Total Complaints
1302 filings
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER · model year
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.
Total Complaints
1302 filings
Crashes Reported
69 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 380 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 245 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 74 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 70 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 43 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 35 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 31 |
| AIR BAGS | 30 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 24 |
| POWER TRAIN | 23 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 19 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 18 |
| ENGINE | 16 |
| SUSPENSION | 11 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 10 |
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.
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
FUL PUMP
Mileage: 35
FUL PUMP
Mileage: 35
FUL PUMP
Mileage: 35
MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING
MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING
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
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR
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
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
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
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.