FaultScore

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer electrical problems

641 of the 1,302 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer are about the electrical system — 49% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.

F

641

Complaints

4

Crashes

14

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 380 59.3%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 245 38.2%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 0.5%
Ignition 2 0.3%
Wiring 2 0.3%
Switch 2 0.3%
Starter Assembly 2 0.3%
Front Underhood 1 0.2%
Module 1 0.2%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 0.2%

Electrical System across every Chevrolet Trailblazer year

2002 198 8.3%
2003 290 12.2%
2004 641 27.0%
2005 621 26.1%
2006 252 10.6%
2007 201 8.5%
2008 67 2.8%
2021 40 1.7%
2022 30 1.3%
2023 14 0.6%
2024 11 0.5%
2025 11 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hubbard, TX

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11446505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Holland, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING

NHTSA complaint #11386667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Spring Lake, MI

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11327578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Mesa, AZ

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11308287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Washington, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 OWNER VEHICLE - BOUGHT IN 2004 & HAD 8 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN VERY WELL KEPT & CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT AS OF 9/16/19. AS OTHERS, THE ELECTRICAL CLUSTER HAS MALFUNCTIONED. SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING OVER A YEAR AGO & NOW THE FUEL GAUGE HAS FAILED. PROBLEM IS WITH THE CLUSTER AS "ESTIMATED MILEAGE" STILL WORKS. HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER GAUGES ACT ERRATIC AT TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT CHEVY IS WELL AWARE OF YET FAIL TO ACT. TO TB TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. COST OUT OF MY POCKET FOR REPAIR WILL BE OVER $800.00. SPEEDOMETER ORIGINALLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HWY. IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN BUT FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY A FEW WEEKS LATER. FUEL GUAGE SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING AFTER STARTING VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11256012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 196,000 miles Rome, GA 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING OUR VEHICLE FROM MYRTLE BEACH THIS WEEK WE NOTICED A SMELL ABOUT HALF WAY HOME THAT REEKED OF ROTTEN EGGS. THE SMELL WAS SO BAD THAT I BECAUSE NAUSEOUS AND DEVELOOED A SEVERE HEADACHE. AFTER WE REACHED OUR HOUSE AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK SO AFTER RESEARCHING THE SMELL AND POSSIBLE CAUSES WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR THE VEHICLE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY OURSELVES WHICH CAUSED MY HUSBAND TO DEVELOP A SEVERE COUGH AND UPPER RESPITORY PROBLEMS DUE TO THE BOILING THAT WAS OCCURING INSIDE THE BATTERY. HENCE THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS.

NHTSA complaint #11240455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Thomasville, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN AND IDLING

NHTSA complaint #11235303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Uvalde, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN IN MOTION, THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND 100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN, THE GAUGES WOULD SPORADICALLY MOVE UP AND DOWN. NOW THEY DO NOT MOVE UP.

NHTSA complaint #11217048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles South Charleston, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SAME THING RUNNING OFF THE FUSE TO THE CPU GROUNDS OUT ON THE BODY BLOWING THE FUSE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THE CPU IS BAD. I WENT AND STARTED IT AND PUT IN DRIVE, FUSE BLEW, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN

NHTSA complaint #11152105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Greenfield, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER STARTING MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT WORK. BUT THE ABS, SEAT BELT, BREAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON. THE INDICATOR FOR GEARS IS OUT. THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS SO NOT ALWAYS SURE HOW FAST I'M GOING. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME. BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11132279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Dothan, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A FUEL ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA complaint #11114555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,060 miles Lowell, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. ALL 3 TIMES BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS BURN OUT AT THE SAME EXACT TIME WHILE TRAVELING ON A RURAL ROAD IN NH..

NHTSA complaint #11092112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 240,000 miles Clearlake Oaks, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY GAUGES RANDOMLY SAY LOW OIL PRESSURE BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED. NOW THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DEAD.

