8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$410
Average Mileage:
76,450 miles
Total Complaints:
120 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace instrument panel cluster (57 reports)
  2. not sure (53 reports)
  3. replace or use a gps to show speed (3 reports)
  4. replace steppers on indicators (3 reports)
  5. change clusters on dash (1 reports)
  6. complaint #46 - resetting system (1 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #100

Sep 182006

Trailblazer LS V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,236 miles

Back with #2 problem.....heard scraping noises...there was bad bearing, alt was replaced as was idler pulley. This problem first happened in 2006 at 16,000 miles, again repaired under warranty, but has reared it's ugly head again.

- Elaine P., Tempe, AZ, US

problem #99

Sep 182006

Trailblazer LS V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,236 miles

Back with problem #3....now the speedometer is acting up. Never know how fast I am going, and as others do I usually use the tach. Have all the same problems as all others are experiencing and these problems don't seem to be isolated to one area of the country. It makes one wonder what has to eventually happen before something will be done. We have always owned GM vehicles....these kind of problems are not conducive to keeping up the tradition.

- Elaine P., Tempe, AZ, US

problem #98

Mar 112010

Trailblazer LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

I have a 2005 Trailblazer as well and have had nothing but problems with it. The first was when the 4WD knob broke off. Then the fuel gauge stopped working. I also have a wiring problem that causes interference between the speakers and the accelerator (I hear a high pitched whizzing noise when I press on the accelerator). In the fall of 2009 the speedometer started malfunctioning like the problems that other posters have had. In the past year the oil gauge has now stopped working. The most recent defect in this glorified hunk of metal is a crack in the exhaust manifold.

I will never purchase another GM product due to the number of problems and lack of customer support from the company. I cannot say that I am surprised that the company has gone bankrupt.

- gpsteele, Grand Rapids, MI, US

problem #97

Jul 132011

Trailblazer LS 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,161 miles

I called Douglas Noack who is one of your sponsors with a mobile service. He arrived the next day at my home in Houston, Tx. and replaced the stepper motors on my 2005 Trailblazer for $150 total.

His web address is texasinstrumentcluster.com (see upper right section of the complaints section of this web page).

(936) 522 - 6548

- john thomas, Houston, TX, US

problem #96

Oct 052009

Trailblazer V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Speedometer went bad and quit completely or would register 60 when standing still. Read on the web where many people had the same issue with this instrument cluster. Should have been a recall and fixed for free.

- mvferg, The Villages, FL, US

problem #95

Jul 072011

Trailblazer LS 4.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I KEEP GETTING PULLED OVER B/C MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK.. I CANT TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME.. I REALLY NEED THIS FIXED WITH MY GAS GAUGE AND OIL PRESSURE.. WORST CAR EVER PLEASE PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS.. LAST CHEVY I WILL BUY.

- ruthcorbett, Louisville, KY, US

problem #94

Jun 112011

Trailblazer EXT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,893 miles

driving down the road with a car full and speedometer says we are going 120!!! wow with a car full of softball girls don't think so ....now it stays on 120even when the car is not running . sure wish chevy would have a recall. i don't understand how many complaints they need to recall this problem.

- Maryellyn M., Carrollton, OH, US

problem #93

Dec 202009

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

I have had my trailblazer for 3 1/2 years. The first winter I owned the truck, the speedometer went haywire, the second winter the oil gauge went, the third winter I lost the gas gauge. Now it is June and the back trunk latch will not unlock!!!!!! Plus the oil light and engine light has been on and off since a few months ago and the oil has been changed twice since and its STILL on!! But the back door not unlatching is my final straw!!!!!!!!! I have been putting my life and my children's lives in danger since the first winter. I do not have $500 to replace it!! I have loved Chevy's since I was a little girl and now I think its time for a change!!!

- Sherri C., Schaghticoke, NY, US

problem #92

Dec 152009

Trailblazer LS 4.1L 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles

First problem was the speedometer, malfunctioning, then sticking. Then gas gauge went inaccurate, and eventuall showed zero with light on even with full tank. Next the oil gauge quit working so I can't monitor oil pressure. Next thing happened was check engine light came on and stays on, no matter what my mechanics do. I've not replaced anything and I use a Garmin GPS as a speedometer. I like the vehicle (except gas mileage), and I mostly buy American, but I'm really disappointed in this instrument cluster and the money it takes to fix it. May have a serious effect on what my next car will be.

- Bruce A., Fergus Falls, MN, US

problem #91

Jan 032011

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Was 2 months and 5000 miles beyond extender warranty. Got screwed big time. I have owner over 15 cars in my lifetime this is the first one I have ever had to replace an instrument cluster

- Bob B., Kittanning, PA, US

problem #90

Mar 152011

Trailblazer LS 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,800 miles

Bought a 2005 Chevy trailblazer 4.2L automatic. The vehicle has appox 65k ....just like alot of other complaints i read....the damn instrument cluster is going screwy....the oil pressure gauge works when it feels like it....reads between 0 to 60 but mostly it stays at 0.....now the other day the gas gauge took a crap...i filled it up full and it read empty and the fuel light was on. What else is next to go with this POS vehicle.....funny thing is....why do things go wrong just when you finish paying off the loan.....LOL!!!!!. I will never buy another Chevy vehicle again!!!!!!!!!!!! I waited 5 long years( with out a single problem) to pay it off and whammmm here starts the vehicle braking down!!!!!

- flradr562, Lutz, FL, US

problem #89

Jan 112011

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6 Vortec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

fix my speedometer,and my darn fuel gauge is moving back and forward.PLEASE !!!!!!!! Will someone help everyone that's having this problems with all CHEAP TRAILBLAZERS another unhappy Chevy costumer...THANKS.

