Chevrolet Trailblazer Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Trailblazer years to avoid are 2021, 2022, 2023: the 2021 alone has 190 NHTSA owner complaints and 745 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by unknown or other issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2015 and 2025 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015BEST | 0 | 72 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 467 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 476 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 404 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 389 | 0 | — |
| 2021AVOID | 190 | 745 | 4 | — |
| 2022AVOID | 108 | 637 | 1 | — |
| 2023AVOID | 66 | 469 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 32 | 401 | 0 | — |
| 2025BEST | 20 | 250 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 5 | 80 | 0 | $26,625 (4 deals) |
| 2027 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Chevrolet Trailblazer problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Chevrolet Trailblazer are electrical system, unknown or other, power train, engine. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 190 owner complaints, 745 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: unknown or other, electrical system, power train.
2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 108 owner complaints, 637 service bulletins, 1 recall campaign — most-reported areas: unknown or other, power train, electrical system.
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 66 owner complaints, 469 service bulletins, 0 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: service brakes, engine, electrical system.
2015 Chevrolet Trailblazer: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 72 bulletins).
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer: cleanest recent federal record (20 complaints, 250 bulletins).
Know what to pay for the right Chevrolet Trailblazer — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
- Verified buyer-paid target price for your exact make, model & trim
- DealDrive AI negotiator reads any dealer quote and writes your counteroffer
- Comparable real deals near you, from verified transactions
FAQ
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Trailblazer years to avoid are 2021, 2022, 2023: the 2021 alone has 190 NHTSA owner complaints and 745 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by unknown or other issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2015 and 2025 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Among recent model years, the 2015 and 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
The Chevrolet Trailblazer's reliability varies by model year. Across 421 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2021, 2022, 2023 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2015 and 2025 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The most-reported problem areas for the Chevrolet Trailblazer are electrical system, unknown or other, power train, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Chevrolet Trailblazer before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.