2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems & Complaints

Most common 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems

• Lights~82,000 miles
  1348%
• Electrical system~80,000 miles
  933%
• Air bags~135,000 miles
  415%
• Stability & traction control~104,000 miles
  311%
• Engine & cooling~83,000 miles
  27%
• Transmission & drivetrain
  14%
• Seat belts
  14%
• Brakes~113,000 miles
  14%
• Fuel & propulsion system~104,000 miles
  14%
• Speed control & acceleration~104,000 miles
  14%
• Other / not specified
  14%

Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Chevrolet Trailblazer complaints by model year

Best Trailblazer years: 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2005, 2002, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer:

What 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners say

Lights

My first complaint is that headlights, low beam, would not work. Only high beams worked. The issue stopped, unexplainable, on its own, has not occurred again. The 2nd complaint is the radio volume would 'slip' as if there were a loose wire to the speakers, and loss of sound became more frequent and for longer periods of time, eventually all sound stopped, it has not been fixed, as of yet. 3rd complaint, a brand new battery, in under a year of use, went completely dead, without any visible explanation. When an attempt to jump start the vehicle the cables from another cars battery were touched at my cars battery, it sparked, indicating to the person performing the task, there is a 'short' somewhere in the wiring system. I drive this vehicle less than 3000 miles per year, and use it sporadically with my second vehicle to keep the batteries active. …

The low beam headlights keep going out. All other lights stay on and the high beam lights work. Only the low beam headlights are affected. This has happened while in motion and from a stopped position when first starting the car and putting it in drive. I have researched it on several group we sights and found that the problem is the headlight dimmer module (hdm). I have replaced this two times over the last two years which always fixes it for about a year then it starts failing again. This is a very dangerous situation because it happens after dark. I can pull over and stop, open the hood and take off the fuse box cover and remove the hdm and put it back in the socket. Sometimes this works and sometimes not. It is a dangerous situation. There have been recalls on earlier trailblazers but not this year. It should be included.

Electrical system

My first complaint is that headlights, low beam, would not work. Only high beams worked. The issue stopped, unexplainable, on its own, has not occurred again. The 2nd complaint is the radio volume would 'slip' as if there were a loose wire to the speakers, and loss of sound became more frequent and for longer periods of time, eventually all sound stopped, it has not been fixed, as of yet. 3rd complaint, a brand new battery, in under a year of use, went completely dead, without any visible explanation. When an attempt to jump start the vehicle the cables from another cars battery were touched at my cars battery, it sparked, indicating to the person performing the task, there is a 'short' somewhere in the wiring system. I drive this vehicle less than 3000 miles per year, and use it sporadically with my second vehicle to keep the batteries active. …

As I was driving in my yard I happened to bump the ignition key and the motor cut out and died. This caused me to not be able to turn and avoid bumping a post causing some body damage, but I was able to avoid hitting my friend in the yard because he had moved from by the post a minute earlier. I have had one more time with this problem, but not had a problem since, but I am now experiencing an occasional rough running engine. Could this ignition switch on this year vehicle need to be recalled also?

Air bags

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving 70 MPH, the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. In turn, the contact's vehicle was struck by a semi-truck. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the head, knees, and arms, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle gently crashed into a curb. The air bags on the passenger side deployed shortly after the minor collision. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer engines & fuel economy

EPA ratings. Class: SUV.