2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Complaints

Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...$6,435.00....if you can find the parts. driver was shaken up by the deployment but not injured.

NHTSA ID

11737768

Incident

May 12, 2026

FRAME ROTTING OUT - HAS ROT HOLES - UNSAFE - REMAINDER OF TRUCK IS GOOD BUT WITHOUT A SOLID STRUCTURE THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE AND USELESS. MANY TRAILBLAZER FRAMES DO NOT LAST AND ROT OUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING. BAD PRODUCT GM.

NHTSA ID

11564319

Incident

Dec 12, 2023

I was driving on the highway just reaching 55 mph, that is when all of a sudden, my suv stalled out with no warning no sound nothing. I tried to restart it and sounded as if it was trying to start but wouldn't. after a couple of times of trying that is when a tow truck came and as he was putting my suv on the flat bed I noticed huge amount oil on the ground. I got it towed to Chevy dealership for service and that is when they told me that the 6th cylinder cracked also a rod went through causing a hole in the engine block. I asked what could have caused it, because I'm on top of my maintenance and my suv only had 94,000 miles on it. That is when he explained to me that it was nothing that I did and that there was nothing that I could've done to prevent it and that there was nothing I did wrong that caused it. So, the leaves me asking, isn't that a manufacturing issue?

NHTSA ID

11470303

Incident

Jun 18, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while parked in her driveway, the passenger side door caught fire without warning. The fire occurred overnight and in the morning, the contact and her boyfriend discovered both her passenger side door and front passenger seat melted. The contact believed that the fire smoldered overnight and eventually burned out on its own. The fire department was not notified and a fire report was not filed. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact's boyfriend discovered that the wiring inside the door had melted which may have caused the fire. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000

NHTSA ID

11470255

Incident

Jun 19, 2022

Mileage

206,000 mi

I was just sitting in a drive thru and my passenger side window just started smoking and now it will not go down.

NHTSA ID

11429099

Incident

Jun 21, 2020

While driving home at approximately 9:30pm, my eighteen year old daughter experienced the headlights failing to come on after dark with the automatic headlight-on feature. She turned on the headlights manually, and the low beams still were not working, but all driving lights and high beam headlights were working. I assumed that the bulbs were burned out, so replaced both the driver and passenger side bulbs. The low beam headlights still failed to come on either automatically or manually. I Googled the problem, and multiple people have reported this exact same problem, and some stated that there was a recall due to this problem. I am unable to find either a recall or a service bulletin for this issue.

NHTSA ID

11425994

Incident

Jul 20, 2021

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY GAS TANK NEEDLE WENT DOWN TO EMPTY ON A FULL TANK OF GAS AND WILL NOT COME BACK UP, AND IT STALLS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11404272

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

Mileage

210,702 mi

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS BROKEN NOW THREE TIMES. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS CHANGED THE MANIFOLD TWICE FOR FREE BUT NOW THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PAY FOR IT PLUS I ASKED IF THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE TO THE CAST IRON MANIFOLD AND THEY TELL ME THE PART NUMBER CHANGED IN 2011 BUT MY FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN SO I KNOW THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. EXHAUST FUMES IN WINTER ENTER THE CABIN.

NHTSA ID

11397464

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING LINES BLOW

NHTSA ID

11397253

Incident

Feb 16, 2021

Mileage

170,000 mi

YES I WAS DRIVING ON THE 65 MILES AN HOUR IN THE PASSENGER LANE ARE CARPOOL LANE ALL THE SUDDEN FOR NO REASON BOTH CURTAIN AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED I HAD MY HEAD RIGHT NEXT TO KNOCK ME OUT COLD I DIDN'T PROCEED OVER AND HIT THE WALL 21 TIMES JUST SKIP DOWN IN WHEN I CAME TO I THOUGHT I WAS I THOUGHT IT AND OTHER VEHICLES LIKELY THAT WAS NOT THE CASE DID CAUSE SOME TESTA INJURY HURT MIGHT PULL MY CAR ALLEGEDLY FOR MY RIBCAGE IN GOT MY NECK IN MY HEAD I SEE THIS IS HAPPENED MANY TIMES THE 2008 BUT YET THEY KEEP SAYING THERE'S NO PROBLEM THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 2% LEAN AND EXPOSED THE 16 FOR THE ROLE OVER TO KICK IN THAT ESCAPE SCREWING EVERYBODY YEAH THE VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT NO TURNS NO BOMBS NOTHING JUST DEPLOYED I HAVE VIDEO PICTURES OF THE WALL IT SCREWED UP MY RAMS AND OF COURSE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MESSED UP AND SHOW THE BACK AXLE IN THE PUMPKIN SO NOW THATS WHINING SO I KNOW IT'S GONNA FAIL SOON POWER STEERING LINKIN TRUCK NEVER LEAD TO DROP ANOTHER WITH SILENT AT THE GREAT V6 IN IT NOW THE FRONT END STEERING ALL SCREWED UP AND I CAN SEE THAT IT'S HAPPENED MANY MANY TIMES BEFORE

NHTSA ID

11378181

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

DIM HEADLIGHTS QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BRIGHT LIGHTS WORKED, BUT NO DIMS.

