuel pump (1 reports)
  6. replace fuel tank (1 reports)
2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #58

Feb 152008

Trailblazer LT 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

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

The fuel gauge went up and down from actual to empty continuously and the bells rang when the gauge read empty. According to mechanic, the problem was a short of the electrical unit in the fuel tank. However, it was sealed so the entire tank had to be replaced.

- Lawson T., Honolulu, HI, US

problem #57

Jun 152011

Trailblazer LT 4.2L 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

click to see larger images

fuel gauge is inaccurate

Fuel gauge sending unit is faulty. Fuel gauge reads all over the place and trips a code off and on. I have to set trip meter to track fuel. I know 1 other person close to the family with the same year Trailblazer that has the same problem and my wife had to take them gas cause they ran out of fuel!! Should be recalled. Not an easy fix, the average person can't do. You need to put the car up on jacks, drain the fuel, DROP the tank, than the fuel gauge sending unit can be replaced!!!! RECALL! RECALL! RECALL!

- Jamal M., Des Moines, IA, US

problem #56

Jun 152011

Trailblazer LT 4.2L 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

click to see larger images

fuel gauge is inaccurate

I did not realize so many other people were having the same problem with their fuel gauge,i have run out of gas a few times and with the kids and grandkids in the vehicle.It started as saying it was on empty then you would turn the engine off turn it back on and i think it would read right ,then it stayed on empty with light on,and of course i did not purchase the extra warranty and do not have the extra money to get it fixed...especially when you can't just buy the sensor you have to buy the whole fuel pump!!!Recall it !!!

- Jamal M., Des Moines, IA, US

problem #55

Jan 152009

Trailblazer LS 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

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

I really appreciate all of you who have posted your complaints. Your postings have helped me tremendously. My fuel gauge started acting crazy about 2 years ago and it has been a pain in the tail. I really love my vehicle, but I have experienced the exact same problems that many of you have listed. My situation is so bad now that it has affected my vehicles ability to maintain or increase speed. Although, I love my vehicle and I do not want to purchase a new one, I really feel that it is my best option. I just don't want to invest the money in paying the $500.00 to $1000.00 dollars to get it fixed only to have the problem re-occur.

- Debra B., Youngstown, OH, US

problem #54

Jul 152010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Paid a total of $1805 for all the repairs. not sure if they were related, but it started with the fuel gauge going crazy. didn't have the money to get it repaired, estimated at $800 to replace sensor, so used the trip meter to monitor gas consumption. but finally had to get it fixed because the engine light was permanently on and we were afraid it would make emission testing fail and not be able to register vehicle. we brought it in to be reapaired and was told that a bunch of sensors were also failing and ac components as well. not sure if they are at all related to the fuel gauge problems, but nevertheless, painful in the pocket. Now I read all these complaints about it and all the people who had the same problem and it's disheartening. Give us our money back and recall the car!!!

- cassiebel, tucson, az, US

problem #53

May 152011

(reported on)

Trailblazer LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

The newspaper stated Chevy was looking into a recall. how do you find out when ?

- Charles C., Grove City, OH, US

problem #52

Jun 012009

Trailblazer LS 4.2L I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

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

From what I can tell this is a common problem with this model. This is my wife's main mode of transportation. We were told when this item failed that it would cost almost $1000.00 to repair. We just can't afford to have it fixed. My wife uses the trip meter to tell how may miles she travels before she needs to fill up. She has run out of gas several times and thank goodness she has been close to home when she did. I was able to go get her with the always ready gallon of gas we keep at home just for this purpose. When will GM recall this obvious dangerous defect and repair these vehicles?

- davidflorida, Okeechobee, FL, US

problem #51

Nov 022009

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

At first, the fuel gauge started to record crazy readings, going up and down for a couple of fill ups. After that, it stopped working all together and now it only shows it as empty with the idiot light on.

