As I was driving down the road the check engine light lit on and vehicle went into limp mode which didn’t let me accelerate over 20 miles an hour. This happened in a busy intersection after safely and cautiously moving to the right to avoid any traffic collisions we got it towed. The codes that came up were P0700 and P0796 Transmission failure due to a stuck solenoid. Chevy has Internal bulletin 20-NA-120 regarding these breakdowns. It’s a known problem and one that is dangerous to the public because these incidents can happen anywhere even on busy highways or freeways.
Chevrolet Trailblazer check engine light comes on
469 of the 7,174 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Trailblazer describe check engine light, most of them for the 2006 model year.
- owner complaints
- 469
- worst model year
- 2006
- typical repair cost reported
- $800
- typical mileage
- 62,000
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel gauge 157Stalling 43Loss of power 33Fuel smell 32Headlights 26ABS 15Fuel pump 14Wipers 11
Trouble codes mentioned
P1467 5P0700 3P0442 2P0171 2U060F 1P3075 1P2714 1P2431 1P2135 1P146D 1
What owners say
While driving on the interstate on October 17, 2026, my 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer (1.2L turbo) suddenly lost engine power and would not accelerate, with the check engine light on. I had to coast to the shoulder and have the vehicle towed. The dealer diagnosed a failed turbocharger and a failed timing belt at 110,904 miles — far below GM's own 150,000-mile replacement interval for this belt. A timing belt that fails early can cause sudden, total loss of power at highway speed with no warning. This is a serious safety hazard. An Ohio state trooper had to assist with getting myself and my minor son off the interstate and to a safe location.
My 2021 Trailblazer does not shift into drive properly from park or reverse. When shifting into drive, the engine revs but does not move forward. In some cases, the vehicle also shakes and jolts for several seconds. It is also slow to shift into higher gears at high speeds on the freeway. In cases of quick acceleration, the check engine light comes on and the message "Engine Power Reduced" shows. This has caused potentially dangerous situations where I am not able to accelerate to match the flow of traffic, especially when merging onto the freeway. I have taken the car to both a Chevy dealership and an independent shop, who have both confirmed that there is a "loss of forward gear" and pulled codes P2714 and P0700. I have been told that I most likely need a transmission replacement at only 34,000 miles.
This incident is in regards to a fire that occurred in the engine bay area, post having turbo replacement and spark plug replacement done by a local dealership where this car was purchased new. Car had roughly approximately 60,000 miles and had a check engine light and engine reduce power notification on dash. Was taken to the aforementioned dealership for general scope of work while in the possession and actively being test driven for the repair the vehicle was driven 5 miles and the driver was flagged down by motorists for smoke. The incident was recorded by Riverside Police Department and Riverside fire department. The origin and caused are still undetermined at this time. Some background in history of this vehicle has never been in a crash and has not had any parts replaced from the original purchase.
When entering onto the freeway, I accelerated to the speed of the freeway traffic and the turbo system failed and the message was ENGINE POWER REDUCED and the check engine light came on. During the time of the turbo failure, I was almost hit by another vehicle that had to suddenly brake to avoid hitting me. This turbo failure happens frequently.
Dear Chevy, I am reaching out to you again because I am desperately requesting immediate assistance with my vehicle, which has now become an extremely serious and dangerous safety concern. On Friday, [XXX], I had my vehicle towed to the dealership because of the ongoing mechanical issues I have been experiencing. I was advised that the repairs would cost $877, which included a battery replacement and new sensors. I paid for these repairs and picked up my vehicle on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, believing that the issues had finally been addressed. Unfortunately, within approximately one hour of leaving the dealership, my check engine light came back on. When I arrived home, the key became stuck in the ignition. I immediately contacted the dealership and requested to speak with a Service Manager. I made this request approximately five separate times, yet I was unable to speak with a Service Manager until Friday, September 4, 2026, when I finally spoke with Matt. The situation has now escalated into an extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening safety issue. On Sunday, [XXX], while driving on the [XXX] in Chicago, my vehicle completely shut off twice while I was actively driving. There were no warning sounds, no dashboard warning codes, and no indication that the vehicle was about to shut off. My vehicle suddenly lost power while I was on a busy expressway, creating an extremely dangerous situation and nearly causing a major accident/pileup. I genuinely feared for my life. A vehicle that unexpectedly shuts off while traveling at highway speeds is not something I can safely continue driving. After this occurred, I had the vehicle towed to my home. I later attempted to start it, and the vehicle did start; however, the key became stuck in the ignition again. This problem has been ongoing for over a year, and I have repeatedly and desperately asked for these issues to be properly diagnosed and repaired. I have already INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5
Original Owner of 2021 Chevy Trailblazer LT. Purchased new in April 2021. Vehicle has a history of major powertrain issues, starting with Check Engine light during its first year of ownership, culminating in a complete turbocharger replacement in December 2025. This only as a result of my research, after many visits to dealership trying to diagnose the issue. The check engine was consistently illuminated in the vehicle 2021-2025. 9 days ago while traveling the vehicle, experienced sudden oil pressure loss, and stalling risks, displayed a hard warning “ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW. STOP ENGINE”. On Star provided me with a diagnostic code of P0521, pointing to an engine oil pressure sensor malfunction. Apparently another widely known issue with this engine, there are TSBs stating after repair the code will return and Software Update required. Extended warranty has expired, dealership as well as GM corporate unwilling to provide any assistance with cost of diag, repairs, etc, leaving myself and disabled dependent stranded. Vehicle since purchase has been exclusively serviced through the purchasing dealerships service center. Maintenance regularly maintained. Service management has admitted knowledge of this issue with this engine, still reluctant to provide any additional assistance, informed me I’m on a waitlist for a possible loaner vehicle 4-6 weeks from now. There are several TSBs on this engine surrounding this issue. Apparently there is a known defect with the engine oil pump, cam shaft, evap purge pump. Strong possibility could be a result of the Turbo replacement, debris from that failing turbo could have blocked the oil system, causing starvation.
car was driving fine, went up a hill then check engine light came on with warning that stated "reduced engine power." drove it approx 8 min to home. parked in garage. Next morning, took to Firestone Complete Autocare as that was the first place available. Just got a call that the whole turbo assembly needs to be replace costing almost $2000 and will be without a car for about a week. 5 year warranty expired 3 months ago and there is less than 47,000 miles on it. It is currently at the shop so I don't have a bill yet, but they told us how much when they told us what was wrong with it. This is unacceptable! Reading about and hearing about this complaint all over the internet!!!
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on three occasions, the vehicle was stopped and restarted, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the wastegate actuator needed to be replaced, and DTC: P0299 was retrieved. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where DTC: P0299 was retrieved, and the contact was informed that the turbo or the wastegate actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic, where it was determined that the turbo and waste gate actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with Manufacturer Recall Number: A222379711. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that, while driving on several occasions with the auto start-stop feature activated, the vehicle appeared to shut down at a complete stop as the infotainment screen and dashboard lights turned off. The vehicle restarted automatically but shuddered during startup. The dashboard lights and the infotainment screen became operable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the thermostat needle went to Hot, and the Check Engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off for approximately 15 minutes. Upon restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the coolant flow control valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,251.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Trailblazer check engine light
Why does the check engine light come on in the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Owners who report it most often also describe wrong fuel gauge reading, engine stalls while driving and sudden loss of power, and the codes they mention most are P1467, P0700 and P0442.
Which Chevrolet Trailblazer years have check engine light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2006 (144 complaints), 2004 (62 complaints) and 2005 (58 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix check engine light on the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $800 (median of 82 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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