RoadVitals

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
202
+7 complaints in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Jun 10, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
10
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 202 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), engine and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 754 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT:STAND

Jun 10, 2021
135,400 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.
The risk: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.
General Motors, LLCManufacturer number A212335470View on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES

Sep 24, 2020
3,677 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.
The risk: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number A202307260View on NHTSA.gov

SEATS; SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Sep 3, 2020
105 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.
The risk: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number A202304380View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 9, 2026

When I stop to park, a 'shift to park' light comes on. Have to restart vehicle 2-4 times and shift out of park, then re-shift to park. This has happened several times in the past two years. Most recently, vehicle will shift to park but will not move if put into reverse. Please help.

NHTSA ID
11776753
Incident
Nov 7, 2026
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious and potentially life-threatening braking malfunction involving my 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS. While actively driving the vehicle, three separate warning messages suddenly appeared on the dashboard: Service Power Steering Service ESC Brake System Failure At approximately the same time, the brake pedal suddenly became extremely hard. I had to apply excessive physical force to the brake pedal in an attempt to slow and stop the vehicle. The vehicle did not respond as expected when braking. I nearly crashed because I could not stop the vehicle normally. This malfunction occurred unexpectedly while the vehicle was being driven. It was not an issue that occurred when starting the vehicle. The sudden loss of normal braking assistance created an immediate and extremely dangerous situation. A driver should never have to wonder whether their vehicle will be able to stop when the brake pedal is applied. 2. Previous Dealership Visit and GM Engineering Involvement I previously brought the vehicle to the dealership because of this same braking problem. GM engineers became involved and instructed the dealership to address a computer ground connection and perform a software update to the brake module. I paid approximately $200 for this attempted repair. Unfortunately, the very next morning after picking up the vehicle, the exact same braking malfunction occurred again. The fact that the problem returned the morning immediately following the repair raises serious concerns that the underlying safety defect was never properly identified or corrected. 3. Additional Repair Estimate After the problem continued, the dealership presented me with a repair recommendation totaling approximately $3,094.44. continued below

NHTSA ID
11775287
Incident
Apr 12, 2026
EngineSteering
Filed Nov 2, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious engine failure in my 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS that occurred while I was driving. While driving, the vehicle displayed the warning message “Engine Power Reduced” and I experienced a loss of power steering. Approximately 30 seconds after these warnings and symptoms appeared, the engine failed and I was stranded. The vehicle became inoperable. The sudden loss of engine power and power steering while the vehicle was in motion created an extremely dangerous situation. The vehicle could no longer be safely operated, and I was left stranded after an abrupt failure while driving. This vehicle has experienced recurring engine-related problems since approximately 30,000 miles. Despite previous repair attempts and ongoing concerns, it has now suffered a severe engine failure. The dealership’s diagnostic report states that the engine died and would not crank or start. The technician diagnosed a shredded or failed timing belt that caused the engine to jump timing. The report further documents internal engine damage, including piston-to-valve contact and exhaust-side rocker arms displaced from the valves/lifters. The dealership recommends replacement of the complete engine assembly. The estimated cost to replace the engine is approximately $6,200. I contacted General Motors regarding this failure. GM has offered to contribute only 10% toward the repair cost, leaving me responsible for the overwhelming majority of the expense despite the vehicle’s history of recurring problems. I am concerned that this failure may represent a serious safety defect. Other owners of the same vehicle have reported similar engine-related problems.

NHTSA ID
11775064
Incident
Oct 16, 2026
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 31, 2026

As I was driving down the road the check engine light lit on and vehicle went into limp mode which didn’t let me accelerate over 20 miles an hour. This happened in a busy intersection after safely and cautiously moving to the right to avoid any traffic collisions we got it towed. The codes that came up were P0700 and P0796 Transmission failure due to a stuck solenoid. Chevy has Internal bulletin 20-NA-120 regarding these breakdowns. It’s a known problem and one that is dangerous to the public because these incidents can happen anywhere even on busy highways or freeways.

NHTSA ID
11774900
Incident
Oct 17, 2026
Engine
Filed Oct 26, 2026

The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The message "Reduce Engine Power" was displayed before the instrument panel went blank. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to several mechanics and the dealer, and the vehicle was diagnosed with timing chain failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 48,000.

NHTSA ID
11773763
Incident
Oct 14, 2026
Mileage
48,000 mi
Filed Oct 24, 2026

I have been having issues shifting into park. My Trailblazer will sit there and tell me to shift into park multiple times before it will recognize park. I’ve had to hit the gear shift a couple times before it will recognize park.

NHTSA ID
11773350
Incident
Oct 20, 2026
Filed Oct 20, 2026

While driving on the interstate on October 17, 2026, my 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer (1.2L turbo) suddenly lost engine power and would not accelerate, with the check engine light on. I had to coast to the shoulder and have the vehicle towed. The dealer diagnosed a failed turbocharger and a failed timing belt at 110,904 miles — far below GM's own 150,000-mile replacement interval for this belt. A timing belt that fails early can cause sudden, total loss of power at highway speed with no warning. This is a serious safety hazard. An Ohio state trooper had to assist with getting myself and my minor son off the interstate and to a safe location.

NHTSA ID
11772321
Incident
Oct 17, 2026
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 5, 2026

My 2021 Trailblazer does not shift into drive properly from park or reverse. When shifting into drive, the engine revs but does not move forward. In some cases, the vehicle also shakes and jolts for several seconds. It is also slow to shift into higher gears at high speeds on the freeway. In cases of quick acceleration, the check engine light comes on and the message "Engine Power Reduced" shows. This has caused potentially dangerous situations where I am not able to accelerate to match the flow of traffic, especially when merging onto the freeway. I have taken the car to both a Chevy dealership and an independent shop, who have both confirmed that there is a "loss of forward gear" and pulled codes P2714 and P0700. I have been told that I most likely need a transmission replacement at only 34,000 miles.

NHTSA ID
11769082
Incident
Jul 20, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIC5650N

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3

PIT5698F

This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.

PIP4902W

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5995B

This Preliminary Information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors.

PIT6196A

This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control, Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keep Assist Turns Off or Inoperative.

PIC6551C

This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Trailblazer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026131053.8
2025271046.4
2024361048.5
2023760047.1
20221131047.7
2021Viewing2024056.1
2020000—
2019000—
2018000—
2017000—
2015000—
2014100—
2013000—
2009270150.8
20081930145.1
20077325461.9
20061,1088461.6
20051,4662254.1
20041,0812458.0
20039018863.4
20021,149131065.2
2001200035.6
2000260038.7
1999400—
1998000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.