I was told they go bad very frequently, but there is no recall on this. Price to fix: $495.00, so I have decided to look at the mileage and not let it go over 300 miles in the city. I have run out of gas a few times and the last time last week I had to make a sharp turn to get off the highway and almost had an accident as I almost didn't make it.

We need a recall on this!!

- mdvgator, Maitland, FL, US

problem #50

Oct 012010

Trailblazer LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,896 miles

My gas gauge would show that my tank was empty even immediately after I filled the vehicle. After about 50 miles, it would start bouncing around and show that I had SOME gas in the tank... and then eventually go up to the close to full mark! The gauge couldn't be trusted, so I had to have it replaced.

- Carol L., Hastings, NE, US

problem #49

Nov 262010

Trailblazer EXT LS 4.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

So my 06 Trailblazer has the same screwed up fuel system as everyone else. I thought I should share this frustration with GM and emailed them. They called me back. I told them I had gone to Tuffy Automotive and they said I would need a new fuel pump but I didn't wan't to pay the price after paying for a diagnostic. Chevy want's me to take it to them again to pay a diagnostic so they can tell me the same problem. When I asked how this could possibly benifit me they said they needed to make sure of the problem before they could assist me. So long story short they want even more money from me to tell me something I already know and to let me know it is not under warranty.

- be_a_chef, Des Moines, IA, US

problem #48

Jan 182011

Trailblazer LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

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

My Wife one day told me that her Fuel gauge was not correct. I then got into the vehicle and when I started it and drove it around the block I noticed that the fuel gauge would go to E and then full and then half. I figured it would possibly Re-Set itself. Unfortunately It has not in the last few months. I am a little disappointed in Chevy/GM. My Father was a die hard Chevy/GM man and I continued the tradition. I am now thinking that I may change to another brand to see if they respect their customers any more than Chevy/GM does. I wish that they would recall this after reading all the posts on here and Talking on other sites this is a major issue that needs to be resolved. Hopefully we will be taken care of like we took care of Chevy/GMGM when they needed it. Chevy/GM PLEASE HELP........

- William K., Roswell, NM, US

problem #47

Jul 012010

Trailblazer LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

my gas gauge stays lite and on empty always. Unable to determine how much gas I have. I am required to fill up and reset mileage in order to keep from running out of gas. I have read several complaints for the same problem and do not understand why this has not been a recall item. My son in law is a mechanic and said it is the fuel sending unit which is the problem but since this is built as part the part in the gas tank the whole part has to be replaced and the fuel tank dropped to do this. What a pain why is Chevy not fixing there problems.

- fedup1, Lancaster, OH, US

problem #46

Oct 132010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I purchased this vechile a year and a half ago. It started in October the gas gage started going crazy. One minute it read right and then the next it read empty. Now the gas light and check engine light stays on constantly. I have asked around and everyone tells me that it's the fuel gage and sensor. They need replaced. But the problem is that is going to cost $800-$1000. That is crazy. I think that Chevy/GM knows that this is a problem for a long time and will not do a recall. I know this I will never buy another GM car.

- rlind, Columbus, OH, US

problem #45

Jul 012010

Trailblazer LS EXT 4.2L I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

OK, like nearly everyone else on here, one day the gas gauge works fine, the next it reads empty after filling it up. It jumped around for a few days like a dying animal grasping for it's last breath before finally giving up and never moving again. As a bonus, the check engine light now comes on randomly to let me know the fuel gauge isn't working. Who designed this thing, Microsoft?

Serious problem? No. Pain in the ass? Yes. Why? Because, I now have to use the trip meter to "guess" when the truck needs filling up. Since it's going to cost me several hundred dollars I don't have to fix (If I had the extra money to spend fixing this POS, I would have bought a better quality vehicle in the first place), I'll just have to live with it.

