Most common 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Share of the 1,081 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Trailblazer complaints by model year
Best Trailblazer years: 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2005, 2002, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) May cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2005.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on November 22, 2004.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer:
Loss of Headlights
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.
Brake lamp failure
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation on model year (my) 2002-04 Chevrolet trailblazer vehicles.GM reports that other vehicles sharing this platform and brake lamp design are the my 2002-2004 Chevrolet trailblazer ext; GMC envoy, xl, xuv; Oldsmobile bravada and 2004 Buick rainier.complaints allege that the rear brake lamp does not operate when the brake pedal is depressed.there is no…
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
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…
Brake lamp failure
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…
What 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners say
Electrical system all 627 →
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.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. After plugging in a tire inflator into the cigarette lighter port, the vehicle filled with black smoke. In addition, the contact smelled a burning odor. The contact immediately removed the tire inflator from the port and shut the engine off which stopped the vehicle from smoking. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuse box, wiring harness, and various other internal components melted. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 148 →
I own a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer ext and just like the thousands of others mine has a defective gas tank filler on the top of the tank. It's a known bad part feom the factory. Mine has had a hole for a while now. It can literally leak over 10 gallons of gas a day if you fill the tank to full. Even if you don't the smell of gas in and around the vehicle is terrible. My check engine light is on because of it. It runs like crap because of it. What's more dangerous than spilling gas everywhere you go!? Some people have had Chevy pay for the repairs on there 2004 Trailblazer. Look it shouldn't matter what your VIN# is or how many miles at this point (I just hit 150,000) the gas tanks on these vehicles are faulty, they're dangerous, they're exspensive. I surely dont have $800-$1500 laying around to fix a part that is known and proven to be bad. …
Smelled gas and noticed puddle under vehicle when parked. Checked online and found this seems to be a common problem for this vehicle and was worried because this seems to be a safety issue. Contacted Chevrolet about it and was told to take to dealer to have inspected for any damage to vehicle. I was charged $49.73 to be told that I had a fuel leak and to repair it I would be charged $1897.00 even though Chevrolet has issued a service bulletin #05012 for this very issue and that it can be repaired for no charge but they would only cover for 10 yrs. Or 120,000 miles. But since I am a little over on both items they will cover nothing and want me to pay the entire amount to which I feel this is very unfair as this is a common issue with this vehicle and miles should not be an issue for a defective part and since this is a safety issue.
Lights all 104 →
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights became inoperable. After a while, the headlights became operational. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights and the brake lights randomly stopped illuminating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the light bulbs, circuit boards, and fuses; however, the failures continued. When replacing the brake lights, the bulbs melted into the circuit board. The local dealer was not notified of the failures. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 160,000.
2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer a good car?
Based on 1,081 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Trailblazer rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Trailblazer at the same age. It is one of the Trailblazer years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The electrical system — 627 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (148) and lights (104).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer, the most recent from May 5, 2005 (turn signal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2002, 2006 and 2004. See the full Chevrolet Trailblazer years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 28% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.