10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 73,575 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The vehicle presented with error on reading the speed one is traveling at. Fuel gauge not working properly and not reading gas correctly.
- Elgin , IL, USA
Cluster gauges are going out. The speedometer quick working a few years ago and is intermittent at best on a daily basis. It either indicates a lesser or greater speed than actual or just falls to point straight down. I have been using a mounted gps to indicate speed. Initial repair cost estimates were $500+ for the parts since they will only replace the entire gauge cluster. With labor, the estimate was in excess of $800. Fuel gauge is now inoperative or intermittent. When I fill the tank, the fuel gauge reads way past the full line. Having to rely of the fuel to empty and the fuel used computer information along with the trip meter to estimate fuel. Received another estimate for a mechanic to pull the gauge cluster and rebuild each individual gauge motor for an estimate of $500. Based upon the number similar complaints on this same thing, this appears to be a manufacturing defect that needs to be corrected by GM.
- Cibolo, TX, USA
We were driving at about 55 (we don't know exact speed as our control panel is not working) and the steering went out. It was hard pulling to the right and a few times we could not control it and went off the road. We had another incident like that when we were driving in the snow. When we purchased the car we had a fuel issue that covered under a recall.... now our whole panel is out. We don't know the speed we are going, the oil light and engine light are always on. We take care of our car so we know its not low on anything.
- Mccordsville, IN, USA
Problems with my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer started with a series of engine lights, misfiring and stalling at low speeds and upon acceleration. My thermostat has been replaced numerous amount of times. I do preventative maintenance to keep my car in good working condition. I'm a single parent I need my car. My entire dashboard stopped working after getting stuck on and off. The fuel gauge was last to go 3 days ago. I fill up my tank it still reads empty with the light. My tailgate door the latch locks up. I manually have to move to latch so it closes. My doors sticking when the car is unlocked and it hard to get out the locks don't unlatch the first time. My car is very nice until U get in it to see everything is malfunctioning. I guess my speed, gas level and that's not cool. I been going through these same problems since 2011 and it's 2014. The fuel gauge was the last to go recently. When I fill up my tank it still reads empty with the indicator light. My repair was $565 we thought it was exhaust leak and had to replace the entire manifold it was cracked... I absolutely can't afford anything else and I need tires.please help I'm furious.. when you purchase a vehicle you expect it to last. That doesn't. my mechanics have been the same since day one and have given me every discount and warranty. I want my vehicle repaired I can't physically cause this type of damage. It's internal and not my fault. I have never had a car with this temperament. I have had 4 cars previous to this one and they lasted through the years until I decided to change cars. Everyone has the same problems with their vehicle as I do. How is that possible? manufacturers should value quality not quantity. I have every single document to verify this as well as my mechanics. I would like my vehicle repaired and to be reimbursed.
- Spring Valley, CA, USA
Driving on the highway to the shore my speedometer increased to 95 mph. When we parked it was stuck on 10. Since then it has happened many times. When I park I have to check what it stops at. Sometimes, its 10, 20, 30, etc. I have tried disconnecting the negative battery cable and that helps as a temp fix. My dealer says there is no recall, but I saw online a class action suit against GM, but not for Trailblazers. This is a GM issue and I don't have the money to get it fixed. Updated 03/11/14
- Hatboro, PA, USA
I was driving on the highway when I slowed down & stopped for an accident ahead of me. I did not slam on my brakes and I did not go over any bumps that would jar the vehicle. I was stopped for approximately 20 minutes. When I began accelerating I noticed the speedometer was no longer accurately reading my speed. I was doing around 50 mph, but my speedometer was reading 22 mph. I tried turning the car off once I got home, then restarting it, but it was still reading 22 mph. When I drove it the next day, it started out reading 10 mph, and has varied since then, but still not reading accurately.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
I went into town to grab dinner and as I am driving along, my headlights shut off. The only thing that remained on, were the orange turn signal lights. I frantically turned the headlight knob on an off and nothing happened. I was looking for a place to turn off the highway, however it was night time and I had no headlights. I ended up pulling over to the gravel side of the road, and turned the car off. Now I am stuck on the side of the highway at night time, with no working headlights. I turned the car off and got out, tapped the headlights and looked for any physical damage and did not find an answer. Upon starting the car again, it sounded like someone had turned on a vacuum cleaner. The noise pitched up for about 5 seconds before pitching back down. After re-starting the oil pressure gauge moved from its normal position at "12 O'clock" to an abnormal "6 O'clock". I tried to call onstar for a vehicle diagnostic, however now my radio would not work either. I tried the headlights again, and they still would not turn on. I turned on my high beams, and proceeded back home. While en route my speedometer was reading 10mph over my actual speed. When I pulled into my driveway and turned the car off, the speedometer stayed at 10mph. I find it very hard to believe that all of these things happened all at once as a coincidence. This is a huge safety concern as I lost the ability to see at night, as well as the ability to monitor my speed all while trying to drive. Not to mention all of the motorists who were blinded by my high beams on the way back.
- Green Lake , WI, USA
Bought this vehicle used in Oct 2010. Not long thereafter, noticed the speedometer wouldn't work all the time - normally it works when I first start driving but when the vehicle warms up, it stops working all together. I think it's a safety issue if you do not know how fast you are going. The cruise control also doesn't work once in a while. Most of the time it does, but occasionally I can't get it to go on at all.
- Lino Lakes, MN, USA
After filling up my gas tank the fuel sensor read empty and the gas light was on. Also, whiel driving the fuel sensor would jump around showing empty, full and the gas light would come on. The vehcile was still under warranty at the time so I took it to the dealership to have it repaired. The service rep at the dealership inidcated that it was a common problem with the fuel sensor and it would need to be replaced. He mentioned that I was lucky the vehicle was still under warranty because the repair was very costly. My vehicle occassionaly lurches when it put inot gear from being parked or idle as if it wants to just take off right away. I contacted GM on this and they stated there was nothing they could do, but I have researched and found that many others have has this same problem. Another issude I have had was my speedometer and entire dash cluster failing. While driving on the interstate my speedometer jumped to over 100 mph and then back down to 0. at that point it stopped working for a few minutes then started working properly again. Finally it stopped working altogether. I took it to my mechanic and he replaced the enitre cluster panel which cost me around $800. Again, he did some research and found this to be a common problem. I sent GM a letter with a copy of the repair bill along with documentation of the many complaints I found online with the same issue. I heard nothing. I reached out with a phone call and was told the issue did not warrant a recall. This could be a serious safety issue. Please consider a recall as it apperas this vehicle was just poorly made and many other people are experiencing the same issues.
- Pleasant Garden, NC, USA
I purchased my '05 Trailblazer new off the lot never had any problems until the speed odometer stopped working. Couple years later my oil & gas gage stopped working. I based my speed off my RPM & calculate my gas mileage after each fill up. Now my dashboard lights are dimming & I've noticed on many occasions my headlights flicker...I have replaced the battery twice & the water pump twice. Now when my check engine light or this other little chk gage light comes on, I don't know if a malfunction of if something is truly wrong. Now it's running rough, acts as if it wants to cut off. They have checked all that they can but because the chk engine light isn't on, there's no way for them to identify the problem. And unfortunately, when the mechanic rides with me of course the car won't do it...and although, these are separate issues I can't wonder if replacing the battery is connected the same system as the dashboard. I've been told by 2 differ mechanics it would cost up to $600 to replace the whole system. But after reading all the complaints, many having the same issue as me I can't help but wonder if this problem could or should be on a recall & if not, why? if you view the complaints why not look into the very present & persistent problem! its very frustrating & aggravating to play a guessing game when your up & down a highway daily! not to mention a safety hazard! surely, your company isn't so money hungry that you can't take responsibility for you product & offer to pay for some or all the costs to repair! I'm a single mother of 3 & I was blessed enough to pay my car off a year ago but I've paid more in repair costs & stressing whether or not I'll make it safely to & from my destination! I never had this many issues with my grand Jeep Cherokee. I am truly disappointed in your vehicle...
- Guthrie, OK, USA
The oil pressure gauge stopped working. Second incident at a later date, the speedometer stopped working correctly, third incident at a different time, the fuel gauge reads incorrectly, fourth incident, the battery gauge is working sporadically. Most of the time the gauges do not function properly or not at all.
- Harrison, AR, USA
Due to a faulty gas gauge the car engine stopped on a highway three miiles away from fuel with children in the vehicle.
- Meriden, CT, USA
Is no longer working broken.
- Greenville, SC, USA
While driving to work my cruise control shut down and my speedometer stopped working. A couple weeks later the speedometer began working and now it has stopped again and stuck on 55 and doesn't move regardless if the vehicle is on or off. The cruise control won't work. I am very frightened to continue driving without knowing what speed I am driving. I can't afford to keep spending money on this vehicle to repair all the problems it's had. Wondering if the speedometer is covered under my 100,000 mile warranty. Please help.
- Amherst, NY, USA
Cluster instrument panel failed. RPM odometer doesn't work, speed ranges from 80-off the charts, gas gauge not accurate. Apparently big problem w/over 300 complaints yet no recall. Firestone just quoted me $700 for a remove and replace instrument cluster gauge. $600 for the gauge itself. I can't afford that.
- Des Moines, IA, USA
Speedometer quits working intermittently. It will work fine for awhile, and then all of a sudden it says we are traveling 0 miles per hour or the speedometer says we are going slower than our actual speed. Today I filled my gas tank and now my fuel gage says it is on E and the low fuel light is on.
- Farmington, MN, USA
My 2005 Trailblazer has begun to have several problems and in speaking to other Chevy owners the same problems have been found in other models and years of Chevy trucks and SUVS. I'm very disappointed to see that Chevy chooses not to recall, which is why I'll never purchase another Chevrolet. Beginning a few months ago my gauges began to be erratic. Starting with my speedometer sticking at zero and then later sticking at 60mph even while sitting still. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. next while sitting at traffice lights or stops signs my engine began to surge forward without applying the gas. When the vehicle surges the RPM gauge also jumps up. I already replaced one transmission at 50K miles and now since passing 100K miles have begun to have rough shifting again in my vehicle. I do not drive my vehicle in a rough manner, speed, or haul a trailer, so there is no reason to be going through transmissions. Now my fuel gauge has stopped working and I'm having to track my mileage with my odometer. I've never seen a vehicle with so many problems and no help offered from the maker. *
- Decatur, AL, USA
The speedometer in my vehicle suddenly shows over 120 mph no matter what speed I am traveling. I have found this to be a common complaint. The fuel gauge is also very inaccurate never showing more than 1/4 tank of fuel regardless of how much I put in.
- Lexington, SC, USA
Was driving other day and looked down at my speedometer and it said I was doing 70mph, and I thought well maybe the wind was behind me. Then I came to a red light, stopped and saw that it said I was still doing 20mph (I was stopped).nice going GM, your batting 1000, first its my fuel gauge now the speedometer what's next? this is my first Chevy that I got for my birthday last year well it hasn't even been a year since I have had this vehicle worse birthday gift (to myself) ever. Why are all the other 2005 model vehicles being recalled for these things but not the Trailblazer? this is not my fault and GM should make it right.
- Johnstown, PA, USA
- Buffalo, NY, USA