Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Brakes failed for no apparent reason around 8:00 am that morning. My friend and I was driving to my home in his 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer after many stops that morning. We was on the interstate doing 65 MPH. I noticed the traffic ahead approaching and I said "cars" indicating to my friend to slow down. He said "I have no brakes!" We narrowly missed the first cars and while readjusting we came into contact with the driver side of three vehicles rolling us on our side! I broke both my arms escaping thankfully with my life. We had no idea what suddenly and unexpectedly lost brakes. Weeks afterwards I started reading about the stabilitrac and steering sensor on the 1 of many Chevrolet vehicle defect issues. Around that year and I believe was the problem. I have been out of work and tried to explain this to people with no reply. …
2006 Chevy Trailblazer spun out on snow while my daughter was driving. It went towards the left then immediately jerked around to the right and continued to gain speed as it launched us off the roadway and into a group of trees. The brake pedal wouldn't budge, the steering wheel continued to turn in circles not controlling the tires at all. The backseat broke apart before impact and was throwing my teenage son around in the back. The front seats broke loose as well and slammed both driver and passenger into the dash during impact. The seatbelts did not engage to lock into place like they are supposed to and despite full frontal damage and a SUV deemed totalled/destroyed by my insurance company, not a single airbag deployed or attempted to deploy. …
I was in a crash and neither front airbag deployed, my insurance adjuster questioned if the air bag system even works. I have copy of the estimate to repair as well. Due to the force of impact even local repair shop stated that my air bags should have gone off as well. Is there a recall on this model for air bags not deploying? I was in a second wreck on 3/7/17 and neither air bag deployed at that time either and there was no bumper so air bags should have definitely gone off.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the driver drifted off the road and crashed the vehicle into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a fractured nose and left cheekbone that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed back to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 199,000.
Vehicle was traveling on city street at 30mph when it struck a utility pole, shearing it off at the base. Vehicle then traveled straight up a hill and struck a house, coming to rest there. None of the air bags deployed. News story at http://www.wgem.com/category/133158/video-landing-page?&clipid=12610200&autostart=true
My son was in an accident in his 2006 Trailblazer. He was crossing a city street intersection when another vehicle struck his truck on the drivers side at an estimated 40+MPH, the truck flipped and slid about 15-20 feet. None of the airbags deployed.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was resistant when it was depressed. The vehicle would not stop and the contact rear ended another vehicle. The road conditions were dry and there were no warning indicator lights prior to the failure. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The front bumper was damaged and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the brake failure. The manufacturer stated that the speed was not fast enough to make the air bags deploy. The driver was wearing her seat belt, but she reinjured her back and experiences numbness in her legs. While driving between 30-60 MPH, the engine would stall and the check engine warning light flashed. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to the dealer. …
In approximately April of 2010 my gas gage on my 06 Trailblazer quit working. The part was no longer under warranty at 84K miles. Very dangerous when traveling 400 miles with elderly aunt and small child 2x a week. On October 1, 2010 I was involved in a high speed collision when a car pulled in front of me, while I was going 70mph. The airbags did not deploy, I suffered major trauma to my knees and am unable to walk well or drive. I hit my head on the steering wheel and continue to have pain. My elderly aunt broke 3 cervical vertebrae and still has a trachiotomy over a month later. She is still in the hospital, and it is unknown if she will come home.
The airbag deactivated light on the dash cluster comes on and off but mostly stays on now. No codes showing the cause. While driving both low beam headlights suddenly turned off, later diagnosis showed an electrical issue that melted both low beam light connectors and wires at the bulb end, new connectors were installed. Two different times within 1yr the heater blower motor relay has gotten hot enough to melt the connector and burn out the relay, connector replaced twice and currently melting again as fan speed 1, 4, and 5 have again stopped working. Heater blower motor also replaced twice concurrent with relay.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle while driving in snowy weather. The vehicle nose dived into an embankment and then crashed into a boulder. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment of a concussion and bruising. The front passenger was also injured and sustained bruising. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.
Related recalls
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…
Airbag complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 3% of the model year's 1,108 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-417 (frontal, Oct 31, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 1 fire and 32 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags 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.