Is the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer a bad year?
1,108 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Trailblazer years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer are in line with other Trailblazer years. Fuel system, electrical system, exterior lighting and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Trailblazer owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 58,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 607 (55%) | 45k–79k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 251 (23%) | 60k–118k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 112 (10%) | 85k–146k miles · ahead | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 102 (9%) | 74k–123k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 64 (6%) | 56k–127k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 50 (5%) | 43k–120k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 31 (3%) | 27k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 26 (2%) | 35k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 26 (2%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 26 (2%) | 54k–126k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 23 (2%) | 53k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 17 (2%) | 52k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 15 (1%) | 39k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 12 (1%) | 32k–78k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 58,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,108 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 59 mention a fire · 23 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I recently had my 06 chevy trailblazer towed to the GM garage due to it having an engine failure while my wife was driving it.
When I did a routine fill up on my vehicle and upon restarting the car after completion, the fuel gauge showed empty and the low fuel light came on.
Whilst driving on the highway the engine shut down and lost power steering. Had to pull over on the side of the highway.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 58,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 8
Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board, causing window switches to become inoperative. The protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire, even while the vehicle is unattended.
In the affected vehicles, the headlamp driver module (HDM) may overheat and fail, causing the headlamps and daytime running lights to not illuminate. Headlamps that do not illuminate reduce the driver's ability to see the roadway and reduce the vehicle's visibility to oncoming vehicles, both of which increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fluid may enter the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
Fluid may enter the driver's door module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
Fluid may enter the driver's door module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board. A short may cause the power door lock and power window switches to function intermittently or become inoperative. A short in the circuit board could lead to a fire, increasing the risk of personal injury. A fire could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.
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 covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction. If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled.
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 capacity weight. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 246
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Possible location of an internal coolant leak from a specific cylinder head and location
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Loss of Headlights
Driver's Master Power Window Switch
Driver's Master Power Window Switch
Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Neighbouring years
2005 Trailblazer: 1,465 complaints, keep it · 2007 Trailblazer: 732 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Trailblazer year
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Questions
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer a bad year?
1,108 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Trailblazer years. At 58,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (607), electrical system (251), exterior lighting (112), visibility and wipers (102), engine (64).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-599), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 15V-519), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 14V-404), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 13V-248) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.