Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 55 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 55, in the owner's own words
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.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE HEATER CIRCUIT. *TR
2004 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER KEEPS GETTING CAM POSITION SENSOR FAULT. CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WE HAVE REPLACED THIS PART THREE TO FOUR TIMES ON OUR TRUCK. TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH ENGINE KNOCKED AND HAD REDUCED POWER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS FILED REPORTS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER BEHIND HIM NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING FRONT UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO SIGNAL OR INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. UPDATED 6/12/18*JB
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. SINCE THAT TIME THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE YIELDING A TOTAL OF THREE WATER PUMPS. AS OF THIS WRITING THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SOLELY USED FOR PRIVATE USE NOT COMMERCIAL USE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 85,000 MILES ON IT. THREE WATER PUMPS IN 85000 MILES IS WRONG AS THERE IS NO LONGEVITY TO THE PART. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED IN MOTION AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION DAMAGE IF NOT STOPPED IIMMEADIATELY.
I BELIEVE THE PERSON THAT SOLD US THE TRAILBLAZER KNEW IT WAS A LEMON AND WE BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH FINANCE COMPANY AND PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES IS A SHADY COMPANY ALONE WITH NATHANS AUTO SALES. I HAVE TWO DISABLES CHILDREN AND THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE THEIR TRANSPORTATION TO SURGERIES THERAPY AND SCHOOL. IT STAYS BROKEN DOWN ALL THE TOME WITHIN A YEAR IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON 15 TIMES ALSO THE LINKAGE TO THEM SHIFTIER IS BROKEN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PA FOR A CAR INSURANCE AND WORK ON THIS VEHICLE EVERY WEEK. SAVANNAH TIRE IS A RIP OFF TOO THEY CANNOT DO ENGINE JUST CHANGE OIL. LEMON LA AND CRAPPY MECHANIC WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING INDICATOR WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE...UPDATED 05/14/15 *BF
ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING ON RANDOM CYLINDERS,MISFIRE DOES NOT STAY ON SAME CYLINDERS. HAS DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER. DIAGNOSTIC CODE SAYS RANDOM MISFIRE. DRAMATICALLY DECREASED FUEL ECONOMY. BAD VIBRATION. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES DURING MISFIRE. DOES NOT HAVE A CONSTANT MISFIRE, IT COMES AND GOES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE LUG NUTS DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE AT A DEALERSHIP IN 2010. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE BUT IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTER. THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS ALL MY GAUGES STOPPED WORKING EXCEPT MY SPEEDOMETER. IN 2012 I WAS DRIVING AND AT TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITHIN A DAY APART, WHILE I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT OR GAS STATION, MY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE FREE TESTS DONE AND NOTHING WAS SHOWING UP AS ABNORMAL. AROUND 2013 MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A REAL HIGH PITCH SQUEALING SOUND DURING START UP AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR INTO SINCE IT NEEDED A NEW WATER PUMP AND THEY SAID THAT THE HIGH PITCH SOUND COULD BE FIXED BUT WASN'T A SAFETY CONCERN. IN 2014 JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, AGAIN I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AND MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON AND HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PULL INTO A SPOT BEFORE IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T START MY KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND IT COULD NOT BE JUMP STARTED. AFTER TAPING THE BATTERY THE KEYS CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION. IT STARTS NOW BUT NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE THE VEHICLE WORKS. AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND THE FACT THAT I CAN'T ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS AND THE AIR BLOWS ONLY HOT. THE STEREO DOESN'T WORK, THE SEATS TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACK DO NOT WORK. THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS WORK BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING DO NOT WORK. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WORK. *TR
MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING THIS SUV, THE ENGINE HAS JUST SHUT OFF. IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP. HOWEVER IT IS SCARY AND WE HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE THIS OUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. THE WORST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND THE CAR CUT OFF. I DON'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THIS PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. I CAN NOT GET ANY INFORMATION FROM CARMAX IN REGARD TO THIS. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND DUE TO THIS, I RARELY TAKE IT OUT ON THE ROAD ANYMORE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER POWERING OFF, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAN BELT WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO A RECURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FAN BELT WAS FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,500.
OTHER DRIVERS NOTIFIED OWNER/DRIVER THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE KNOCKING NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR THE TYPE OF ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE WERE DOWN SIZED, CAUSING THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE ON 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. OIL PRESSURE AND AMPS GAUGE MALFUNCTION. MECHANIC QUOTED PRICE $650 TO REPLACE CLUSTER. EMISSIONS FAILURE PAID DEALER APPROXIMATELY $375 TO REPLACE EMISSIONS PUMP. AIR CONDITIONING MODE MOTOR ACTUATOR OUT; BLOWER DOESN'T OPERATE ON HIGH SETTING. DEALER QUOTED PRICE $750 TO FIX AIR CONDITIONER. SPORADIC ELECTRICAL ISSUES-SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON-FIRST TIME CODE READ FAULTY THERMOSTAT COOLING SENSOR, NEXT IT READ FAULTY AIR MASS SENSOR, ANOTHER TIME IT READ FAULTY EMISSIONS SENSOR. MECHANIC QUOTED PRICE $40 PER HOUR PLUS PARTS TO ISOLATE PROBLEM. A PERSON COULD GO BROKE BEFORE FIXING POSSIBLE PROBLEMS, CONSIDERING NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO ALL THESE POSSIBILITIES. FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, HARD TO ISOLATE. PAID MECHANIC $135 TO REPLACE RIGHT SIDE INNER TIE ROD END. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN RETURNING STEERING WHEEL FROM A RIGHT TURN, FRONT RIGHT SIDE MAKES A SINGLE "POP" SOUND. HAD TO REPLACE "BURNT" HEADLIGHT PIGTAILS ON FRONT, AND PARK LIGHT PIGTAIL ON RIGHT REAR. PROPERTY DAMAGE IS CONSIDERED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE DUE TO THE COMPLAINTS LISTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILERBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE CODE INDICATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. WITHIN A FEW DAYS ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSTIC CODE DISPLAYED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,393.
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD . NOTHING CAUSED THIS EVENT , IT JUST FAILED OUT OF NOWHERE, NOW IT HAS TO BE REPLACED , THIS IS AN UNCOMMON EVENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART TO JUST CRACK OR FAIL , AND AFTER READING RESEARCHING THIS EVENT I FOUND IT TO BE MORE COMMONPLACE IN THIS FROM THIS PARTICULAR CAR MANUFACTURER. THE FUMES FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS THE SAFETY ISSUE , NOT TO MENTION THE UNBEARABLE NOISE. *TR
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DEAD - HEATER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AND DRIVERS SIDE IS STUCK ON HEAT AND WON'T SHUT OFF - SENDING THE TRAILBLAZER TO OBAMA AND GOV.'T MOTORS - NO CHANCE IT WILL EVER GET FIXED SINCE OBAMA BOUGHT OFF THE UNION! *TR
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON AFTER COMPLETING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT A LOCAL DEALER THEY SAID THE MALFUNCTION WAS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION(AIR PUMP) CODE P0410. THEY SAID THE REASON THESE GO OUT IS BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND THE WAY THEY ROUTED THE HOSES INSTEAD OF AIR FLOWING THROUGH IT CAUSES WATER TO ACCUMULATE THEREFORE MAKING THE MOTOR IN THE AIR PUMP TO GO BAD. SO WHILE CHANGING OUT THIS BAD AIR PUMP THERE WAS SO MUCH WATER THAT HAD ACCUMULATED IT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE LIGHT TO BLOW WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE MECHANIC TO BE ELECTROCUTED! *TR
2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT# 10-0001-91 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF
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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