CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER · model year

2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

1302 NHTSA complaints, 69 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004CHEVROLETTRAILBLAZER carries 1302 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 69 crashes, 40 fires, 92 injuries, and 7 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 TRAILBLAZER is electrical system with 380 filings, followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (245) and exterior lighting (74). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2004 TRAILBLAZER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1302
Complaints
69
Crashes
40
Fires
92
Injuries
7
Deaths

Total Complaints

1302 filings

Crashes Reported

69 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM380
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL245
EXTERIOR LIGHTING74
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE70
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM43
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION31
AIR BAGS30
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24
POWER TRAIN23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS18
ENGINE16
SUSPENSION11
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP10

Recalls (2)

05V19800005/05/2005

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.

04V52700001/11/2004

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

Recent Complaints

20250809CrashAIR BAGS

I was driving and a girl pulled out from a stop sign and hit my passenger side front of my trailblazer. Her airbags deployed immediately, meanwhile mine didn't deploy. My husband saved my face by throwing his arm over me!

20220908EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights became inoperable. After a while, the headlights became operational. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.

Mileage: 189,000

20220106FireFIRERELATED

The contact owned a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the rear passenger side. The contact pulled over and noticed that underneath the rear passenger's seat had caught fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact sustained burns to his left shoulder, hands, and elbows. However, no medical treatment was received. A police report was filed. The contact was unaware if there was a fire department report. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000. Vehicle caught on fire on the inside driving.

Mileage: 153,000

20220106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Electronic throttle body? No throttle control, motor will only idle, turn ignition switch off, then restart it will run. Reduced Engine Power light comes on. Happens for no apparent reason. Very unsafe situation.

20220106ENGINE

Electronic throttle body? No throttle control, motor will only idle, turn ignition switch off, then restart it will run. Reduced Engine Power light comes on. Happens for no apparent reason. Very unsafe situation.

20220106POWER TRAIN

Electronic throttle body? No throttle control, motor will only idle, turn ignition switch off, then restart it will run. Reduced Engine Power light comes on. Happens for no apparent reason. Very unsafe situation.

20211206TIRES

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer equipped with Hankook tires Model:Dynapro HT Tire Size: P245/70R16 Dot Number:Unknown. The contact stated that she had both rear tires, driver side and passenger side, replaced with the Hankook tires by an independent mechanic. After the instillation, the contact stated that the vehicle would shake while driving at various speeds without warning . The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who inspected the tires and made adjustments; however, the shaking persisted. While driving at 65 MPH, the lost control of the vehicle's steering as the vehicle began to abruptly fishtail. As the vehicle continued to spin out of control, the contact was able to stop the vehicle moments before the vehicle hit a highway barrier. The contact discovered that the rear driver side tire tread had separated from the rim of tire. Due to the failure, the contact had the tire replaced with a spare and was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called

Mileage: 89,000

20210501FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUL PUMP

Mileage: 35

20210501UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FUL PUMP

Mileage: 35

20210501FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

FUL PUMP

Mileage: 35

20210105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING

20210105EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING

20200818FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL MILEAGE HAD ALSO DECREASED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN EVAP SMOKE TEST PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE. THE RESULT OF THE TEST DISCOVERED THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE FUEL NECK THAT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN SPOKE WITH J.B.A. CHEVROLET (7327 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,432.

Mileage: 126,432

20200608ENGINE

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR

20200608VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR

20200608UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR

20200608POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR

20200606ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AS YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP OR GO UNDER 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S OIL GAUGE WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN. ONCE YOU ACCELERATE, THE OIL GAUGE GOES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN PUMPING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE GAS PUMP WILL RESET AS IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL BUT THE GAUGE SHOWS IT'S HALF EMPTY. *TR

Mileage: 176,000

20200606FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AS YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP OR GO UNDER 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S OIL GAUGE WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN. ONCE YOU ACCELERATE, THE OIL GAUGE GOES BACK TO NORMAL. WHEN PUMPING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE GAS PUMP WILL RESET AS IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL BUT THE GAUGE SHOWS IT'S HALF EMPTY. *TR

Mileage: 176,000

20200210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MOST OF THE GAUGES ARE VERY ERRATIC WHEN IN MOTION OR STOPPED. TACHOMETER JUMPS AROUND, OIL PRESSURE READS ALL OVER, SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO OR FULL SCALE, AMP METER DROPS BELOW 14 AND LIGHTS DIM WHEN THIS HAPPENS, (HAVE HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, THIS IS QUITE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AS I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO BELIEVE ON ANY OF THE GAUGES. NO REPAIR SHOP HAS BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 2004CHEVROLETTRAILBLAZER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER have?
The 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER has 1302 NHTSA complaints, 69 crashes, 40 fires, 92 injuries, and 7 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER?
Yes, the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER?
The most-complained component for the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 380 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.