2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

274 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 13/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Other leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

274Complaints
13/100Trouble index
4Recalls
22,260Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2021 sits among all Trailblazer years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Other 58 complaints (21%)
“I have a shift to park message that is malfunctioning and I can't shut off my car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Trailblazer
Electrical 41 complaints (15%)
“I get a shift to park warning after putting the car into park. I’m not able to turn the car off, this has drained the battery and caused safety issues for me and my child”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Trailblazer
Engine 38 complaints (14%)
“My timing belt snapped prematurely, causing a total loss of engine power while driving on the highway, which is a severe safety hazard”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Trailblazer
Transmission & drivetrain 38 complaints (14%) · typically ~32,000 miles
“The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the contact noticed that the gear shifter was inoperable, and the vehicle would not shift into gear properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer,…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Trailblazer
Brakes & stability 31 complaints (11%)
“The brakes including brake assist stopped working. Pressing the brake pedal did little to stop the vehicle. There was recall for this same issue that was preformed by the dealership 3 weeks ago.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Trailblazer
Driver assistance 19 complaints (7%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 34 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 22,260 miles. Half of those reports fall between 6,000 and 48,482 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (4)

EQUIPMENT 21V440000 2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.

Fix: Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once…

SERVICE BRAKES 20V588000 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…

SEATS 20V537000 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact…

TIRES 20V295000 2020

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles factory-equipped with optional 17-inch sport terrain tires. The certification label on these vehicles does not provide the tire size and cold tire pressure information for front…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and will mail corrected labels for customers to apply, free of charge. The recall began July 1, 2020. Owners may call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's…

Technical service bulletins

749 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2021 Trailblazer TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2020peak 75 in 20252026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer drew 274 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 13/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).

What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems?

The top reported problems for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer are other (58 complaints), electrical (41), and engine (38).

At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems show up?

Owners most often report 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems around 22,260 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 6,000 and 48,482 miles.

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer have recalls?

4 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.