2004 Chevrolet TRAILBLAZER EXT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
261 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 216 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 261 complaints (37.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 31 | 11.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 5.0% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 97 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 50 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 6 |
Electrical System: 97; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 50; Fuel System, Gasoline: 24; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Exterior Lighting: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 49 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 65 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 49; 50,000 to 74,999: 65; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 15
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (65). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 56 |
| 2010 | 47 |
| 2011 | 33 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2004: 2; 2005: 10; 2006: 12; 2007: 19; 2008: 33; 2009: 56; 2010: 47; 2011: 33; 2012: 12; 2013: 12; 2014: 9; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 31 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10108442 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)
I PURCHASED A CHEVROLET EXT TRAILBLAZER ON NOV. 26, 2004. 2 MONTHS LATER ON FEB. 1, 2005 IT WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SHUTTING DOWN 5 TIMES WITH 2 LOUD EXPLOSIONS. THE MALFUCTION OF THE VEHICLE CAME CLOSE TO A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS OCCURING AND AN ALMOST NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR MY DAUGHER AND I WHEN IT SHUT DOWN FOR ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY BY ATTEMPTING TO CROSS IT UNTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTION VALVE HAD MALFUCTIONED AND REMAINED OPEN RELEASING ALL THE GASOLINE UNTO THE ENGINE. THEY ARE REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108442 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190338 · 2007-05-09 (May 9, 2007)
IN THE 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THE 10 CHEVROLET DEALERS WE TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM W UNTIL WE WERE PAST THE 70,000 MILES EXTRA WARRANTY CHEVROLET ADDED TO COVER ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. WARRANTY INFORMATION WAS ADDRESSED IN SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT- FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURE #05012 ON MARCH 14, 2005. APPARENTLY, AS WE WERE TOLD BY A CHEVROLET DEALER THIS VEHICLE HAD A FRACTURE IN THE GAS TANK, AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143058 · 2005-11-17 (November 17, 2005)
THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET, JUST ONE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE I BELIEVE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHICH IN TURN AFFECT ALL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE, SAFETY BEING ONE. I HAVE HAD (2) FAN SWITCHES GO BAD (2) CRANKSHAFT SENSORS GO BAD. (1) CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION. (1) TURN SIGNAL RELAY (1) RADIO CONSOLE REPLACED FOR OVERHEATING (1) HEADLIGHTS WHEN BELOW 32 DEGREES FLUCUATE IN BRIGHTNESS TILL VEHICLE WARMS UP. DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. HA,HA, AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS (1)THEY REPROGRAMED COMPUTER …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221171 · 2008-03-14 (March 14, 2008)
I HAVE A 2004 TRAILBLAZER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE RECALL THAT IS GOING ON WITH GM. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING AS THE TAHOE, AVALANCHE, AND I FORGOT WHAT THE OTHER THE CAR WAS. THE FUEL, WATER, AND BATTERY GAUGES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT, A LONG WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME A ANSWER. I FEEL THAT IF GM IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER CARS AND HAVEN'T LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS COMPLAINTS ON THESE, WHY HAVEN'T THEY ADDED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157968 · 2006-05-21 (May 21, 2006)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND, SOMETIMES WHEN AT A STOP IT STALLS BEFORE TAKING OFF, SOMETIMES RPM BOTTOMS OUT. 4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY USED ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES, EACH TIME IT STALLED BEFORE GOING INTO 4 WHEEL THEN WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 4 WHEEL FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160600 · 2006-06-23 (June 23, 2006)
ENGINE STALLS AT VARIOUS TIMES FOR NO REASON. HAVE HAD IT INTO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AFTER FIRST STALL. DEALERSHIP RESET COMPUTER. SINCE THEN, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. SES LIGHT HAS NOT COME BACK ON. ENGINE USUALLY RESTARTS AFTER APPROX 5 MINUTES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149632 · 2006-02-07 (February 7, 2006)
FULL DESTRUCTION BECAUSE OF FIRE I WAS ON THE WAY BACK FROM A LONG TRIP IN SOUTHERN CHILE (UP TO USHUAIA) OVER THE "CARRETERA AUSTRAL" AND, AFTER ABOUT 9'000 KM DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, I SAW A WHITE SMOKE BACK MY VEHICLE. OIL PRESSURE: NORMAL, MOTOR TEMPERATURE: NORMAL. THIS MEANT IMMEDIATE STOP ALONG THE "RUTA 40 NORTE" IN ARGENTINA (ABOUT 100 KM NORTH OF BARILOCHE, ON THE WAY TO NEUQU). WHILE STOPPING, I FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST GOING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REACTION BUT THE PRESSION CAME BACK. WHILE BRINGING THE GEAR SHIFT TO POSITION PARKING,…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166790 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
01/27/04,09/28/05,11/18/05 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS, 04/26/06 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR METALLIC RATTLE SOUND SUSPECTING HEAT SHIELD ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALERSHIP STATED FRONT BACKING PLATES WERE CONTACTING STEERING KNUCKLE. 04/21/06 BEGAN DRIVE FROM OKC, OK TO VANOUVER, WASHINGTON, MIDTRIP NOTED SAME NOISE. ON TRIP NOISE BECAME EXTREMELY LOUDER. STOPPED AT CHEYENNE WY DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GET APPT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. HUSBAND REMOVED HEAT SHIELD IN EVANSTON WY ON 8/23 AND DISCOVERED CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. 41000 MILES ON V…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167754 · 2006-09-09 (September 9, 2006)
MY TRAILBLAZER HAS STALLED (CUT OFF) NOW 4 TIMES AND IT IS GETTING OLD AND UNSAFE. WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN I-95 AND IT CUTS OFF. IMAGINE HAVING NO POWERING STEERING AND TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE YOU GET HIT GOING 70 MPH! AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK OR HELP WITH A TRADE! I MAY CONTACT THE PAPERS AND HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS!! *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167754 at NHTSA ↗