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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:
3 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 11
Average Mileage:
53,851 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.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 5 of 22)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #354

Oct 012010

Trailblazer

  • miles

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

The fuel sensor stopped working. GM sent out a form stating the sensor on certain years of the Trailblazers would stop working prematurely and the company would be willing to pay half the cost of the replacement. This is a known issue and should be considered a recall. It should be replaced for free.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #353

Jun 292011

Trailblazer

  • 84,566 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated the fuel sending unit failed. The fuel gauge displayed that the fuel tank was empty at all times even when the vehicle was full of fuel. The warning light constantly remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the GM manufacturer would cover half of the repair cost which he was responsible for $136. The dealer replaced the fuel sending unit. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 84,566.

- Trenton, MI, USA

problem #352

Nov 152009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
Fuel gauge stopped working. Shows empty always, low fuel light stays on, and low fuel bell rings at random. Chevy is aware of the issue, as I just received a letter where they offered to pay for half the repair. I feel they should pay for all of it, since it is their faulty design causing the issue. And they are limiting repairs to up to 120K miles. Although my vehicle qualifies, I feel they should fix it regardless of mileage at 100 percent!

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #351

Jun 162010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 49,000 miles

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

I am submitting additional complaints, with regards to fuel level sensor problems, that GM has acknowledged a faulty product was installed on such vehicles and offered to pay 50% of repair costs to fix the fuel level sensors/transmitters - by sending letters to current owners. A recall is the right way going forward!! is there any way that this could be addressed/enforced? thank you

- Washingon, DC, USA

problem #350

Feb 172011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles
In February of this year, the fuel gauge suddenly became erratic. When fuel was near empty, it would read "full" or "half full". the engine repair light would go on and off inconsistently during the same time. I thought it might be the quality of gasoline, but trying different brands did not help. Within a few months, no matter how much fuel was in my tank, the gauge would read "E" for empty, with the needle never moving from "E". it is a safety hazard because I have to reset my tripometer when filling up on a new tank of gas, so I know about 250 miles, I need to fill up again. If I don't do this, I could run out of gas, cause a crash, or a fatal accident since my gauge always reads empty. I have read many blog and complaints about the fuel gauge on the 2006 Trailblazer. I understand the repair and parts will be about $800. In August 2011, I received a letter from GM indicating that there may be a problem with my fuel sensor and that they would be willing to pay half the cost for repair, but I believe that GM should be responsible for replacing the faulty sensor at "no charge" to the owner.

- Phenix City, AL, USA

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problem #349

Sep 012010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Fuel gauge is on empty all of the time, even after putting fuel in tank.

- Sauk Rapids, MN, USA

problem #348

Sep 202011

Trailblazer

  • 61,000 miles

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

Actually the issue just started today and I got the letter from GM stating they installed a faulty fuel level sensor and are offering to pay 50% if we have it fixed at a Chevy dealership. I looked on the internet and it sounds like a very common problem for Trailblazer owners. Sounds like Chevy is just trying to do damage control with there 50% offer. I think its making things worse because they should issue a recall on this since they are admitting to the faulty sensor. What needs to happen for this to become a recall? thanks

- Urbandale, IA, USA

problem #347

Sep 192011

Trailblazer

  • miles
The gas gauge on my 2006 Chevy Trailblazer no longer works it started fluctuating at about 109,000 miles now I'm at about 150,000 and it hasn't worked for months now. My wife has run out of gas twice now on the interstate at 4:00 in the morning going to work with semi trucks barreling down on her not knowing why she couldn't accelerate.

- Post Falls, ID, USA

problem #346

Jul 042011

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
After filling up tank, tank registers empty, and check engine light on, after restarts able to measure gas amount, within weeks, no longer measure fuel amounts, check engine light comes and go, fuel gauge sometimes in the middle of a drive will suddenly appear to measure amount of fuel and just as suddenly return to low fuel reading and empty on gauge.

- Dixon, IL, USA

problem #345

Oct 102010

Trailblazer

  • miles
Gas gauge does not work properly seen where several people are having same problem. I think it should be a recall.

- Five Points , AL, USA

problem #344

Jun 102011

Trailblazer

  • 61,000 miles

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

The fuel level sensor stopped working, thus leaving no way to tell how much fuel is in my vehicle. This should not happen on a vehicle after only 60,000 miles. I consider it a serious safety hazard, and am fearful that it could lead to a stall on a busy freeway. To avoid that situation, and the uneccessary added stress, I am constantly making stops at a gas station.

- Long Lake, MN, USA

problem #343

Aug 122011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
My gas gauge works sometimes and sometimes it don't. I can be driving along and it will register on E, the truck seems like it is straining to move when this happens.

- Albany, GA, USA

problem #342

Aug 182011

Trailblazer

  • 55,000 miles
Gas gauge reads empty at all times. Filled the tank up completely one day and the gauge read empty (even though it was still full)the following day. Gauge reads empty at all times now. Serious safety issue for my special needs child.

- Cicero, NY, USA

problem #341

Aug 092010

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 93,262 miles
My 2006 Chevy Trailblazer has had inaccurate fuel gauge readings since 8/10. For the previous 10 months it has read empty on the gauge and gives an audible warning. We have run out of gas 3 times. Once in traffic. Dealership wants over $800 to fix it. We had decided to diligently fill the car and check the tripometer regularly. We tried to register it and to no avail, won't pass. I have read numerous posts on line with the same problem. I am 45 years old and have owned 15 cars. Not 1 has had this problem and all were older vehicles. Additionally, 4 of the previous ones had been Chevy. Their seems to be a problem with several years of these vehicles. Please conduct a recall asap.

- Redmond , WA, USA

problem #340

Sep 072011

Trailblazer

  • 64,000 miles
Gas gauge malfunctioning. Will not register amount of fuel in tank. It will go up and then down to empty and the low fuel light will come on even when I know it is full.

- Masontown, PA, USA

problem #339

Jun 222011

Trailblazer 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
Fuel sensor does not work. Chevy is aware of this problem and issued a deal to pay for half the cost only if the car has under 120,000 miles or is less than 10 years old. We are over the mileage limit, but this problem caused our car to run out of gas on a curvy, mountain road with large coal trucks speeding by. We ran out in a place where we could not pull far enough off the side of the road and were almost hit by several passing vehicles. We couldn't start the vehicle and had to drift it backwards downhill to a safer place. Very dangerous!!!

- Wise, VA, USA

problem #338

Dec 012009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
The gas gauge on my trail Blazer stopped working and always shows empty.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #337

Jun 012010

Trailblazer

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact noticed that the fuel tank was empty and the fuel gauge was not providing an accurate reading. The fuel gauge eventually failed completely and the reading remained on empty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the dealer advised that the fuel system sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA action number: DP10001 (fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system) which was an investigation that could possibly have been related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #336

Aug 162010

Trailblazer

  • 53,000 miles
The gas gauge on my 2006 Trailblazer is inaccurate. It showed that I had a quarter of a tank of fuel left and the truck died while driving down a busy street. Luckily the car behind me was able to avoid hitting me as we were only traveling 45 mph.

- Sycamore, IL, USA

problem #335

Aug 012011

Trailblazer

  • 70,000 miles
2006 Chevy Trailblazer gas gauge stopped working. Dealer quoted $1000 to repair it. It is a very common problem on Trailblazers I have found from researching this issue. GM should recall these vehicles for repair at no cost to the customer. Poor quality by GM on this. This could cause a crash by running out of gas in heavy traffic. Estimating fuel is not a safe alternative.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

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