Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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 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. …
Fuel gauge is not working properly. I checked with dealer and the NHTSA website about this issue. The problem is that GM will not honor the service bulletin. According to GM I was mailed out a service notice on my vehicle in 2011 which I never received. # 10041526 . I checked with the GMC dealer about this service bulletin and the they told me to bring my vehicle in for repairs. Well the dealer called and told me that my vehicle was out of the parameters for a cost free repair. I bought this vehicle brand new back and 2005 and I have kept up with the repairs and maintenance. The dealership I have this serviced at over the years never did any repairs on this service bulletin. I am a oif army veteran and I can not currently afford this $900 repair. I told customer service at Chevy about this and all they offered was a Chevy loyalty car. Really your kidding me?
This vehicle was knowingly sold with an existing failure to a warrantied part. The dealership failed to notify us, the prospective buyer about the failed part and has attempted to offer "hush money" to make their responsibility go away. The secondary air injection pump is known to be bad on the vehicle and the dealership refuses to repair it and just as stated offer hush money to make this problem go away. This type of behavior needs to stop and dealerships held responsible for their actions. A document with the information about the problem can be provided if needed to further investigation.
Fuel gauge sensor not working properly. When fueling up, the gas gauge falls to 0, after turning the vehicle on and the low fuel sensor light comes on and dings. After a few miles the gauge goes to 1/4 of a tank indicating there is gas, but not indicative of actually what is in the tank. I have tried to reset my tripometer every time I fuel up, and then stop at the gas station and refuel every 240 miles. However this past weekend I ran out of fuel and the vehicle came to a stop on a major highway. I know now that this is also unreliable and will make it a point to stop at every 200 miles.
First was the right tail light caught fire and blew fuses, then I get power surges that cause the vehicle to accelerate randomly at the worst times and/or will also stall out, which can be potentially very dangerous or end in a fatal accident, it drops in rpms and lights dim then it accelerates... And the last thing is that the fuel gauge fluctuates dramatically and you can never tell how much fuel you really have... Drive 10 miles at quarter of a tank and it either stays close to the same spot or drops and the light comes on for low fuel.
I noticed my battery guage quit. Then after starting my truck a few different times, the gas guage read differently. Then my speedometer wduld stick on 100 when I was doing approximatly 60. Then the speedometer would not work at all. There needs to be a recall on it. My friend has a 2005 also and her cluster pannel went out too. Its a 400.00 repair. This has happened to quite a few 2005 Chevrolet trailblazers from what ive read online. Come on general motors. You need to recall these models.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer xlt. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was a burning or smoke odor and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the fuel level gauge failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the fuel level sensor and the air auxiliary valve was defective and would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. There were no related recalls to the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Fuel gauge was on 1/2 tank. I went to the gas station to fill it up and all of a sudden the gauge meter went to the left and read "empty" and the low fuel light came on even though I had a full tank of gas. I restarted the truck and the fuel gauge meter still read low (less than a 1/4 tank), it eventually returned the to the 1/2 gauge/meter mark. Car was stationery at the gas station at time of the incident, then I eventually drove off at low speed.
Nov.2013 was the frist time we had a proplem, right after that the oil gauge was not working. On an off we have noticed other type of problem that seem to be electrical. For the last year \year an half my gas is all over the place, always stopping to get gas as not to give out. Also, my gear and mileage gauge does not work. Now have no idea when to change the oil or rotate tires
NHTSA investigations
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…
Fuel System complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 611 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 42% of the model year's 1,466 complaints. The component named most often is storage › fuel gauge system (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.