Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
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.
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. …
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. …
The gauge cluster, speakers and occasionally lights stop working at various times, the gauges either register completely maxed out, minimum or somewhere obviously wrong. Example fuel gauge way past full, oil pressure gauge reading 0, charge gauge maxed out tachometer completely off the scale and speedometer inoperable. Rear speakers work sometimes and bulbs in brake lights and tail lights keep blowing out. The gauges are of most concern as the true values of fuel level, oil pressure, battery voltage and engine temp are rarely accurate (or even close). The speed will not operate at times and occasionally if the vehicle is restarted the speedometer will correct itself. All these conditions create safety concerns on some level from running out of gas in a less than desirable location, driving at incorrect speeds, overheating engine without warning or engine problems. …
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. …
Multiple times while driving the headlights will malfunction and turn on and off, at random driving speeds under many different conditions. I continued to drive the Trailblazer even after this occurred. Just not as often. If the heater was on while driving and the headlights would short the heater would stop and then turn back on. The fan turns on at random, first it turns on when driving at random times. The fan will turn on at random times with a higher speed and sound. I have had the inspection completed multiple times with a mechanic re-assuring the issue although it has been happening frequently. The check engine light is on all the time due to computer error and is a $500.00 fix. This has all happened and been reported within the first year I bought the vehicle from kendal motors in lewiston idaho. …
On 11/6/2010 while driving down the highway, smoke began to appear beneath the steering column. Pulled over and turned off vehicle, truck remained running and would not shut off, all lights interior and exterior lit up and would not shut off.... Opened hood and began pulling fuses to shut vehicle off and disconnect power. Had to cut battery cable and pull about 20 fuses to shut off. Called for tow truck and after inspection by myself and numerous mechanics it was found that a bundle of approx 80 wires perpendicular to the steering column had melted and started on fire. Total damage over $6600. Vehicle is totaled and insurance company (geico) refuses to pay claiming it was a vehicle defect. I owe over 10K on vehicle, purchased used 02/20/2010 with 59K. Total loss estimated at over 17K since finance company is no help trying to assist with repairs, I am letting them reposess it.
GM ignition switch problems/recall. On 07/18/2014 I took my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer (32,262 mi.) in for service to fix/replace parts: faulty ignition switch. Today, 06/02/2017, my Trailblazer (35,193 mi.) is still having the same problem. A faulty ignition switch which is causing ABS and parking brakes lights to come on and stay on, the blower for air/vent will not work and since these parts are all connected electrically, I once again have to replace the faulty ignition switch. I was never reimbursed for the first recall. Please look into this matter. I would hate to get rid of a perfectly good vehicle, that has held up all of this time, I only have 35,200 miles on this 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Will the ignition switch keep failing on this vehicle? Thank you.
While traveling about 15mph through a boat yard with my heater on high (5) I smelled a hot metallic odor, but thought it was just from some welding be done on a steel boat. Then my heater quit. I turned it down to 3 or 4 and it ran a little longer and quit completely. When I got home I checked on a Trailblazer website to find information and found that the blower resistor speed control unit was a common cause of this type failure. Upon removing this resistor pack I found the plastic plug connection on it had gotten so hot that it melted and fused the plug in the socket. When I did finally get it apart I found that one of the connector pins had burned completely off. Insulation on three or four wires had also been burned. Luckily there had been no major fire.
Electrical complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 617 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 42% of the model year's 1,466 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (171 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system 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 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 10 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system 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.