2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (37) · Service Brakes (24) · Engine (21)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Trailblazer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
33 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Equipment:mechanical:accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift:stand 2021-06-10 · campaign 21V440000 · 135,400 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
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 remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.
Service Brakes 2020-09-24 · campaign 20V588000 · 3,677 vehicles
Defect: 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 interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.
Risk: If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.
Seats:critical Fasteners 2020-09-03 · campaign 20V537000 · 105 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.
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 Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202304380.
Equipment:other:labels 2020-05-21 · campaign 20V295000 · 20 vehicles
Defect: 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 and rear tires, as required. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.
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 number for this recall is A202304070.
Service bulletins (754)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIT5995B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-28 · PIT6196A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with cruise control, adaptive cruise and lane keep assist turns off or inoperative.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · PIC6551C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a mec reset for wireless projection issues
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-31 · PIC6589B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the techicians a diagnostic tip if a customer has a complaint of a whistle/wind noise at highway speeds.
Showing the 6 most recent of 754 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Engine · 48,000 mi“the contact owned a 2021 chevrolet trailblazer. the contact stated that while driving, the vehicle suddenly shut off. the message "reduce engine power" was displayed before the instrument panel went blank. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was towed to several mechanics and the dealer, and the vehicle was diagnosed with timi…”
2026-10-24 · Unknown Or Other“i have been having issues shifting into park. my trailblazer will sit there and tell me to shift into park multiple times before it will recognize park. i’ve had to hit the gear shift a couple times before it will recognize park. …”
2026-10-20 · Unknown Or Other“while driving on the interstate on october 17, 2026, my 2021 chevrolet trailblazer (1.2l turbo) suddenly lost engine power and would not accelerate, with the check engine light on. i had to coast to the shoulder and have the vehicle towed. the dealer diagnosed a failed turbocharger and a failed timing belt at 110,904 miles — far below gm's own 150,…”
2026-10-05 · Power Train“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 of quick acceleration, the check engine light come…”
2026-10-03 · Service Brakes“abs brake system failed causing breaking to surge and not work correctly and not stop like it should resulting in having to have the abs module and pump replaced at an extreme cost. with no clear cause and using the same parts this is likely to happen again. had to be taken to the dealer because it required special software and bleeding procedure t…”
2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other“2021 chevy trailblazer has a shift to park sensor issue. car is in park and the sensor does not recognize that it is in park and displays a safety message to place car in park and continues to beep. takes numerous attempts of taking car out of park and back into park to get it to recognize that the shifter is now in park. has taken up to 15 minu…”
2026-09-07 · Power Train“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 been experiencing. i was advised that the repairs wo…”
2026-09-03 · Power Train“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, after many visits to dealership trying to diagnos…”
2026-08-03 · Engine“my timing belt snapped prematurely, causing a total loss of engine power while driving on the highway, which is a severe safety hazard…”
2026-07-31 · Electrical System“i am submitting this report regarding my 2021 chevrolet trailblazer because it has been experiencing the "shift to park" issue described in the gm bulletin 19-na-206. even when the vehicle is shifted into park, it intermittently displays a "shift to park" message and does not recognize that the transmission is in park. this issue has been ongoing …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.