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Chevrolet Trailblazer: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Trailblazer problems by model year, from 373 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2023 (48%, 31 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (47%, 51 drivetrain complaints) and 2021 (42%, 80 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 3 Chevrolet Trailblazer years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
No Chevrolet Trailblazer year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2021 (42%).
By raw volume, the 2021 drew the most drivetrain complaints (80 of 162 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Trailblazer year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Trailblazer | too few to score | – | 1 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Trailblazer | high | 42% | 80 | 193 | 3/3 | 4 |
| 2022 Trailblazer | high | 47% | 51 | 110 | 2/3 | 1 |
| 2023 Trailblazer | high | 48% | 31 | 69 | 1/3 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Trailblazer years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Trailblazer recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Trailblazer years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | 20V295000 | tires | 2021 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V537000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2021 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V588000 | service brakes | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V440000 | equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift: stand | 2021–2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Trailblazer
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Trailblazer
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Trailblazer years are the 2023 (48% of relevant complaints, high), the 2022 (47% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2021 (42% of relevant complaints, high). 3 of 3 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
No Chevrolet Trailblazer year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2021 (42%).
Does the Chevrolet Trailblazer have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 3 scored years, 162 of 367 relevant NHTSA complaints (44%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 3 Chevrolet Trailblazer years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 44% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Trailblazer years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.