- Jorge A., Yuma, AZ, US

problem #88

Mar 232010

Trailblazer LST I6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

At least Ford did not take any bail out money. I purchased this car in Dec 2005 with 19K miles on it.

- lastchevy4me, Paris, TX, US

problem #87

Apr 122009

Trailblazer 4.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I bought the car with 9000 miles on it. Its been problems from square one: first the cam sensor, then the crank sensor, water pump, exhaust manifold, window controls & now the instrument cluster and the check engine light is always going on for a couple of weeks then off for a couple of weeks. The dealer told me 550 to fix the instrument cluster. So I bought one from a junk yard for 100 and it was bad too.

- Jason A., Belliville, Illinios, US

problem #86

Jun 052010

Trailblazer LT 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Same as everyone else. Fuel gauge don't work so wait till my low fuel light comes on most of the times before i fill up. oil gauge reads what it wants to from 0 to 60 psi. And amp gauge always reads between 14 and 16. haven't had any problems with speddo yet but gonna have to pay to have it fixed because check engine light stays on with no codes found and shop said they cant inspect it with light on. So time to spend some money on this piece of crap. and just vented to Chevy on there website and they had the nerve to call me to tell me there is no recall on this at this time. Well no sh*t, tell me something i don't know.

And now to find out from a friend who owns a shop that works on my cars that the reason i have had to replace my battery every winter is gauge cluster also. Gonna ditch Chevy from now on and go to Honda because they at least they recall there problems.

- roscoe17, REIDSVILLE, NC, US

problem #85

Jan 152011

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,230 miles

THANK YOU GM! I am 48 years old and NEVER had a speeding ticket until YOUR crappy-made speedometer malfunctioned. It said I was doing 65 but the state trooper said I was doing 81 in a 70 mph zone. I got a gps and guess what? THE TROOPER WAS RIGHT! I checked with a dealer about repairs and I still have a bruise on my chin from where my jaw hit the floor when they told me "approximately" how much it could cost. I have bought nothing but GM products since 1986 when I bought a new S-10, but rest assured this piece of crap will be the last. It's bad enough that the six cylinder engine only gets 17 mpg AT BEST, but now I don't know how fast I'm going either! No dang wonder the government had to bail your sorry butt out! I've had the radio replaced twice (under warranty), both doors rattle, the dash rattles on the passenger side, The sppedometer doesn't work, the gas gauge is inaccurate, and the trim is broken around the base of both front seats.

Nothing really major except the speedometer, but thanks to you my insurance will go up because of this ticket, so your inferior product is going to cost me for at least 3 years. Have I driven a Ford lately? No, I quit buying Fords after a bad experience with a 76 Ford, so I guess now we'll try Chrysler.

- Vernon S., Trussville, AL, US

problem #84

Oct 102006

Trailblazer V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Bought this vehicle in july 2006. The gas gauage quit working in about october the following year, after buying it The service engine light came on Had it hooked up to computers tried a couple of fixes and it came back on. Now the gas light is almost always on, the tank almost always shows empty even after filling. Or it will move up a little and go back to I paid to have it fixed then several months later it quit again and I HAVENT FIXED IT again, I just keep putting gas in and marking miles. very annoying and very dangerous as the car does stall and sputters from time to time but still dont have the money to fix it./

Also, the heater quit working first on 5 then 4 , That has been about 2 years now and I had it looked at and told what it would cost alot to fix, again defect I can afford to fix. Now the heater only blows warm air and started that about a month ago and it only blow on the drivers side the rest of the car blows cold air and its getting winter so I may have to fix now as I travel with a little girl.

- Sharon T., Cairo, MO, US

problem #83

Nov 202010

Trailblazer LS 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

first fuel gauge stopped working then RPM gauge went from zero to 7 and then straight down. Now my speedometer is not working right. It will start out working and then all of a sudden I'll look down and it is on zero when I am doing 55 MPH. I consider this to be very unsafe!

Update from Jul 23, 2014: instrument panels have not worked in over a year and a half. When I complaint about it they wanted me to spend 250 just for the parts. This should be fix by GM, I've heard it is very common in the 2005 models.

Update from Jul 23, 2014: same problem

- shilde, Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #82

Mar 042011

Trailblazer LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I can see that this is a common problem with this vehicle so there definitely should be a recall. I guess I have been fortunate that this just began for me others this has been going on for quite sometime. I don't understand why Chevy or GM is not making a recall epically when the problem is wide spread. Plus it is a $400 plus cost to get fixed. GM has got to be kidding with this. I wish the lemon law would apply then you would see lots of moving and shaking.

- Lucille S., Palm Desert, CA, US

problem #81

Jan 082011

Trailblazer LS 4.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

After reading everyone elses problem I figured I'd post mine to the list.

At aprox 38000 miles (car just out of warranty) the fuel gauge sending unit went out. Needle stayed on empty all the time with low fuel light on. Wife drove for quite awhile like this and kept track of her fuel w/ trip meter. Repaired myself for aprox $140.

At aprox. 88000 fuel gauge quit working again. This time the needle is in the 7oclock position, but the low fuel light still works correctly. I determined this to be the stepper unit on instrument cluster. There are complaints on this all over the net.

Now at 92000 miles the oil pressure gauge is acting erratic. It is stuck at 20lbs when vehicle is shut off, reads 60lbs at idle (should be 30) and 80lbs at speed (should be around 45-50).

Called the toll free # someone listed, all they wanted to do is send me to the dealer. No warranty, re-call or agreement to repair.

Guess I'll spend another Saturday afternoon working on this piece of sh*t!

- anickel, Holtwood, PA, US

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