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 it was on recall list but they said it was not. Vehicle was referred to a body shop for estimate for repairs...$6,435.00....if you can find the parts. driver was shaken up by the deployment but not injured.
The worst 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical65
- Airbags33
- Engine33
- Lights17
- Brakes15
- Driver assistance13
- Seat belts12
- Steering11
- Transmission10
- Acceleration8
- Fuel system8
- Visibility8
- Suspension7
- Body6
- Tires4
- Locks1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Headlights 19Stalling 11Check engine light 10Door locks 6Airbag light 5No deployment 5Fire or smoke 5Loss of power 5
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Loss of Headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at under the identification numbers in the attached document.
RQ17002
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 922
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Electrical system
- This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline...
- This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or...
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 20 | 17 |
| 4.2L 6‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 4.2L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 19 | 16 |
| 6.0L 8‑cyl | RWD | 12 | 16 | 14 |
| 6.0L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 12 | 16 | 13 |
What 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 product gm.
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 couple of times of trying that is when a tow truck came and as he was putting my suv on the flat bed I noticed huge amount oil on the ground. I got it towed to Chevy dealership for service and that is when they told me that the 6th cylinder cracked also a rod went through causing a hole in the engine block. I asked what could have caused it, because I'm on top of my maintenance and my suv only had 94,000 miles on it. That is when he explained to me that it was nothing that I did and that there was nothing that I could've done to prevent it and that there was nothing I did wrong that caused it. So, the leaves me asking, isn't that a manufacturing issue?
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 her boyfriend discovered both her passenger side door and front passenger seat melted. The contact believed that the fire smoldered overnight and eventually burned out on its own. The fire department was not notified and a fire report was not filed. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact's boyfriend discovered that the wiring inside the door had melted which may have caused the fire. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000
I was just sitting in a drive thru and my passenger side window just started smoking and now it will not go down.
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 low beams still were not working, but all driving lights and high beam headlights were working. I assumed that the bulbs were burned out, so replaced both the driver and passenger side bulbs. The low beam headlights still failed to come on either automatically or manually. I Googled the problem, and multiple people have reported this exact same problem, and some stated that there was a recall due to this problem. I am unable to find either a recall or a service bulletin for this issue.
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.
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 the cast iron manifold and they tell me the part number changed in 2011 but my failures have occurred since then so I know the replacement manifold I will have the same problem. Exhaust fumes in winter enter the cabin.
The power steering lines blow
Yes I was driving on the 65 miles an hour in the passenger lane are carpool lane all the sudden for no reason both curtain airbags just deployed I had my head right next to knock me out cold I didn't proceed over and hit the wall 21 times just skip down in when I came to I thought I was I thought it and other vehicles likely that was not the case did cause some testa injury hurt might pull my car allegedly for my ribcage in got my neck in my head I see this is happened many times the 2008 but yet they keep saying there's no problem that even though it's a 2% lean and exposed the 16 for the role over to kick in that escape screwing everybody yeah the vehicles on the highway going straight no turns no bombs nothing just deployed I have video pictures of the wall it screwed up my rams and of course the 4 wheel drive messed up and show the back axle in the pumpkin so now thats whining so I know it's gonna fail soon power steering linkin truck never lead to drop another with silent at the great v6 in it now the front end steering all screwed up and I can see that it's happened many many times before
Compare the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
Owners have filed 193 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer, close to a typical Trailblazer model year.
What is the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer year score?
The 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer scores 76 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Trailblazer: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Electrical system, with 65 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles. Next is airbags (33).
How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Chevrolet Trailblazer have the most electrical problems?
The Chevrolet Trailblazer model years with the most electrical complaints are 2004 (627 complaints), 2005 (617 complaints) and 2003 (285 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer get?
Official estimates for the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer range from 13 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (5.3L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 14 city and 20 highway.
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