Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
On 04/06 my wife was driving our 05 Trailblazer that we have had about a year and the dealer already had to replace the engine, and now the brakes just went completely out without warning. It caused her to rear end another vehicle luckily no one was hurt. The dealer we bought it from refuses to work with us they told us they already put the new engine in it and they didn't have to do it. If they didn't have to do it then why did they keep it 2 months right after we bought it? I took it to a mechanic near where we live and he replaced the master cylinder for the brakes and they work fine now. The dealer said that it was out of warranty and we would have to pay 75 dollars for them to tell us what was wrong with it. This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. As soon as you fix something, something else major goes wrong with it. …
I bought this car used in 2009. It had about 60000 miles on it. 1) the first problem I had with it was a burnout of the hac blower plug, that part of the wiring harness had to be cut out and replaced wth a completely new plug( both halves) and rewired in for a cost of 125.oo and 3 hours of labour. I looked this up on the internet very common problem 2) rider side door control panel stopped working with strong odor of burnt plastic. Again looked up and found there was a recall, but only 2006 vehicles 3)brakes burn out of rotors only on rightside- left side rotors were fine, brake job with replacement of 2 left rotors I front piston amd all 8 pads 650.00. Failure occurred while driving on city street 4) failure of ignition switch with erratic electrical function of running lights, radio and dashboard instrumentation. …
This vehicle has had constant braking issues. From continual rotor replacements to regular pad replacements. The brake pedal has never been constant with regard to pressure and has always been"soft" when coming to a stop. The last 25 feet or so there is a vibration, hum, and when finally stopped, the pedal sinks another 1/2 inch or so like it sighs of relief. This makes it difficult to judge appropriate braking distances and lacks confidence in emergency situations. We took it to grossman Chevrolet where it was purchased in old saybrook ct. We were told theres nothing wrong and our driving style is to blame.that we were braking too hard and causing the rotors to warp. There is a fault in the ABS sensor system and GM has done nothing to assist owners. It is a known issue. This must be recalled or repaired at GM expense. …
The anti-lock brake system in my 2005 Chevy Trailblazer ls at times does not work. When I apply my brake the brake makes a noise sounding like grinding, not catching or holding, slips and goes to the floor. I have to rapidly act with swiftness within a short time to reapply my brakes in hopes they work. The brakes sometimes fail on bumpy roads, going over railroad tracks, coming to a stop at low speed, even on smooth roadways, at times entering on-ramps, and turning corners. I have been going over GM's expanded recalls to fix the problem with truck and SUV's brakes the date I saw was 12/23/2005. Can I get help with this problem???
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled afterwards. After approximately two minutes, the vehicle started normally. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and the diagnosis was that the ABS sensor, the oxygen sensor, the brake pads, the cluster module and the fuel sender lever had to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet trail blazer. The contact stated that while attempting to park, she accidentally applied the accelerator and the crashed into some concrete steps,leading to a building. The front driver side air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest and back. The vehicle was towed to a local body shop but was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 07/19/12 the consumer she attempted to use the emergency break, but it didn't stop the vehicle. Updated 07/24/12
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop when the brakes were engaged. As a result, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that the rear seat belts that were restraining two children became unbuckled and ejected the children from their child safety seats. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
, I was approaching a line of cars stopped for a red light. The weather was clear and I was decelerating and moving at approximately 20 MPH. As I began to apply the brakes, they failed catastrophically. The brake pedal hit the floor,with no resistance, and I ran into the back of a stopped pickup truck?.watching it all unfold before my eyes while my foot frantically pumped the brake pedal, which hit the floor with each attempt. Although it was a front end collision, the airbags did not deploy.
Purchased 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer ls oct.28 06. Since then, to date, veh. Has been in shop (dealership 4x). 1. Brake repair. All 4 calipers were replaced. This vehicle had only 22,000. Miles. In shop very 1st week of purchase. 2. Been complaining of flickering lights. Was handed a GMC printout stating they did not know cause. So therefore the dealership, hood Chevrolet, covington la. Could not do anything about it. 3. Complained of engine acceleration while applying brake, coming to a stop or a slow speed in a parking lot. Fear that I May crash into someone. Received printout from GM stating this was normal. But I see this is a hazard. 4. Complained of seat belt "riding" on the neckline, restricting blood flow in left artery on neck. I see this a major problem. I commute 26 miles one way to work at a hospital. I thought I would be safer driving my Trailblazer, now I fear for my life. …
I was stopped for my tail light being out. The next day, I replaced all of the fuses in the rear of my Trailblazer. Everything seemed to work, but then two weeks later I was stopped again for my tail lights not working. I replaced all the fuses, even though it was on one side (passenger side) then checked the circuit board, still the top tail light will not work. Found out that it does not work, when head lights are on..that is why I was getting pulled over at night. Only one tail light is not working and I can not drive at night because I keep getting pulled over because of this defect. It comes out of the blue. I have noticed that my right blinker sometimes blinks really fast. Also, over the past month I have experienced a total power failure in my Trailblazer. …
Brake complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2% of the model year's 1,466 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to brakes 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.