Model year record

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext recalls & problems

The 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer Ext has 1 safety recall and 261 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (147 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints261filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths13 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingNov 1, 2004

Brake lights

Recall 04V527000871,473 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

TrailBlazer Ext 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

TrailBlazer Ext 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

TrailBlazer Ext 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

TrailBlazer Ext 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	147	1	2	5	63,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system	29	0	0	0	81,500 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline	18	0	1	0	68,360 mi
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system; Engine	16	0	2	0	63,890 mi
Exterior lightingTurn signal; Brake lights	13	0	0	0	59,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	9	0	0	0	53,660 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	9	0	0	0	96,000 mi
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	8	1	0	1	48,500 mi
SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly; Column	8	1	0	1	90,000 mi
Fuel system, otherStorage › Fuel gauge system	8	0	0	0	55,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	7	5	0	12	154,654 mi
StructureBody › Tailgate; Body	7	0	0	0	88,500 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bagsCrash3 injuries
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE POLICE REPORT AS A HEAD ON COLLISION AND NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT AS I WAS TOLD WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
Apr 14, 2019 · 197,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
RUSTED FUEL LINES- GARAGE CHECKED STRONG FUEL SMELL AND DISCOVERED RUSTED FUEL FILLER AND LINES
Feb 8, 2019 · 171,000 miles
Structure › Body
PART # 19120564 RUBS ON TAILGATE WHEN OPENING . DOES SECURE PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING.
Jun 22, 2010
Exterior lighting
WHEN DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST SHUT OFF. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY AT NIGHT. I FOUND THAT I CAN HOWEVER USE THE BRIGHTS. THEY EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS. I KEPT HOPING FOR A RECALL AND JUST FOUND THIS SITE TO REPORT IT. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN THERE ARE STREET LIGHTS AND VEHICLE LIGHTS AND WHEN IT IS PITCH BLACK. THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD IN THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY.
Oct 5, 2007 · 40,000 miles
Structure › Body
MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE COMPLETE THIRD TAILLIGHT COVER BLEW OFF. IT APPEARS THAT THE ADHESIVE THAT ATTACHES THE REAR SPOILER TO THE GLASS OF LIFT GATE HAS LOOSENED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
Jan 16, 2018 · 105,000 miles
Air bags
INSTRUMENTAL PANEL/ GAGE CLUSTER. ALL GAGES CONTINUE TO FAIL SPIKING ALL OVER THE PLACE PRIOR TO FAILING. AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK ON THEN OFF RANDOMLY
Dec 22, 2017 · 157,000 miles
Unknown or other
STALLS - I HAVE TAKEN THIS TRAILBLAZER INTO THE DEALER FOR THIS STALLING PROBLEM AND I AM TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND. VEHICLE STALLS AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN MOVING SLOWLY. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT.
Nov 1, 2005 · 12,000 miles
Engine
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD
May 9, 2017 · 143,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Loss of HeadlightsClosed
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause…
RQ17002 · opened Apr 24, 2017 · closed Mar 29, 2021
FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKS GASOLINEClosed
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EA INVESTIGATION, ODI OBSERVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS (88%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (94%) WERE REPORTED FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE SALT BELT REGION OF THE US.THIS AREA INCLUDES 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC AND THE MIDWEST REGIONS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.CONSUMERS IN THE SALT BELT REGION REPORTED TO ODI THAT THEY COULD SMELL FUEL VAPORS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT FUEL VAPORS WERE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE RETURN AND SENDER LINES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.WATER AND ROAD SALT COLLECT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A…
EA07009 · opened Jul 10, 2007 · closed Aug 28, 2008
BRAKE LAMP FAILUREClosedLed to recall 04V527000
GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE/TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.ON MARCH 2, 2004, GM INITIATED A 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE SPECIAL POLICY FOR 989,487 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.ON APRIL 4, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-032) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.ON AUGUST 3, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE04-032 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-021).BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V527) COVERING SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL…
EA04021 · opened Aug 3, 2004 · closed Nov 4, 2004