2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,678 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 84/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 58,294 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2000, 2008–2009, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 2006 sits among all Trailblazer years
What owners report
“Fuel gauge sensor is defective, cannot determine how much fuel is in the tank, vehicle stalled and ran out of gas when the gauge showed gas in the tank.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
“Low beams cut off while driving. High beams functioned, but low beams would not.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
“Stability light comes on and off and also fuel level sensor light constanly up and down with the level of fuel causing service engine light to come on”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
“My 2006 trailblazer windshield wipers come on when starting my vehicle, and won't turn off! And will spray the wiper fluid out as well, until it's completely gone.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
“When driving the engine randomly shuts off, looses power steering have to switch to neutral and restart vehicle. Suspect ignition switch possible”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
“When driving you can only go up to 30 miles an hour, and rpms go very high and vehicle does not go anywhere.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Trailblazer
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,383 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 69,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 48,600 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy vehicles, and 2006 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT vehicles. Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new driver's door switch module, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300,…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT, GMC Envoy XL, 2006-2008 Isuzu Ascender, and Saab 9-7x…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HDM, free of charge. The recall began on May 17, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Pontiac customer service at…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door master…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the part number on the door module, and install a new door module if necessary, free of charge. Parts for the remedy are not currently available. An…
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 SAAB 9-7x; 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL; and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender vehicles. Fluid may enter the driver's door module,…
Fix: Owners will be contacted and dealers will test the driver's door module. If the module is functioning properly, a protective coating will be applied. If the module is not functioning properly, it…
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, SAAB 9-7x, and Isuzu Ascender vehicles, originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut,…
Fix: Parts for this recall are expected to available in March 2013. GM will notify Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC owners when parts are available. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300,…
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…
Fix: 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…
CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY…
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE BRAKING, THE HOSE MAY FRACTURE AND LEAK FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING HOSE(S) FOR TWO SUSPECT DATE CODES AND REPLACE THEM IF REQUIRED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438,…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 12V406000.
Technical service bulletins
806 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 Trailblazer TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer drew 1,678 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 84/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer are fuel system (622 complaints), electrical (417), and other (199).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems around 69,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 48,600 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.