Chevrolet Trailblazer Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 714 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Trailblazer across 18 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (310). The words owners use most often: “transfer case” (9% of reports).
- 714power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 24mention a crash
- 13mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $3,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transfer case: mentioned in 61 of 714 complaints (9%)
- Shift park: mentioned in 45 of 714 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Chevrolet Trailblazer at $3,500, and half of them between $2,100 and $4,450.
Based on 67 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 527 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 714 complaints, 24 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 13 an injury.
Chevrolet Trailblazer power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Trailblazer | 1 | 9% | 100 |
| 2025 Trailblazer | 6 | 24% | 700 |
| 2024 Trailblazer | 7 | 21% | 10,000 |
| 2023 Trailblazer | 10 | 14% | 44,962 |
| 2022 Trailblazer | 34 | 31% | 43,000 |
| 2021 Trailblazer | 41 | 21% | 32,000 |
| 2014 Trailblazer | 1 | 100% | 79,000 |
| 2009 Trailblazer | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2008 Trailblazer | 10 | 5% | 47,858 |
| 2007 Trailblazer | 15 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 2006 Trailblazer | 50 | 5% | 70,500 |
| 2005 Trailblazer | 51 | 3% | 77,349 |
| 2004 Trailblazer | 62 | 6% | 58,000 |
| 2003 Trailblazer | 103 | 11% | 71,770 |
| 2002 Trailblazer | 310 | 27% | 66,000 |
| 2001 Trailblazer | 5 | 25% | 80,000 |
| 2000 Trailblazer | 5 | 19% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Trailblazer | 2 | 50% | 67,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.
Risk: These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.
Fix: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or hummer at 1-866-486-6376.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive. The calibration of the transfer case control module could cause insufficient high speed gear engagement.
Risk: If the gear is not engaged, the vehicle can roll when the transmission is in "park" and a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will update the transfer case control module calibration to increase gear engagement. Owner notification began november 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles (4 wheel-drive). Some of these vehicles were built with a range shift collar in the transmission transfer case that contains cracks.
Risk: This condition could result in a complete fracture of the range shift collar and subsequent loss of vehicle forward and reverse gears, and the inability to maintain "park" position. This increases the risk of a vehicle crash resulting from unintended movement of a parked vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transfer cases and update the control module calibration. Owner notification began september 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2021 Trailblazer does not shift into drive properly from park or reverse. When shifting into drive, the engine revs but does not move forward. In some cases, the vehicle also shakes and jolts for several seconds. It is also slow to shift into higher gears at high speeds on the freeway. In cases…
When putting the gear shift into park there is a constant SHIFT TO PARK message that plays even when shifted to park and forces the car to stay in accessory mode. This drains the battery and does not allow car to shut down fully. This is a known issue with this make and model of vehicle and GM…
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle jerked and vibrated abnormally. In addition, the thermostat temperature gauge increased, and the vehicle…
Dear Chevy, I am reaching out to you again because I am desperately requesting immediate assistance with my vehicle, which has now become an extremely serious and dangerous safety concern. On Friday, [XXX], I had my vehicle towed to the dealership because of the ongoing mechanical issues I have…
Original Owner of 2021 Chevy Trailblazer LT. Purchased new in April 2021. Vehicle has a history of major powertrain issues, starting with Check Engine light during its first year of ownership, culminating in a complete turbocharger replacement in December 2025. This only as a result of my research…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Trailblazers have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 714 owner complaints about power train for the Chevrolet Trailblazer. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Trailblazer power train?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,500 (half paid between $2,100 and $4,450), from 67 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The most frequent phrase is “transfer case”, in 61 of 714 complaints, followed by “shift park” (45).
Other Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
See all Chevrolet Trailblazer problems.