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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 / 39
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,441 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.

2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Comments (Page 8 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #50

Mar 042012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles

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

I had a drivers master power switch that melted too, it happened on March 04 2012. We got in the car and could smell something, we drove with the windows opened for about 1 hour. On March 5, we went out again but had to pull into a auto repair shop, the smell was still there. They pulled the master switch on the drivers door and the switchs had all melted together. He disconnected everything. We contacted Chevrolet and they are in the process of replacing all the switchs. I'm worring about the smell and if it will go away. This must have happened during the night before we got in the car.

- Hazelhurst, WI, USA

problem #49

Jan 022012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
I noticed that when I roll the windows up or down the lights flicker. Now I am hearing the sound like the doors are locking or unlocking by themselves and I am not touching anything. This happens when I am going 60 as well as when I am going slower speeds.

- Rockford, AL, USA

problem #48

Mar 222012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 49,872 miles
2007 Trailblazer ss drivers door module/window switch on my normal commute to work, I had noticed a faint burning smell of plastic that would only linger in the cabin for a few seconds. The smell continued for almost a week with the same symptoms and then disappeared for almost 4 days. After the smell of burning plastic was no longer there, one night while driving, the drivers door module lights (drivers, passenger, rear windows, window locks, and lock) were flickering and noticeably power surging. I was concerned about this issue so I had done some research online looking for any information that may lead to a solution to my problem and if any other Trailblazer owners were experiencing the same problem. Seemed to be a pretty popular problem among Trailblazer owners ranging from 2004 and up. Some research indicated that wires may had been broken inside the insulation that goes from the interior of the car to the door. I had the vehicle inspected at a Chevy dealership and they told me that the ddm was functional and just needed a fuse replacement. That same night when moving the vehicle from the street to my driveway, smoke started pouring from the top of the door panel and it was obvious that plastic was burning and on fire. I then pried the drivers door module off and noticed a dime sized hole right under where the drivers window switch button is located. That hole still singing I disconnected the ddm and have been driving with non-operational windows ever since.

- Livonia, MI, USA

problem #47

Mar 292012

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

  • 116,000 miles

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

I was driving home from work and started smelling burned wires - then smoke started pouring out of all creases in my driver side door. I pulled over and had a drink with me and dumped the whole thing into the door to get it to stop. Fire dept came and told me not to drive the vehicle and had it towed to the dealership. The dealership determined in was a faulty driver door window regulator and it had a hole burned through it. I looked on internet and saw this ad: autos.winnipegfreepress.com/news-article/id-4400/ this is exactly what happened to my car. Insurance says not covering it. I could have been injured very badly as I was on the highway and there was so much smoke in my car.

- East Peoria, IL, USA

problem #46

Oct 182011

Trailblazer

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the wires in the door panel melted. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the mechanic could not diagnose the failure. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer. The failure mileage was 64,000.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #45

Jan 022012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
The fuel gauge on my 2007 Chevy Trailblazer began fluctuating from proper fuel level reading to empty at around 74,000 miles. After few weeks of this, the fuel gauge now consistently reads empty after driving 115 - 120 miles on a full tank, which indicates a failure of the fuel sensing unit. I am driving the vehicle based on the trip odometer and I have run out of gas twice since this is not a reliable way to estimate the amount of fuel in the tank. Both times I was on my way to work a on heavily traveled bridge with no shoulder. This is a huge safety hazard!!! also at around 75,000 miles the driver side door lock stopped working and the electronic stability control off light and electronic stability control maintenance light periodically turn on.

- Mount Pleasant, SC, USA

problem #44

Dec 112011

Trailblazer 4WD 4-cyl

  • 48,440 miles

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

Fuel sensor never gives correct reading causing me to run out of gas on 2 separate occasions, also the drivers side door control panel keeps going on and off only working some of the time and going in and out as I am driving.

- Philadephia, PA, USA

problem #43

Jan 262012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
My fuel gauge no longer works. I also have no power anything on my drivers side door.

- Leipsic, OH, USA

problem #42

Jan 182012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
Fuel gauge drops to empty with low fuel light coming on, no matter how much gas is in vehicle. Sometimes it fluctuates back and forth. Never sure how much gas is in vehicle. Which this creates a big problem since I Transport handicap people in my vehicle. Also driver side window operates very slow, sometimes it hesitates on rolling up. I have to let it set for a while, then try rolling it up again. After several times doing this, it has finally rolled up all the way. I think the dealer should fix these problems, without consumer paying for any of it. Especially since these seem to be ongoing problems. I have been lucky reference my door panel hasn't caught fire yet, which could cause a serious traffic accident. Also my slick, skid control lights come on very easily when I take off and stay on till I can shut the car off and restart it, and hope doesn't come back on when I start to drive.

- Bicknell, IN, USA

problem #41

Mar 042012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
My right passenger door panel caught on fire. The car was parked in the drive way and was not running. When will this be recalled? does some one have to die before this is fixed. This is a known on going issue. Its sad when you look out your door and see your car smoking while it is not running.

