AI Damage2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer filed 73 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 485 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 73
- involving a crash
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 485
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 23% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 23% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 5% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 114.
- Engine: 17 complaints (23% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 41.
- Service brakes: 17 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 65.
- Air bags: 5 complaints (7% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.2 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- 1.3 L · petrol · turbo · 3 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 73 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 1 | 114 |
| Engine | 17 | 1 | 41 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 0 | 11 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 0 | 65 |
| Air bags | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 70 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 6 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
We were approaching a turn onto highway [XXX] and there was slowed or stopped traffic in front of us, we slowed to a stop and then was hit very hard from behind by a newer Mustang.ihad my seat belt on, as usual, but we were hit so hard i hit my face on the dash, causing pain and a bloody nose, swollen lips and head…
No front end collision warning alarms went off. No automatic breaking occurred. No airbag deployed. None of the vehicle safety and anti collision measures performed as I had expected. $10,000 worth of damage to my car alone.
transmission is starting to act like it is slipping to the point where I am going all the way to the steering wheel before it catches again. Vehicle is under 36,000 miles and should not be having transmission issues.
My car flipped multiple times, but when it came to a rest on the drivers side, my head was trapped between the driver's window and the side curtain airbag. I couldn't move the airbag, so I had to move my seat back and bend my neck/head back and down out to get free.
The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the headlights failed to illuminate as intended. The contact stated that the headlights did not provide illumination up to thirty feet. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was not duplicated.
While in Park, Ignition Key will not release. Couldn't Drive anywhere without leaving Key in the Ignition. Dealership aware of Issue with TrailBlazers 2021 to 2024. No Warning Lights Appeared. Had to get Repaired. "Shift to Park" TSB 23-NA-119
45000 miles a/c would stop blowing and produce extensive condensation on middle vents and "shift to park" became a problem. dealership cannot "reproduce" issues and therefore states nothing is wrong, although research shows problems exists and there is a back order on switch/shift assembly.
This incident is in regards to a fire that occurred in the engine bay area, post having turbo replacement and spark plug replacement done by a local dealership where this car was purchased new. Car had roughly approximately 60,000 miles and had a check engine light and engine reduce power notification on dash.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 719 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Trailblazer has 40 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 73, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- PI created to guide technicians through radio restriction process
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
- This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform…
This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform any part replacements. They should follow the notes mentioned prior to anything being replaced.
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- This Preliminary Information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors
- This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control,…
This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control, Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keep Assist Turns Off or Inoperative.
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- This Preliminary information communicates to the techicians a diagnostic tip if a customer has a complaint…
This Preliminary information communicates to the techicians a diagnostic tip if a customer has a complaint of a whistle/wind noise at highway speeds.
- This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the direction needed when encountering an…
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the direction needed when encountering an issue with switching between adaptive cruise control and regular cruise control or an issue with automatic high beam…
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
NHTSA lists 485 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, service brakes. Total complaints: 73. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), infotainment or screen glitches (15%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA lists 485 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.