Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2005 Trailblazer instrument panel constantly fails - the speedometer stops working which is a safety issue. The gas gauge has been fixed once already and is now broken again. The vehicle has power surges which is another safety issue. The transmission shifts the car up and down when trying to slow down causing power surges. This is another safety issue. The following are other issues which this model vehicle: stereo cd player stopped working, the check engine light comes on when the gas cap light, the lights flicker also. I ought this vehicle used and with a cracked front bumper which the dealer didn't fix (dealer stuck a little bondo on area and repainted it so I thought it was a new bumper when I accepted the car after repair. It cracked in a matter of days) and I know this was caused due to the surges in power. A severe safety issue. …
At low rpms the truck will lunge forward /reverse depending which gear you are in . This happens when it wants it is not a constant . It idles high and surges. First occurrence happened in feb dealer did nothing . Next occurrence it almost hit my daughters friend when she passed in front of me. Again dealer did nothing and finally the last occurrence it lunged into a tree. Again dealer and GM found nothing. I have documentation from the mitchell repair company that states that the year make of my truck this has happened . However GM denies this. This truck is not safe.
The speedometer has become unreliable; it sticks / jerks while driving after which it does not display an accurate speed. I've had my speedometer read 30mph while completely stopped. It has a greater tendency to stick around 50-60mph. Repeatedly starting the engine, causing the speedometer to go through its reset cycle will move the needle back to 0mph in approximately 5mph increments for every start. This only provides a bit of reliability for short trips.
As of 2011 (while driving on freeways in multiple occasions) I've been having electrical issues such as my fuel level gage would read full and vehicle would shut off cause no gas in tank, air bags sensor would show it on when no one is sitting in the passenger seat, and there are some electrical issues on driver seat controls not working, dash board gages not showing readings while vehicle is in motion (rmp, speedometer, oil, gas).
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While sitting at a traffic stop with her foot depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle proceeded to crash into the vehicle ahead of her causing limited damage. The vehicle was not taken in for diagnostic testing. The contact stated the failure occurred once previously without incident. The failure and current mileages were 113,896.
The speedometer gets stuck on a speed and the only way to get it back down to 0 is by turning the engine on and off several times. This has happened to me several times in the last few months. From my research on this it appears this is happening to many many people but nothing gets done about it. It seems to me like it should be a recall to get it fixed.
Speedometer first showed speed of 60 when sitting still. I turned off the engine, restarting it 3 times and the speedometer reset. But a few days later it once again stuck and I had just started it. This time at 48 at all times whether the engine is on or off, idling of traveling. It continues to be stuck at 48 at all times, never decreasing or increasing.
First my rear wiper and rear washer stopped working but when you turn the button it sounds like it wants to go. Second my speedometer is all over the board. Sometimes it runs low, sometimes it's higher and at times it just won't move. It has also been off the board pointer down at the prnd321. Third my oil gauge stopped working.
The speedometer in my car started not working a week ago.. It would say I was going 70 and in reality I was only going 55. Now it starts out at 110mph when I start driving....making it really difficult to know how fast/slow I am going. I have read many articles of this happening with this make and model of vehicle.
The airbags will show that they're not enabled even with a passenger sitting in the seat.then it would come on as being on but no passenger in seat. A lot of sensors have popped up in the electrical panel, on top of that the car kinda shut down on me and started going 10 miles per hour, as I was going out in traffic.
Acceleration complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 5% of the model year's 1,466 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.