Your vehicle report
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 198
- Received Sep 2020 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Gear shifter fails to register Park46 complaints · 23% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips8 complaints · 4.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brakes make grinding or squealing noise8 complaints · 4.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #21V440000General 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.
- Recall #20V588000General 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Gear shifter fails to register ParkFirst signal: Sep 2023
- Ignition key sticks or will not turnFirst signal: Jun 2025
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 7 crashes, 3 fires, 5 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
- Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail
- Water leaks into cabin during rain
- Glass shatters or cracks without impact
1 more problem
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 48 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 46 |
| Total | 198 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 46 | 23% | 39.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 4.3% |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 8 | 4.0% | 2.2× | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 8 | 4.0% | – | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 6 | 3.0% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 6 | 3.0% | 6.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2025 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.7% |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 5 | 2.5% | 1.9× | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 2.5% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 2.5% | 2.1× | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 5 | 2.5% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 4 | 2.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 2.0% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 2.0% | 2.1× | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 3 | 1.5% | 15.6× | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 3 | 1.5% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #21V440000June 10, 2021135,400 vehicles affected
equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift: stand
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.
A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #20V588000September 24, 20203,677 vehicles affected
service brakes
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #20V537000September 3, 2020105 vehicles affected
seats; seats: critical fasteners
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.
If an occupied front seat is missing the rear attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #20V295000May 21, 202020 vehicles affected
equipment: other: labels; tires
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."
If drivers are uninformed and overinflate or underinflate their tires, this may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN