Most common 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Share of the 1,466 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 →
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (GM) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in GM's letter to…
Visibility › Windshield
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting.' the windshield urethane bead May not have adhered to the body in certain areas during the cure process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the windshield free of charge. The recall began on March 10, 2005. Owners May contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2005 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.
Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than…
What 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners say
Electrical system all 617 →
The driver's door master power window switch module got hot & started smoking. Removing and looking at it showed that it caught on fire. It looks like it started somewhere on the circuit board. It seems identical to the problem listed on the 2006 Chevy trailblazers. (NHTSA campaign number: 15V599000) it happened in 2015. I've just been holding onto the part because I didn't know what to do with it & the local dealer wasn't any help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While the vehicle was parked in the driveway without the keys in the ignition, a fire originated from the driver's door near the window switch. The contact extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 611 →
MY 15 YR OLD DRIVER IN TRAINING,, was leaving town with myself and her father the engine just stopped running causing us to lose all movement of car had to coast to the side of highway { busy with semis} had to call tow truck to come get it ,, it wouldn't start after trying a few times . and also the seat belts lock tight and will not give when pulled on them leaving you strapped tight in the seat you have to unhook them to release them .. very uncomfortable when you traveling
I purchased this truck brand new off the lot in May 2005. A few years after purchase the gas gauge stopped working, I attempted to search the web for recalls and there weren't any. Eventually it started working again on its own. So I didnt think anything else about it. Around 2009, or maybe later, it happened again. I then found out there was a way to get it replaced for free but it had stipulations. Less than 10 years old and under 100K miles. Well at the time it was 108K-115K miles and I was denied. I must admit I love my vehicle but to this day I have been fighting to get the pump replaced without having to pay for it as it was the companies fault. I calculate my miles based off the "trip" indicator on the dash. I know it seems silly, I mean it would be much easier to just invest, I'm a bit stubborn. …
Lights all 143 →
Tl* the contact owns 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was a burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact pulled over and inspected the head lights and noticed they were melted on the inside. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
When driving vehicle both left and right low beam headlights go out. The first time it happened was when I was driving long distance in the dark. Had to drive with my high beams on for the rest of the trip. There is no specific time frame, but generally it happens anywhere from 10- 30 minutes of driving. I suspect it is heat related. I have changed the headlight relay #46, bit it only fixed the problem for a week. Again the lights will go out after driving several minutes. I noticed there is a recall for a similar issue on the 2006 Chevy Trailblazer. Could this be the same problem with my vehicle. There are also multiple forums explaining the same exact issue with early 2000 model trailblazers. This issue happened approx 6 months ago. Last week we ran into another problem. Our ABS light comes on periodically. …
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer a good car?
Based on 1,466 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Trailblazer rates avoid: 2.1× 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 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The electrical system — 617 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (611) and lights (143).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, the most recent from October 31, 2006 (frontal). 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 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 23% 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.