NHTSA ID

11376443

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

THERE'S A PROBLEM AFTER BRAKING WHICH CAUSES A FEW SECOND DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED, SUPPOSEDLY PART OF THE STABILITRAK/ABS SYSTEM CAUSED BY A FAULTY SENSOR. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS WHEN WAITING TO TURN IN A LEFT TURN LANE.

NHTSA ID

11361695

Incident

Sep 25, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

REAR HATCH LICENSE PLATE LAMPS BLOWING OUT, FLICKERING ALSO HATCH LOCK CLICKS REPEATEDLY, WITHOUT TOUCHING ELECTRIC LOCK BUTTONS. WHEN OPENING THE HATCH THE LICENSE LIGHTS GO ON/OFF ON/OFF. THE HATCH LOCK CLICKS REPEATEDLY. THE HATCH WIRE HARNESS COVERED WITH A 'RUBBER BOOT/SLEEVE', WHEN MOVED CAUSES LOCK CLICKING AND PLATE LIGHTS FLICKERING. THE HATCH LOCK INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK. VEHICLE USUALLY PARKED. OBVIOUSLY UNABLE TO SEE LICENSE LAMPS WHEN IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11355266

Incident

Sep 10, 2020

MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER POWERS DOWN AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ACCELERATION I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS TO CARS BEHIND ME

NHTSA ID

11331302

Incident

Feb 27, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CRASHED AND REAR ENDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AT 53 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SEVERE CONCUSSION & ALMOST BIT HIS TONGUE OFF WITH HIS HEAD SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD. HE ALSO SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS LOWER BODY AND LEGS AND A BRUISED NECK. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED WITH THE WHOLE FRONT SMASHED IN UP TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11324166

Incident

May 5, 2020

Mileage

220,000 mi

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. THE CODE IS: B0026 DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11300990

Incident

Sep 25, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WENT TO CLOSE MY HATCHBACK ON MY 2008 TRAILBLAZER YESTER AND AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR A FEW SECONDS LATER THE GLASS EXPLODED. SOME ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND SOME ON THE OUTSIDE. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED. I NOW HAVE A CUT ON MY FINGER THAT MAY NEED STITCHES. I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS.

NHTSA ID

11289804

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

230,000 mi

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS STABILITRAK ACTIVATES SHUTTING POWER OFF TO THE WHEELS ONCE YOU RELEASE GAS PETAL FOR 5-10 SECONDS STABILITRAK WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AND ALLOW POWER BACK TO WHEELS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU PULL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANY STREET AND YOU LOOSE POWER, YOU COULD GET HIT

NHTSA ID

11289053

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

84,000 mi

LOW BEAMS STOPPED WORKING, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND IT WORKED FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW LOW BEAMS RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. AIRBAG SENSOR KEEPS TURNING ON AND OFF AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE AIRBAG SENSOR SEEMS TO COME ON MORE ON LONGER TRIPS AROUND THE CITY WITH MORE TURNS.

NHTSA ID

11268036

Incident

Sep 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FASTEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, HE NOTICED THAT THE BELT WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11246513

Incident

Dec 31, 2015

Mileage

62,000 mi

CAN TURN OVER BUT DOESNT START HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING WITH KEY UNTILL IT STARTS AND WILL ONCE IN AWHILE JUST LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES CAN PUT IN NEUTRAL AND WILL START BACK UP BUT SOMETIMES HAVE TO PULL OVER TO WAIT AND RESTART CANT DRIVE ON FREE WAY AFRAID IT WILL DIE OUT IN TRAFFIC

NHTSA ID

11244369

Incident

Jun 10, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON MANUALLY. COMES ON AND OFF AS IT PLEASES. HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT RELAY TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA ID

11241389

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

211,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN THE EVENING AND BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF AND WON'T COME BACK ON.

NHTSA ID

11222123

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

146,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS JUST WENT OFF. NO WHITE LIGHTS ONLY THE AMBER LIGHTS WERE ON, THE NEXT DAY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK.

NHTSA ID

11219914

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WAS RAINING PRETTY HARD. I HIT A POTHOLE THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE AND MY AIRBAGS, ONLY ON THE SIDES, DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11218100

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi