Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 260 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #04V527000 GM/BRAKE LAMP FAILURE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 145 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 28 complaints
- Power Train 17 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 16 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 13 complaints
- Equipment 10 complaints
Of the 260 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 260 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Chevrolet TRAILBLAZER EXT has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of electrical system complaints and one recall related to exterior lighting. While the recall addresses brake light issues, the extensive electrical complaints suggest potential for costly repairs. The evidence is somewhat limited, but the high complaint volume indicates possible reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 60,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| fuel system | 80,000–130,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | occasional |
| powertrain | 100,000–150,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission service every 30,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement at 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard warning lights
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission slipping
- Fuel odor from vehicle
- Frequent bulb replacements
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.