Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND BRAKES ARE PRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WITH A NEW LIGHT BULB PLACED IN.
GEAR SHIFT LOCKED INTO THE PARKED POSITION WHILE VEHICLE STILL MOVING AND IN DRIVE. BRAKE PEDAL ALSO LOCKED.MY AUTISTIC SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS FAR BACK AS 2002 . DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE IMPACT ? I AM THE 3RD OWNER ,BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY RATING AND THAT IT HAS LESS THAN 92000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 5 YEARS.
ABS KICKS IN AT LOW STOPPING SPEED BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A HIGHWAY CEMENT WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT SPEED AT WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
WHILE STOPPED BEHIND A TRUCK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY 2004 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER STARTED MOVING FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND COLLIDED IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK JUST AHEAD OF ME WHILE STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR
HAD P0128 CODE FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AFTER P1680 CODE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON. REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT WENT AWAY ON NEXT CRANK UP TO MOVE VEHICLE AND CHANGE THERMOSTAT. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BOTH ON INTERMITTENTLY. TACHOMETER HAS BEEN STICKING AND SPEEDOMETER SHOWED ERRATIC SIGNS AROUND 55 MPH. NOW ALL GAUGES GOING WACKO OR NOT WORKING AT ALL AT TIMES. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WRAPPED COMPLETELY AROUND WITHOUT EVEN STARTING COLD ENGINE. ABOUT A MILE LATER, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT COMPLETELY UP THEN WENT AWAY, GAUGES RESET, AND RAN FINE WITH PROPERLY OPERATING INSTRUMENT PANEL... AT LEAST UNTIL I GOT HOME. THEN WACKO STUFF AGAIN. RESET PCM BY DISCONNECTING BATTERY CABLE, NOW THINGS SEEM FINE... FOR NOW. I'M TOLD TO REDO BAD GROUND ON ECBM BEFORE SUSPECTING BAD ABS MODULE AND TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE SUSPECTING BAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND PCM. HOWEVER, DEALER ANALYSIS SAID ABS MODULE GOT MOISTURE IN IT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. FIRST IS A $1000 ABS MODULE, SECOND IS A $400 PANEL, BOTH HAVE LABOR CHARGES ADDITIONAL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SUN GEAR WAS FAULTY. AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT WAS BURNING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH ABS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, SO THE CONTACT CHANGED IT HIMSELF. THE FAILURES OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A 120 POINT INSPECTION, BUT THEY NEVER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,576.
WE ARE HAVING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH OUR 2004 TRAILBLAZER. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY...PARTICULARLY THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER, BUT ALSO INCLUDE OUR HEADLIGHTS AND RADIO WHICH BOTH OCCASIONALLY FLASHING OUT FOR A SECOND OR SO. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 47,000 MILES. AND SINCE WE ARE FILING THIS COMPLAINT WE MAY AS WELL MENTION HOW OUR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN AT AROUND 48,000 MILES. *TR
REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO VEHICLE DESIGN FLAW RESULTING IN REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE HOSE REMAINING IN CONTACT WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE BRAKE HOSE IS TOO SHORT AND WAS EITHER DESIGNED, INSTALLED OR NOT ROUTED CORRECTLY. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES IN AN SUV WILL POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH OR A ROLL OVER, IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION, WITH LOSS OF LIFE. *TR
MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN NOT WORKING. SOME TIMES IT READS I'M GOING 80 WHEN I'M AT A STOP, OTHER TIMES (MAYBE ONE DAY OUT OF 10) IT WORKS FINE FOR ABOUT A DAY. THE FUEL AND OIL GAUGES ARE ALSO NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE FUEL SAYS IT IS PAST FULL UNTIL IT'S COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THE OIL DOES THE SAME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON A LOT FOR NO REASON. I ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TAIL LIGHT AND BLINKER OUT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE BULBS CHANGED. I HAVE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE WIRING/ELECTRICAL AND CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL REPAIR COSTS ARE $1100 SO FAR. *TR
ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SLOW LEFT TURN THE POWER BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO MORE OCCASSIONS I WAS MORE THAN (30) MILES FROM HOME IN THE EVENING ABOUT 7PM. ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RIDGEWAY CHEVROLET IN LANSING, ILLINOIS TO HAVE THEM CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO VACUUM TO THE BOOSTER. THAT THEY HAD TO CLEAN OUT THE PLUGGED VACUUM PORTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD NO PARTS WAS NEEDED BUT THE COST WOULD BE $240.57 WHICH I PAID. THE SERVICE ORDER # IS 151828. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE CALIPERS LOCKED AND COMPLETELY BURNED THE BRAKES. THE DISC BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,803 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,518. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB
ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEED AND THEN ABS HOLDING UP. I ALMOST GOT INTO 3 ACCIDENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, ABS SENSORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE SWITCH. NOTHING WORKS. FRONT TIRE AREA CATCHES ON FIRE IF DRIVEN FOR LONG DISTANCES. HARD TIME STOPPING. GM WILL NOT RECALL OR REPAIR. THERE IS A TSB (020525006) ON SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR MY STATE. RECALL IN OTHER PARTS OF COUNTRY FOR SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM STATES NOT FOR MY STATE EVEN THOUGH IT IS FOR SAME PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
WHEN CHECKING MY BRAKES I NOTICED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WHERE CORRODED AND RUSTY. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER WITH 32,262 HIGHWAY MILES. APPROXIMATELY 25-30% OF THE INSIDE OF THE ROTOR WERE RUSTED AND HAD WORN DOWN THE BRAKE PAD. SO ONLY 70% OF THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD WAS BEING USED FOR BRAKING. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR UNEVENLY. APPEARS THAT THIS COULD BE SERIOUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I CHECKED THE REAR ROTORS AND THEY ARE STARTING TO DO THE SAME BUT ONLY 1/2" ON THE OUTER EDGE OF BRAKE ROTOR IS RUSTED. I CHECKED THE RECALLS AND THERE WERE NONE FOR BRAKES. I CHECKED WITH CHEVY AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. IN CHECKING WEBSITES, TRAILBLAZERCLUB AND TRAILVOY, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE METAL. *NM
OCTOBER 5, 2005 I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. AT TIME OF PURCHASE, I WAS OFFERED A TIRES FOR LIFE DEAL. ALL THAT WAS REQUIRED OF ME WAS TO HAVE THE MAINTENANCE DONE AT CHEVY AND TO HAVE TIRE ROTATIONS AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS. LAST OIL CHANGE AND ROTATION ON JAN 8, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED FRONT BRAKES. 57,500 MILES ON VEHICLE. I SAID OKAY AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR JAN.15. AT THAT TIME, THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED NEW ROTORS ALSO. AT THIS POINT I WAS STARTING TO MISTRUST THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT MY VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER AND I WENT TO BIG O TIRES FOR A SECOND OPINION. UPON THEIR CHECKING MY VEHICLE, THEY FOUND ALL FOUR ROTORS TO BE BAD! IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER IS USING A DEFECTIVE METAL TO MAKE THE ROTORS. BIG O CLAIMS THAT IT IS A POTENTIAL LAW SUIT AND THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL. THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CASES COME IN LIKE MINE NOT ONLY ON THE TRAILBLAZER BUT OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS AND SUV'S. THE BRAKES WEREN'T ACTUALLY WORE THAT BAD BUT ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND PITTED. THESE ROTORS HAD NEVER BEEN TURNED THEY STILL HAD MANUFACTURER CLIPS ON THEM. IT WAS DEFINITELY A SIGN OF POOR QUALITY PARTS NOT REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. ALSO, CHEVY MAKES ME WONDER WHY THEY DID NOT NOTICE THIS EARLIER? I HAVE BEEN IN THEIR SHOP EVERY 3000 MILES FOR ROTATION, THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS RIGHT AWAY. IT IS AS IF THEY WERE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING. HERE IN 2 WEEKS I WILL BE GETTING NEW FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES. THEN AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD IT I AM GOING TO GET THE BACK ROTORS REPLACED. BUT THIS COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS TO MANY PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION ON 1/9/07. HE WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT ALL 4 ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ROTORS SHOULD NOT BE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT 21800 MILES. *AK UPDATED 01/31/07. *JB
I HAVE HAD MY TRAIL BLAZER FOR 1 YR AND 1 MONTH. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND BACK PADS AND ROTORS, BALL JOINTS, CATALYTIC (SP) CONVERTER, AND NOW THEY JUST TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ON THE MANIFOLD. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. THE OTHER DAY THE RADIO JUST STOPPED PLAYING AND THEN THE SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. *NM
