2004 Chevrolet TRAILBLAZER EXT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10104198 · 2004-12-21 (December 21, 2004)
MY 2004 CHEVROLET, TRAILBLAZER HAS NO TRACTION. I WILL NOT EVEN GO THROUGH WET GRASS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104562 · 2004-12-27 (December 27, 2004)
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER (FIANCE'S), FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES, WE NOTICED A TREAD SEPARATION ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. (TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS ON TIRE). IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE TREAD IS PEELING BACK ON REST OF TIRE ALSO. AS OF THIS TIME, THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ORE RECENTLY, WE FOUND OUT THAT CONTINENTAL HAS A 12-15 WEEK BACKORDER, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE HALTED PRODUCTION DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM. ****ACTUAL TIRE IZE:245/65/SR17**** SITE DID NOT GIVE THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10104562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106574 · 2005-01-18 (January 18, 2005)
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE SEAT BELT ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT. HAS MALFUNCTIONED, I.E. IT DOES NOT COME OUT, AND THEREFORE WILL FORCE ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. *NM I HAVE VISITED THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE THEM CORRECT THE PROBLEM, EVERYTIME I TRAVEL TO THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE THE TIME THAT IT STARTS TO WORK AGAIN. GM'S POLICY IS THAT "IF THEY DO NOT SEE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT OCCURS, THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM" I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, BEING UNABLE TO BUCKLE MY SEATBELT ON OCCASION,…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107457 · 2005-02-16 (February 16, 2005)
THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH, GOING INTO A DITCH, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE CONSUMER, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107457 at NHTSA ↗
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 10110467 · 2005-02-13 (February 13, 2005)
(1) CRASH (2) AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK, KNEES HIT DASH (3) TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110674 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
THE TIE ROD BROKE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE CAUSING INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. WHEEL DAMAGE WINDSHIELD BROKEN, SIDE BODY DAMAGE AND BUMPER DAMAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116629 · 2005-04-08 (April 8, 2005)
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE HEAD UNIT FOR MY STEREO DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS, MY DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR DUE TO CONSTANT SHAKING, A SEAL IN THE WINDOW THAT WAS COMING OUT, DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL DUE TO THE PLASTIC BOWING UP. OCCASIONALLY THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT FAILS TO RELEASE ALLOWING ME TO PUT MY SEATBELT ON. EXCESS WIND NOISE ON THE DRIVERSIDE POSSIBLY DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD NOT BEING SEALED PROPERLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116629 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V527000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA campaign record ↗