Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 40 | 21% |
| Air bags | 18 | 9% |
| Engine | 16 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 5% |
| Air bags | 6 | 3% |
| Steering | 6 | 3% |
| Power train | 6 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Both side curtain airbags deployed while driving down the street. The driver's seatbelt tightened then locked up. There was no obvious reason for the airbags to deploy. the vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealer to see if i
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FRAME ROTTING OUT - HAS ROT HOLES - UNSAFE - REMAINDER OF TRUCK IS GOOD BUT WITHOUT A SOLID STRUCTURE THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE AND USELESS. MANY TRAILBLAZER FRAMES DO NOT LAST AND ROT OUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING. BAD
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while parked in her driveway, the passenger side door caught fire without warning. The fire occurred overnight and in the morning, the contact and he
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I was driving on the highway just reaching 55 mph, that is when all of a sudden, my suv stalled out with no warning no sound nothing. I tried to restart it and sounded as if it was trying to start but wouldn't. after a c
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I was just sitting in a drive thru and my passenger side window just started smoking and now it will not go down.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
While driving home at approximately 9:30pm, my eighteen year old daughter experienced the headlights failing to come on after dark with the automatic headlight-on feature. She turned on the headlights manually, and the l
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY GAS TANK NEEDLE WENT DOWN TO EMPTY ON A FULL TANK OF GAS AND WILL NOT COME BACK UP, AND IT STALLS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN MY 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER HAS BROKEN NOW THREE TIMES. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS CHANGED THE MANIFOLD TWICE FOR FREE BUT NOW THEY NO LONGER WANT TO PAY FOR IT PLUS I ASKED IF THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE TO
NHTSA complaint: Engine
| Reliability raw | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 92 | excellent |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 40 of them (21%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.