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 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...$6,435.00....if you can find the parts. driver was shaken up by the deployment but not injured.
Yes I was driving on the 65 miles an hour in the passenger lane are carpool lane all the sudden for no reason both curtain airbags just deployed I had my head right next to knock me out cold I didn't proceed over and hit the wall 21 times just skip down in when I came to I thought I was I thought it and other vehicles likely that was not the case did cause some testa injury hurt might pull my car allegedly for my ribcage in got my neck in my head I see this is happened many times the 2008 but yet they keep saying there's no problem that even though it's a 2% lean and exposed the 16 for the role over to kick in that escape screwing everybody yeah the vehicles on the highway going straight no turns no bombs nothing just deployed I have video pictures of the wall it screwed up my rams and of course the 4 wheel drive messed up and show the back axle in the pumpkin so now thats whining so I …
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that he crashed and rear ended into another vehicle stopped at a stop light at 53 MPH. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy as well as the seat belt pretensioner failed to engage. The contact sustained a severe concussion & almost bit his tongue off with his head smashing into the windshield. He also sustained cuts and bruises on his lower body and legs and a bruised neck. There was a passenger in the other vehicle that had to be transported to the hospital with injuries as well. The vehicle was totaled with the whole front smashed in up to the windshield. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 220,000. The VIN was not available.
The vehicle lost control on black ice, the steering wheel and brakes locked up and the Trailblazer hit a tree.the airbag never deployed. The vehicle's frame was bent. The SUV was considered a total loss. The vehicle picked up a little more speed while on the ice, but no more than 30 MPH.
Engine dies while driving (losing propulsion, steering, brakes, etc.) and the key will not restart when turned forward (in neutral), while coasting, but will restart when the key is turned back and then forward again. In this case, coasting down and braking and turning right, possibly with right turn signal on. Died right before starting to turn the steering wheel at about 15-20 MPH. It was a clear dry 100 degree afternoon, on smooth pavement. We live on a bumpy dirt road that is just over a quarter of a mile long to reach our house. Similar to other GM ignition key / no air bag recall programs for similar model year vehicles, such as the hhr. There is no recall, but how many people does this happen to? Any deaths, yet? I don't believe the air bags May have worked, should we have been involved in an accident. …
My daughter traveling at approximately 55 MPH, saw car in front of her stopped at a stop light. She attempted to slam on the brakes, it felt as if she was not stopping at all. She hit the stopped car, pushed both of our cars through the intersection to the other side. Her airbag did not deploy, OnStar did not contact her. The reason I bought this specific car was for the OnStar in case of a collision or emergency. When I contacted OnStar later, they reported they did not receive notification that a collision had occurred. I contacted GM to have brake, airbag, and OnStar failure investigated. Received report from GM investigator stating no failure in airbag system, that the crash was not significant enough to cause airbag deployment and OnStar notification. She was traveling 45 MPH upon impact (per cdr). The car was totaled - over $13,000 damage. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the curtain air bags deployed without warning. In addition, a white substance emitted into the interior of the vehicle when the failure occurred. A police report was not filed. The contact was not injured. The insurance company inspected the vehicle and indicated that it was a manufacturer failure that needed to be investigated and repaired. The insurance company refused to repair the air bag failure. The manufacturer indicated that there was no potential defect with the premature air bag deployment. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residence due to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
It bag for front driver light is on do not know why? There is some kind of electrical short and I've had it checked by two companies cannot find it I've had new battery, new alternator and still car stops working I get car jumped and can put key in ignition to try to start car and when I shut car off too soon or why I try to start car it's not working and then I cannot get key out of the ignition this has happened at least 5 times car only has 84883 miles on it this happenes if front of house when I go to start car. I am listing last time this happened was today but the airbag for the drivers side is always on now for about 5 months
Tl contact rented a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving between 20-30 MPH, the vehicle veered to the left and the front and rear driver side tires crashed into the median. As a result, the side curtain air bags deployed. The contact stated that she was unsure what repairs were made and the manufacturer was unable to diagnose the failure. The current and failure mileages were 263. Updated 01-29-08. Updated
Tl contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving 35 MPH, the contact was involved in a head-on crash. The entire front end of his vehicle was crushed and the insurance company declared the vehicle as destroyed. The seat belts properly restrained the contact, but the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries, but a police report was filed. The failure mileage was 6,500.
Airbag complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 17% of the model year's 193 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. 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 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries 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.