YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#5 most-complained of 11 Trailblazer years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer has 193 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 60 out of 100 — #5 highest of 11 Trailblazer model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (76 complaints, 39% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 11 fires, and 9 injuries.

Complaints
193
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
10 / 11
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
13.5 city / 19.5 hwy

Top 2008 Chevy Trailblazer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System76 (39%)
  2. Engine40 (21%)
  3. Airbags33 (17%)
  4. Brakes26 (13%)
  5. Seat Belts12 (6%)
  6. Steering11 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain10 (5%)
  9. Fuel System8 (4%)
  10. Other8 (4%)
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer complaints: complaints filed per quarter142008 Q12010 Q12011 Q42013 Q32015 Q22017 Q32019 Q22021 Q1
250 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q4 (14).

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13.5 MPG
Highway
19.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Trailblazer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201420212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid901,108816
2007Avoid80732516
2008Caution60193016
2009Good1027016
2014No verdict010—

All Chevrolet Trailblazer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer ranks #5 of 11 among Trailblazer model years (Complaint Index 60/100, verdict: Caution). It has 193 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (76 complaints), engine (40 complaints), and airbags (33 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 74,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
EPA rates the 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer at 16 MPG combined (13.5 city / 19.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,050. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.