TRAILBLAZER WAS TAKEN TO PLACE OF PURCHASE TO REPAIR PULSATING BRAKES. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY WITH UNDER 26,000 MILES. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR. SAID GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. RUSTY ROTORS WAS THE DIAGNOSIS. CONTACTED GM REP (LISA) AND SHE TOLD ME I LIVED IN THE RUST-BELT AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE RUSTY ROTOR CONDITION, NOT DEFECTIVE PARTS. SHE REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR. SUGGESTED I RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HAVE THEM CUT THE ROTORS (AT A RATE OF $150 PER AXLE). SUBMIT THE BILL TO GM AND THEY WOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO REIMBURSE ME. *NM
I OWN A 2004 TRAILBRAZER THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE GM RECALL ON LOSE BRAKE-LAMP FUNCTION OR HAVE BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ALWAYS ON. ON VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL, THAT FUNCTION ALSO BECOMES INOPERATIVE. . THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CONTACTED GM TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER RECEIVING THREE COMPLAINTS, AND THE COMPANY ISSUED THE RECALL IN RESPONSE, ADLER SAID. *NM
LAST WEEK IT WAS COLD & SNOWING. I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN AT A VERY LOW SPEED. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT. I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. AGAIN TODAY I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. TODAY THERE WAS LUCKILY NO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I WILL BE TAKING MY VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. . WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN, BUT WILL NOT STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ,INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE WEATHER CONDITION HAS NO IMPACT ON THE BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THEN THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2004 TRAILBLAZER ON AN ICY, SLIPPERY ROAD AT 25 -30 MILES PER HOUR, (THE SPEED LIMIT IS 30, IT WAS THE STREET WE LIVE ON) WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL, HIT A TREE AND TOTALED ($22,000.00) THE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER AND I WALKED THE PATH IN THE STREET AND COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF SKIDDING OR BRAKING, THERE FORE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE NOW THAT THERE WAS A BRAKING FAILURE. UP UNTIL NOW, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE BRAKES FAILING DO TO CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT, I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT IN POOR ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN I FIRST READ THE REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATION I COULDN'T BELIVE IT WAS THE SAME SCENARIO AS HER ACCIDENT. POOR ROAD CONDITIONS, THEREFORE POSSIBLE SALT BUILDUP, A SLOW SPEED AND INABILITY TO STOP. I AM SO GRATEFULL THAT SHE WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH, ALSO CONSIDERING THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT END WAS TOTALED. I AM SURE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MUST BE IDENTIFIED FOR THOSE LIVING IN COLDER, NORTHERN STATES.
MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED AT LEAST 8 INSTANCES IN MY AREA WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE TRAILBLAZER DON'T WORK. THE 3RD LIGHT ON TOP OF THE LIFT GATE WORKS, BUT THE REGULAR BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN BOTH OF THEM NOT WORKING. THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT ISN'T JUST A BULB BEING BURNT OUT. I HAVE LUCKILY NOT WITNESSED ANY ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THIS ISSUE, BUT MY FATHER OWNS A TRAILBLAZER AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG ELECTRICALLY CAUSING THIS PROBLEM I DON'T WANT THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN TO HIS RESULTING IN HIM POTENTIALLY BEING REAR ENDED. I SAW ONE ON I94 JUST EAST OF I696 YESTERDAY. I NOTIFIED THE WOMAN AND SHE SAID THAT SHE KNEW SO HOPEFULLY IT IS JUST THE BULBS, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. *NM
CONSUMER STATES: ABS SYSTEM: HIT BRAKES COMING OFF THE OFF RAMP, PUSHED THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR, HIT THE BRAKES AGAIN AND JUST DIDN'T STOP, HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE ROAD WAS DRY . *AK
THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE NEAREST CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON IT. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND PITTED. THIS VEHICLE IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE, SO RUSTING SHOULD NOT OCCUR EASILY. ALL FOUR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THIS IS JUST ONE OF 21 PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE- NOT TO MENTION THE SEVERE BACK PAIN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS CAUSING ME.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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