2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 193 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (21% of complaints); the 2023 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 6 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Jun 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“2021 Chevy Trailblazer has a shift to park sensor issue. Car is in park and the sensor does not recognize that it is in park and displays a safety message to place car in park and continues to beep. Takes numerous attempts of taking car out of park and back into park to get it to recognize that the shifter is now in park. Has taken up to 15 minutes. Dealership has diagnosed as a known issue with this year and make with a service bulletin issued by GM of 23-NA-119. Has been happening over the last 2 weeks.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“My timing belt snapped prematurely, causing a total loss of engine power while driving on the highway, which is a severe safety hazard”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2026
“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!!!”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Vehicle displays Shift to Park when vehicle is in park & you push the ignition button & audible chime occurs. Apparently this is a known issue for Chevrolet Trailblazers & Buick Encore GX vehicles model year 2021 & newer. You have to either wiggle the gear shifter several times & depress/wiggle the shift lever button in order to turn off the vehicle. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes to get it to work.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2026
“My 2021 chevy trailblazer rs is experiencing issues with the infotainment system and the onstar module they have stopped working and I have no backup camera and this issue is a safety concern to me and anyone who rides with me i have contacted both gm and onstar and got nowhere with them after I had a diagnostic test done on 6/18/26 they recommended replacement of the whole system”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2026
“Shift assembly kit, it is available. Dealership has to order part for inspection. Still passed inspection. Possible unintended rollaway accidents. Not being able to lock the vehicle as well. Yes, it's been confirmed. There's also so many class action lawsuits against GM about this matter. Why isn't there a recall already?! Getting the "shift to park" message in my vehicle for the 2nd time now in less than 4 years. The shift assembly kit was replaced back in December 2022. Apparently it needs to be replaced again because of a switch.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2026
“I needed to have my muffler welded in November to pass inspection. I was told I would likely need the entire thing replaced in a year. I now hear another exhaust leak, and I'm preparing for a hefty car travel and have to deal with trying to get it fixed in 10 days time. This is ridiculous on a 5 year old car that I have only had two year. This needs to be a recall, insane to have to pay for a whole replacement.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2026
“Dealership Linwood inspected vehicle and certified power and ground module has internal fault-faulty front camera module.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · May 2026
“When you put the vehicle in park, it does not register on the dash that the vehicle is in park so therefore you cannot turn the vehicle off. I've read this as well known in the 2021 trailblazers”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2026
“While driving on the highway, I heard a loud pop that made me flinch and swerve. After parking I noticed the glass in the sunroof had exploded upward like a volcano, leaving a large hole. Fortunately the shade was closed, or glass would have come into the car while I was driving.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Trailblazer years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Trailblazer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
NHTSA has 193 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The most complained-about area is power train (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 22,260 miles or less.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.