Revival generation (VSS, S crossover)
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The most reported problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is shift to park warning, with 32 complaints.
- 193owner complaints
- 4recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 31,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Trailblazer doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2021 model year.
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer reliable?
The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer has 193 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 216 for 2021 SUVs on this site. Of the 5 Trailblazer model years since 2021, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2022
- At 32 complaints for each year on the road, the 2021 runs above the 2022 (22). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Shift to park warning has 32 complaints and brake wear has 31, out of 193 in all. Too few of the shift to park warning reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 9 of the 193 complaints (5%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 7 reports mention a crash, 3 mention a fire and 5 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 4 of 7, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Brake wear has a recall on the same system (20V-588). Shift to park warning has none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 48, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 41 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: "shift to park" or "service shifter" warning comes on, 32 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
193 complaints is about the median for a 2021 model on this site and about the median for a 2021 SUV. Among the 2 Trailblazer model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet filed 754 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. 54 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car, 2 of those a warranty extension. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 1 bulletin · 32 complaints
This service bulletin provides service procedure information to correct a customer concern of Shift to Park Displayed on DIC When Vehicle is in- Park, No Start - DTC B000A Set.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 6 bulletins · 31 complaints
This technical bulletin provides a procedure a squeal noise heard from the front of the vehicle during light brake pedal application.
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on a normal characteristic of Brake Pedal - Excessive Click Noise with Slight Press of the Brake Pedal.
4 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of hearing a front brake squeal noise during light brake pedal application.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to correct a condition of Front Brake Squeal Noise Heard During Light Brake Pedal Application.
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
This engineering information (EI) Lite is requesting technicians follow the steps in this EI and submit a Field Product Report with the requested information and Submit in regards to a front brake noise Condition.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 13 bulletins · 23 complaints
This service bulletin provides a procedure to correct radio software concerns.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concerns of Radio Software issues.
11 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides a procedure to locate and fix a possible leak in the roof area due to missing sealant to correct customer concerns of Various Electrical Issues, No Start, Stall, Brake Lamp Not Off, Radio Inoperative, Remote Key Inoperative, ...
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to correct the condition of Service All-Wheel Drive System Messages Displayed with Rear Drive Motor DTC C0095 Set.
This PI states that a vehicle may exhibit a concern of the cross traffic alert indicators not displaying on the radio screen.
This service bulletin provides repair information to update radio software to correct customer concerns of Software related issues.
This service bulletin provides repair information on release of Radio Software Version V160 Update to correct customer concerns of radio software issues.
This Preliminary information communicates a condtion where SD card removed is being displayed on the radio display intermittently. ThisPI advises that engineering is working on a fix for this issue
This service bulletin provides U157 software update information to correct customer concerns of radio Software related issues.
Service Update - Radio Software Update (OTA) - Certain 2021 model year vehicles listed above, with an infotainment system, may have a condition where the infotainment system screen will appear black with no audio and no chime at key on during cold temperature ...
This Preliminary information communicates a condition where the radio may display a :connection not availale, please call OnStar agent".
This service bulletin provides V152 radio software update information to correct customer concerns of various software issues.
Plus 1 older ones not listed here.
Check engine light or misfire 27 bulletins · 22 complaints
Special Coverage. Certain 2021 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to fix an oil leak from a porous area at the cylinder head and how to fix it so that the engine does not have to be replaced.
25 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Vehicle Will Not Lock and Unlock (Loss of Active Functions) Crank or Start (Loss of Passive Functions) with DTC P0513 Set.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Poor Engine Performance in Extremely Cold Weather Conditions, Charge Air Cooler Icing - Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, DTC P0299, P0234, P0236, P00C7 Set.
This Preliminary information communicates a potential for dtc p0496 to fail due to damaged purge solenoid valve O-rings.
Special Coverage. Certain vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce ...
Emission Recall. General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall involving certain vehicles. The Engine Control Module (ECM) may not clear the permanent status of DTC P0521 (Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Performance).
This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to ...
This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
Special Coverage - Certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge pump to fail. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine Light) will illuminate and a diagnostic trouble code will set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the dealer technician related to a Malfunction Indicator Lamp coming on post turbocharger replacement with P0234 (Engine Overboost) set current or in history.
Plus 15 older ones not listed here.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 3 bulletins · 21 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, Quick Start/Stall, No FOB Detected, Key FOBs Inoperative, B3924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, B3928 00 Set.
This service bulletin advises the tech that the rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle.
1 more on this problem
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
Turbo failure or loss of boost 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
This bulletin provides a procedure to test the turbo wastegate regulator valve before replacing the turbo for a possible rattle and/or code concern.
Battery dies or the car will not start 1 bulletin · 9 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Possible Crank No Start or Extended Crank with DTC P12A6.
Backup camera goes black or freezes 2 bulletins · 7 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Rear View Camera Display Gridlines Dim.
This Preliminary information communicates that a customer may notice that the gridlines on the backup camera are very dim. They may mention that this occurred after an OTA update. The dealer technician is advised to perform no repairs.
Complaints filed by year
48 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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 2020 Buick Encore GX and 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The rear attachment bolts of one or both front seats may not have been installed.
Risk and remedy
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 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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 4 recalls on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Shift to park warning, with 32 of the 193 complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer problems start?
Of the 56 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 10,000 miles and half by about 31,000.
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer better or worse than the 2022?
Counted per year on the road, the 2021 has more complaints than the 2022: 32 a year against 22.
How many 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
9 of them (5%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for shift to park warning on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
No recall on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is on the same system as shift to park warning. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.