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Chevrolet Trailblazer EXTModel year report

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT Problems

Complaints
189filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
56,500miles, 168 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 5.3L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints about this model year centre overwhelmingly on the fuel gauge: owners report the needle dropping to empty or swinging between full and empty regardless of how much fuel is in the tank, and the low-fuel warning coming on after a fill-up. Electrical complaints, especially driver's door switch and window problems, are the second most common theme, with headlamp and rear hatch complaints appearing less often. Most reports arrive between roughly 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

  1. Fuel system

    Fuel gauge reads empty or fluctuates (level sensor)

    • 117 complaints (62%)
    • median 53,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (108 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $650 (median of 24 quotes)
    • filed 2008–2014

    Owners describe the fuel gauge dropping to empty right after refuelling, swinging between full and empty while driving, or refusing to move at all, along with the low-fuel light and chime coming on with a full tank. Many say they ran out of fuel, sometimes on a highway, because the gauge showed fuel that was not there. Several report the check engine light came on and that a dealer advised dropping the tank to replace the fuel level sensor or sending unit, quoted at several hundred dollars; others say they were told nothing could be done absent a recall. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 80,000 miles, with some as early as the 20,000s and a few past 100,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Fill the tank before purchase and watch whether the gauge settles at full and holds steady over a short drive; scan for a stored fuel level sensor code (P0463). Ask whether the sending unit or fuel pump module has already been replaced and keep records, since some owners report repeat failures.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The fuel gauge sensor is malfunctioning in my 2006 chevy trailblazer. In reading on-line posts, this is a common problem that GM is ignoring. I already had to pay out of pocket for a rear differential that snapped about 7 months ago. Now I have to deal with a gas gauge that could potentially leave me out of gas or even cause problems with the fuel pump.”

    NHTSA complaint #10282401, filed 2009-08, 48,600 miles

    “Fuel gauge has failed. At any given time, I am uncertain of the amount of fuel in my gas tank. I have contacted the dealer, they said they would diagnose the problem for $99, and the repair could cost $600 - $800. This is an obvious defect and should be replaced by GM as part of a recall. Since I could run out of gas at any time, it is obviously a safety issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10341973, filed 2010-07, 50,000 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Reduced power / throttle and stalling while driving

    • 23 complaints (12%)
    • median 63,507 mi at 4.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 6 quotes)
    • filed 2008–2016

    Owners describe the reduced engine power message appearing, the vehicle refusing to accelerate, and power returning after a restart before the message came back. Others report stalling at speed or after refuelling, with a dealer identifying a failed evaporator vent, and one owner describes the four-wheel-drive system engaging on its own and binding in turns. Complaints describe diagnostic work at dealers and independent shops without a lasting resolution in some cases. Reported from under 5,000 miles up to about 120,000 miles, with most between 40,000 and 75,000 miles.

    What to check: During a test drive, check that the transmission shifts normally and that the four-wheel-drive selector engages and disengages cleanly in a straight line. Scan for stored powertrain and throttle codes and ask about any previous 4WD switch, encoder motor or throttle work.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “As of today, my reduced engine power light came on and there appears to be an issue with the electronic throttle control system. When I turned the car off, and then restarted it, the problem went away, but then a few minutes later, came on again, and the car would not accelerate. This is a major safety concern as the problem occurred crossing an intersection. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic, or it could have been very serious.”

    NHTSA complaint #10356032, filed 2010-09, 70,000 miles

    “I was driving home from work in my 2006 Trailblazer Ext. After stopping at the stop sign in front of my home, I pressed the center button on the overhead console to open the garage door and proceeded to turn right as to position the vehicle to allow for backing-up onto my driveway and into the right parking half of my garage. But as I shifted the trailblazer into reverse, I began to press the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle would not move. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10416604, filed 2011-08, 73,162 miles

Buying note. Check the fuel gauge behaviour carefully on a test drive and after a fill-up, since it is by far the most common owner report for this model year, and confirm which of the open recalls for the window switch module and headlamp driver module have actually been completed on the vehicle. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a look at the rear hatch hinges and driver's door switches will cover most of the other recurring complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 189 consumer complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT. 168 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 56,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 168 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (3), Engine (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Steering (2), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Seats (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “I was driving the truck and the fuel gauge was reading that there was gas in the tank. The vehicle died causing loss of power steering and power brakes. I was able to pull the truck to the side of the road with great effort. Had my wife or teenage daughter been driving the outcome might had been very different.after filling the gas tank the gauge went to e and never worked properly afterwards.”

NHTSA complaint #10587546, filed 2014-05, 90,000 miles

Electrical system: “I am having this issue, for a few weeks now, the key gets locked in the ignition switch, will not turn off, it drain the battery the first day, now I have to disconnect battery, then when it finally locked it did not want to start, I could not start the vehicle for almost two days, and I cannot afford to take it to a mechanic right now.”

NHTSA complaint #10693122, filed 2015-03, 150,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “My fuel gauge on my 2006 chevy trailblazer slowly stopped to where it is no longer working at all. Also, suddenly today, both of my dim (low beam) head lights stopped working after having the battery replaced. Have checked fuses and they are ok. I have seen many complaints for both of these issues.”

NHTSA complaint #10369408, filed 2010-12, 78,000 miles

Body and structure: “I had by back hatch open and I grabbed the door handle to close it. I pulled it down and as I pulled it down I hear a pop and all the glass shattered down on me with the door still open up in the air. Three weeks later I replaced the window. (not a cheap glass almost $1000 with labor to replace) the mechanic opened and closed the door and the hatch to test for defects. All went well. I went to close the door so that I can leave the mechanic shop and I heard the pop and the glass shattered again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10471492, filed 2012-08, 144,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 168 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 79,000 miles.

3%0–102%10–2531%25–5036%50–7514%75–10011%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (168 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 56,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’07’09’1158’13’15’17’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Trailblazer EXT · sedan RWD/4WDnot rated4 / 4——4 · 19.8% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
TrailBlazer Ext 2WD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141915$4,450
TrailBlazer Ext 2WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
TrailBlazer Ext 4WD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
TrailBlazer Ext 4WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic131815$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 168 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 168 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200618956,5006—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200426163,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200331368,2503—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200210064,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT?

Complaints about this model year centre overwhelmingly on the fuel gauge: owners report the needle dropping to empty or swinging between full and empty regardless of how much fuel is in the tank, and the low-fuel warning coming on after a fill-up. The issues reported most often: Fuel gauge reads empty or fluctuates (level sensor); Reduced power / throttle and stalling while driving.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT have?

NHTSA recorded 189 consumer complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 129 complaints (68% of the total), followed by electrical system with 41.

Has the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT (TrailBlazer Ext 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT reported?

Among the 168 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 56,500 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 79,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.