Now comes the point where I really get pissed off at General Motors (this happens to the GMC Envoy too, so it's not just a Chevy issue). In Massachusetts, like many other states, they do an emissions test by plugging into the vehicle's computer. Well, since the check engine light has come on, the computer says "Not Ready" and the vehicle fails the test. You have to wait until the light goes off and then drive about a week before the computer resets itself. However, without fail, the light always comes back on just before taking it back to get reinspected, thus resetting the whole process. I've had this happen for the last 3 weeks in a row regardless of number of days/miles driven. Another week and another tank of gas wasted.

Yes, I know it's an easy fix for the do-it-yourselfer, and if it wasn't January in New England where the average temp is below freezing, I would be fixing the problem myself. However, I don't have a heated garage to work in. So, in order to get the car to pass inspection I either have to get real lucky with the check engine light or have the repair made. Either way, I will (not maybe) be selling this vehicle and replacing it with ANYTHING not made by General Motors.

- roots66, Templeton, MA, US

problem #44

Jan 012011

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

I have a 2006 Trailblazer and noticed the fuel gauge was unreliable at about 25000 miles. That then turned into it not working at all, and always reading empty.

The check engine light then started coming on and off. I just had the vehicle in to the dealer and the fuel level sensor in the gas tank was faulty. It was also the cause of the check engine light coming on and off. Both issues were repaired, so far so good.

Dealer stated the cost for this repair is usually $400-500 range. I did file a compliant with Chevrolet to make them aware of this. Hope this helps someone out.

- Mr A., Rochester, NY, US

problem #43

Jun 012010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

I did not realize so many other people were having the same problem with their fuel gauge,i have ran out of gas a few times and with the kids and grandkids in the vehicle.It started as saying it was on empty then you would turn the engine off turn it back on and i think it would read right ,then it stayed on empty with light on,and of course i did not purchase the extra warranty and do not have the extra money to get it fixed...especially when you can't just buy the sensor you have to buy the whole fuel pump!!!Recall it !!!

- mayes3765, South Solon, OH, US

problem #42

Jan 202011

Trailblazer LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,781 miles

Fuel Guage upon filling tank will go to full then decend to empty and low fuel light will come on. Then in a few days it will correct itself. This is the second time in two months this has happened. Obama Motors. Will never buy another GMC product. My other car is a Grand Marquis Mercury with 189.000 miles and runs better than this Trailblazer.

- George T., Fort Smith, AR, US

problem #41

Nov 072010

Trailblazer 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Fuel gauge would not work right it would go to empty then to full wile driving. Went to car parts warehouse for a new fuel pump it ran about 280.00 plus tax. GM wanted 400.00 for theirs. The float that is built in the factory fuel pumps are crap. The tank had to come down to change the pump and no you do not need the special wrench to get the fuel pump locking ring of part #J-45722. All you need is a screwdriver and a hammer. The only trouble with the whole job was those stupid GM compression locks,six fittings in total, four in the back and two in the front. Some of the horseshoe clips snapped in half and no the big auto parts stores don't stock spares. I had to reuse the horseshoe halves with a wire tie around the compression lock to hold the halves in place this is a simple and easy fix. After the fuel tank was back up in the truck the fuel gauge now works like it should. Hope this page helps anyone with the same problems. I don't think it is that hard of a job for your normal do it your selfer,with a friend lending a hand.

- zorro026, Cleveland, OH, US

problem #40

Jan 152009

Trailblazer LS I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

So many people have had this problem with their vehicles. I can not believe that Chevy will not recall these vehicles and repair them. I was told that to repair this it would cost at lease $700.00. That's highway robbery.

- David S., Okeechobee, FL, US

problem #39

Aug 182010

Trailblazer

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

My fuel gauge will be on empty then instantly to quarter tank. It is very annoying to have to start my odometer to zero every time I buy fuel. Sometimes I forget. I see on this site that there are more peple than just myself with this same problem. I took it to an Auto Zone store, when they hooked it to computer told me my cam shaft sensor was going out. ?????????? Who knows, I know I dont. Seems like there would be a recall on this problem.

- phyllisalabama, Enterprise, AL, US

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