YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 40 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 21% of its 193 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 32,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this problem area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
40
21% of 193
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
32,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a "Shift to Park" error message even after the vehicle is already in park, sometimes preventing the vehicle from shutting off and draining the battery.
  • Some describe the gear shifter needing to be jiggled or slammed into park before the vehicle will register as parked or allow the doors to open.
  • Several report turbo failure or a "reduced engine power" warning that causes sudden loss of speed and sluggish acceleration while driving.
  • One owner reports hesitation when shifting from park to drive, including an incident where the vehicle rolled backward into reverse unexpectedly.
  • One complaint describes a timing chain breaking and damaging the engine, which led to later transmission problems and eventual transmission replacement.

When 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 23, 2022, latest Sep 7, 2026.

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month6Sep 2022May 2024Aug 2024Nov 2024May 2025Aug 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Nov 2024 (6).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Trailblazer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200551 (3%)
  2. 200650 (5%)
  3. 200715 (2%)
  4. 200810 (5%)
  5. 20091 (4%)
  6. 20141 (100%)
  7. 202140 (21%)
  8. 202234 (31%)
  9. 202310 (15%)
  10. 20247 (21%)
  11. 20256 (27%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?
NHTSA lists 40 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Trailblazer, which is 21% of the 193 total complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer transmission?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this problem area.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2021 Trailblazer is 32,000 miles.
What kind of transmission issues do owners report most?
Owners most often describe a "Shift to Park" error message and shifter problems, along with turbo-related power loss issues.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to these complaints?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 fire among the 40 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 Trailblazer, with 0 injuries reported.

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.