- Marion, IA, USA

problem #40

Oct 142009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the driver's side window was open and there was an odor of smoke. The vehicle was taken to an independent where they advised the contact that the door mechanism was melted. The vehicle was repaired for the door mechanism. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Updated 04/10/12 updated 04/16/12

- Hawthorne, CA, USA

problem #39

Feb 172012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • miles
Initially the driver's door lock and window controls (for all doors and windows) stopped working. On February 17th, while driving the vehicle, smoke was visibly emitting from the inner door handle. The entire switching system had to be replaced.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #38

Jan 162012

Trailblazer

  • miles
I woke up one morning to a smoky garage and noticed my driver door module had caught on fire, luckily the whole truck did not catch on fire in my garage while my family and I were inside our home sleeping. I can no longer control the power windows and locks in my truck. I contacted my local Chevy dealer and they tried charging me nearly $1000 for a module and door panel replacement and notified me there were no such recalls on my vehicle at this time. This is not the first incident I also had another fire while at a drive through window, the wiring to the cigarette lighters inside my vehicle caught on fire a few weeks after the door again the Chevy dealer said there are no recalls and I would have to pay out of pocket. So many what if questions come to mind. This is not the only Trailblazer I have known or read upon to have electrical issues or even fire damage. GM definitely needs to take responsibility before there is harm to anyone due to these unknown fires.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #37

Feb 232012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
I was having problems with the drivers side door control panel for about 3 days. On 2/22/12 the controls did not work for the drivers side window and the window was stuck in the up position. On 2/23/12 when returning to my vehicle the window was in the complete down position. I started my vehicle in attempt to roll up the window but the controls didn't work. After about 15 seconds I noticed a burning plastic smell coming from the controls. I immediately shut off the vehicle and popped off the control module to find smoke coming out of the opening. I disconnected the wires and removed the module. I could see what appears to be an internal fire in the module due to the melted plastic and housing of the unit. I'm glad that I have some sense of mechanical aptitude because this could have caused a lot of damage.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #36

Dec 012011

Trailblazer

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that when entering the vehicle, she noticed that the windows could not be opened. The contact also smelled a burning odor but did not see smoke or a fire. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised the contact that after removing the door, the connectors in the driver's side door were found to be melted and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was later contacted and they advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000 and the current mileage was approximately 67,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Goldsboro, MD, USA

problem #35

Feb 192012

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
I left my house for work at approximately 0650 hrs on February 19th, 2012. Upon exiting my neighborhood's entrance, I accelerated to 35 mph. About 100 yards down the road, I begin to smell burning plastic and as I looked down I observed thick smoke billowing from the openings of my driver side door panel. I didn't know what to do except stop the vehicle and shut it off. Even when off, the smoke continued to billow until I disconnected the battery. Needless to say I was late to work, so I reconnected the battery in an attempt to make my way to work in a reasonable amount of time. When I started my car, the dome lights would not turn off, the gas gauge was inoperable and the driver side windows/locks were rendered inoperative. As I pulled into work, I glanced over and saw the smoke emitting from the door panel again, but it was not as thick as the first time. Thankfully, my coworkers were standing by ready to assist me as it had begun to rain. This event could have ended much worse if the door panel had actually caught fire. I have a newborn son who is approximately 5 weeks old and the Trailblazer is our main source of Transport. It makes me angry to think about the possibility of him being in the vehicle with me and having an event such as this occur. Hopefully GM will issue a recall. Until then, I have to find a way to pay for the repairs on a faulty vehicle.

- Richmond Hill, GA, USA

problem #34

Oct 182011

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 84,329 miles
On or about 18 Oct 2011, I smelled a burnt electrical odor in the vehicle, I began checking for the source and found that when I adjusted the drivers side door mirror, the drivers window lowered, and the smell got stronger, when the mirror adjustment switch was returned to the center(neutral) position, the drivers window switch operated the passenger window. I removed the drivers door switch module, I found it to be the source, as I repeated the troubleshooting process, I actually saw the white hot arcing taking place within the switches (the electrical connectors were not burnt or damaged). I disconnected and removed the switch module. The next day I took the vehicle to the local dealer whereas, they ordered the new part and replaced it (parts & labor $460.73 + tax). I asked if there were any service bulletins or recalls on this problem, they told me that there wasn't...now my question is...is the new switch module also going to arc eventually" am I out $460"

- Ashville, NY, USA

problem #33

Nov 092009

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The power window control shorted out in the driver's door and caused a fire inside the door...updated 04/19/12

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #32

Aug 182010

Trailblazer 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
At 45,000 miles I have had to have the tierods replaced and there is still something wrong with the passenger side wheel assembly, but they can't seem to figure out what the squeak is. It could be a bearing I have been told, but they don't know without tearing it all down. 2nd is the power window on the drivers side is getting slower to come up and I can smell wires burning at times (although I am not sure if the 2 are related) I have also had to replace the "idler pulley" at 42,000 miles.....this seems ridiculous as it keeps turning out to be one thing after another"???"

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #31

Aug 222011

Trailblazer

  • miles
I have had several problems with my window regulators, I had the switch and electrical replaced on the driver side door and I am having a problem with the window not working again. Also, now the window regulator is broken on the passenger side door. At the same time I am also having an issue with the electrical, I can tell that in combination with the window problems the lighting on the dashboard where the light is dimmed on one side. Overall, the windows are a huge safety concern with the fact they won't roll up or down depending on the issue and I'm concerned with the fire concern because it does it appear when the dealership fixed the driver side window there appeared to be melting of something that could have been burnt.

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

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