NHTSA complaint #11075066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Middletown, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY GAUGE CLUSTER WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND RUNNING. USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL BUT NOW THE ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE AND I HAVE TO TAP ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER FOR THE GAUGES TO RESUME WORKING.THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2006 BUT CHEVY REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WHICH IS IN MY OPINION A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #11062086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Marshall, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY DRIVING LIGHTS TURN OFF AND ON WHILE IM DRIVING I TOOK IT TO CHECK AND THEY SAID IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WITH ELECTRIC SYSTEM BUT MY LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE IM DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11042205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Astoria, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTED OUT AND VARIOUS GAUGES FAILED TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN WENT BLANK NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED TO RESET THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER (OCEAN CREST CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC, 855 ALTERNATE HWY 101, WARRENTON, OR 97146, (503) 836-7913) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL CAMPAIGN AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11033281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Memphis, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STARTER RELAY SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE FUSEBOX. THE VEHICKLE WAS PARKED AND IGNITION WAS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10972391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbus, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PEP BOYS AUTO PARTS TOLD ME I HAD A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH

NHTSA complaint #10969448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Manchester, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS 50 MILES PER HR AND THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND NOT EVEN MOVING.

NHTSA complaint #10966317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Prescott, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WELL HAVE A REAR TAIL LIGHT BULB STOP WORKING AND BROKE THE OUTER SHELL. AND MY SUN ROOF STOPPED WORKING AND ISN'T COMPLETELY SEALED WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS FROM THE TOP!!

NHTSA complaint #10958743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 126,000 miles Sioux Falls, SD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE IT WAS SHOWING LOTS FASTER BEFORE, STARING IN FEB 2015 THEN JUST QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE LIGHTS WILL ALL GO REALLY DIM FOR FEW SECONDS USUALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN THEN WILL BE NORMAL STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10934444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 185,600 miles Columbia, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO CAUSING "CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT TO COME ON AND ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING AND AM STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN THE CITY. THIS ONLY OCCURS ONCE DURING A TRIP OR ONCE A MONTH. UNDERSTAND THAT TRAILBLAZERS HAVE A HISTORY OF GAUGE PROBLEMS AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING/GAUGES.

NHTSA complaint #10898515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 131,000 miles Lockport, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF FROM THE RUN POSITION WHILE IN PARK, THE SWITCH SLIPS INTO THE ACCESSORIES POSITION WITH NO EFFORT TO TURN THE KEY. TRUCK WILL NOT TURN OFF OF ASSESORIY POSITION UNTIL I WIGGLE THE KEY FOR A WHILE. THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED AFTER TURNING OFF TRUCK BUT REMAINS ON ASSESORY. HAPPENS EVERY TIME. BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WEEK NOW.[8-03-16 TO PRESENT]

NHTSA complaint #10894899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Mays Landing, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #10887539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Dallas, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3RD TIME REPLACING LOW BEAM LIGHT ONLY HIGH BEAM WORKS NOW LOW BEAM OUT AGAIN

NHTSA complaint #10885560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 197,000 miles Grayling, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN DRIVER DOOR WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10872965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wolford Hghts, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING ON HWY 178 AT ABOUT 9 PM AND THE FRONT HEAD LIGHTS AND TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. I MOVED LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF AND MY LIGHT WOULD NOT GO BACK NO ON.....ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE KERN CANYON HWY 178 TAKING THE CURVES MY INGINE SHUT OFF AND STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MILE SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10851767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,000 miles North Berwick, ME Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. AFTER PLUGGING IN A TIRE INFLATOR INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER PORT, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE TIRE INFLATOR FROM THE PORT AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX, WIRING HARNESS, AND VARIOUS OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #10821949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Duluth, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE GAUGE INDICATORS ALL SPIKE AND DO NOT ACCURATELY REPRESENT WHAT IS GOING ON. FOR EXAMPLE IT DOES NOT SHOW HOW FAST I'M GOING OR HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10816398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Mexico, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE RPM LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10807774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems

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