2005 Chevrolet TRAILBLAZER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,466 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,218 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 432 of 1,466 complaints (29.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 138 | 9.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 108 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 84 | 5.7% |
| Braking behavior | 74 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 45 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 33 | 2.3% |
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 | 432 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 429 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 171 |
| Exterior Lighting | 105 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 95 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 72 |
| Fuel System, Other | 66 |
| Air Bags | 48 |
Electrical System: 432; Fuel System, Gasoline: 429; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 171; Exterior Lighting: 105; Fuel/Propulsion System: 95; Vehicle Speed Control: 72; Fuel System, Other: 66; Air Bags: 48
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 95 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 183 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 373 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 288 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 224 |
| 150,000 and above | 55 |
Under 25,000: 95; 25,000 to 49,999: 183; 50,000 to 74,999: 373; 75,000 to 99,999: 288; 100,000 to 149,999: 224; 150,000 and above: 55
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (373). 248 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 30 |
| 2006 | 47 |
| 2007 | 57 |
| 2008 | 110 |
| 2009 | 160 |
| 2010 | 282 |
| 2011 | 321 |
| 2012 | 104 |
| 2013 | 74 |
| 2014 | 102 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2005: 30; 2006: 47; 2007: 57; 2008: 110; 2009: 160; 2010: 282; 2011: 321; 2012: 104; 2013: 74; 2014: 102; 2015: 54; 2016: 32; 2017: 30; 2018: 27; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 3; 2022: 6; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 138 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 108 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 84 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 10210859 · 2007-12-05 (December 5, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWN 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SUPPRESSION MODULE BURNED AND THEY REPLACED THE MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AND AFTER THE CONTACT FILLED THE GAS TANK. THE ENGINE IDLED AFTER THE SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212038 · 2007-12-16 (December 16, 2007)
I OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND I HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE SENSORS REPLACED, FUEL TANK HAS HAD TO BE WORKED ON, AND NOW THE MAIN MOST COSTLY IS I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 84,000K MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. PLEASE HELP TO SEE IF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10212038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116484 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
I HAVE BROUGHT MY VECHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON THREE SEPRATE OCASIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING CONDITION: THE VOLTAGE FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 10 AND 15 VOLTS, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL TO GO DIM, THEN BRIGHT AGAIN.*AK THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. TODAY 04/06/2005 THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY CONTACTED GM, AND STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VECHICLE IN WHICH HEADLIGHTS GOING DIM, THEN BRIGHT NORMAL. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AT …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132576 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
2005 TRAIL BLAZER DRIVING AT 65 MPH STOPPED RUNNING NO WARNING. DRIFTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. ALL ELECTRICAL POWER NOT WORKING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144723 · 2005-12-07 (December 7, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHTLY WET PAVED ROAD ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHO MANEUVERED THIS VEHICLE TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLIDING OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174387 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THIS HAD HAPPENED FOUR TIMES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE W MODULE AND TWO SPARK PLUGS, CLEANED THE THROTTLE PLATE AND REPAIRED A GROUND WIRE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,476 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112419 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
2005 RENTAL TRAIL BLAZER FROM ENTERPRISE ON 11/1/2005 FAILED TO LOCK THE SEAT BELT PROPERLY TO HOLD ME BACK FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. I KNOW THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM ON THE 2002 TRAIL BLAZERS AND SOME OTHER SUVS. GM WAS TO SEND OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT IT, BUT BECAUSE THEY WAITED TOO LONG, ENTERPRISE PUT THE SUV BACK ON THE ROAD. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY FIXED THE SEAT BELT OR NOT. I CAN NOT GET INFORMATION FROM THEM. GM SAYS MY INJURY IS NOT COMPENSATED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE EXACT SHAPE NOW AS IT WAS WHEN I DROVE IT. MY M…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,910 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139505 · 2005-10-12 (October 12, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL OR ON LEVEL GROUND VEHICLE WILL JUST DIE. IT IS VERY HARD TO USE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES OR STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK STOPPED AT CROSS TRAFFIC APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111133 · 2005-01-12 (January 12, 2005)
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. *NM THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED SO HARD THAT IT ALMOST JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF THE CONSUMERS HANDS. THE SECOND CONCERN WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE REAR SEAT DOWN TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE BACK , IT REQUIRED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BE MOVED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY BACK AGAIN. THE LAST CONCERN WAS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT USE TIRE CHAINS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CLEARANCE AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO USE ANOTHER TRACTION DEVICE. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169173 · 2006-09-25 (September 25, 2006)
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT FUNNY AFTER A LONG ROAD TRIP. IT DID THIS ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PULLED INTO OUR TOWN AND THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING. WE BARELY MADE IT TO OUR HOUSE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING. WE WENT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT OVER HEATED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR DETERIORATED AND SENT ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169173 at NHTSA ↗