2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Verdict
The 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (21 complaints) and engine (4 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 93/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Trailblazer, consider the 2025 model year which has 32% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 32% fewer complaints
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Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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. I cannot explain why these issues are occurring but thought it important to mention them to other possible victims with the same issues.
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND HIT CAR IN REAR. AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO DRIVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,731.
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD
THE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, THEN THE CAR STARTS CHUGGING AND SHUDDERING AND SOUNDS AND FEELS AS IF IT WILL SHUT DOWN. I AM NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK IN TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE AT ANYTHING OVER 20 MPH, IF IT EVEN ACCELERATES AT ALL. I USUALLY END UP COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN. I LET IT SIT AND TURN IT BACK ON AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT LET ME GO AGAIN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. AND NOT COME BACK ON YOU HAVE TO TURN ON HIGH BEAMS TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED AND PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TURNED IT BACK ON AND LOW BEAMS STILL DID NOT COME BACK ON
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.
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.
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. ALL THE LIGHTS BLINK WHILE YOU RIDE ALONG. THE TWO BACK DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE STARTING TO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY. THE ITEMS THAT LET YOU KNOW WHEN A TIRE IS LOW IN AIR ARE FAILING. THE LAST ONE COSTING OVER $100 TO FIX. I AM GETTING VERY UPSET WITH THE ELECTRIC PARTS IN THIS TRAILBLAZER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE. AS A PHOTO I CAN SEND YOU A PHOTO OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE NEW FUSE ONLY LASTED SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED AGAIN PER THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS BULBS SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,374.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,050.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF AND DID NOT COME BACK ON BY THE TIME SHE GOT HOME (APPROX. 15 MIN.). SHE WAS ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHICH ALSO INVOLVES SOME SHARP TURNS AS THE DRIVE PROGRESSES TOWARD HOME.
THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS IN LINE BEHIND A CAR AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN BUT IT WOULDN'T START AND WAS STUCK IN DRIVE. IT WAS TOWED AND IDENTIFIED AS THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED. THIS WAS BACK IN 2011. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE JUST STALLS AND CUTS OUT WHENEVER WHEREVER WHICH IS DANGEROUS. I JUST REPLACED THIS IGNITION SWITCH LAST YEAR AS THE VEHICLE CUT OFF IN THE LOADING ZONE OF MY JOB AND WOULD NOT START RESULTING IN IT HAVING TO BE TOWED. IT'S 2015 AND THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN SO THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL OR DEFECT ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IF NOT OTHERS.
WHEN I HIT A BUMP, SPEED BUMP, WATER, RAIN, ANYTHING OF THE LIKE, I GET THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT, YESTERDAY 9/13/79 I RECIEVED THE 4WHEEL DRIVE MAINTENCE NEEDED AS WELL WHEN I HAD THE TRAILBLAZER IN AUTO 4WD, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST OCCURANCE AND I BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO END UP BEING A DANGER TO PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE NORTHEAST, AS A FORMER FIREFIGHTER I HAVE SEEN WHAT THESE FAILURES CAN DO NOT ONLY TO THE CAR BUT TO THE PEOPLE AS WELL, FOR THIS I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, SO AS TO REPAIR THESE ISSUES. AND MAKE THE CHEVY BRAND REPUTABLE AGAIN.
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.
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?
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIGH BEAMS FUNCTIONED AND FOG LAMPS FUNCTIONED. DROVE APP. 5 MILES AND PULLED OFF ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. LEFT THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS AND RETURNED. STARTED THE CAR AND LIGHTS WENT ON FOR 1 MILE AND THEN WENT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LESS THAN A MILE OF DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
I JUST SAW THE RECALL GM IS DOING FOR THE 2006~2007 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. I NOTICED THAT OTHER YEARS ARE NOT AFFECTED SPECIFICALLY MINE. MY 2009 TRAILBLAZER CURRENTLY HAS THIS ISSUES, BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS DO NOT WORK. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THEM TO WORK. I HAVE HAD NO LUCK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER. WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH OUR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU *JS
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