2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 5, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2021 Trailblazer does not shift into drive properly from park or reverse. When shifting into drive, the engine revs but does not move forward. In some cases, the vehicle also shakes and jolts for several seconds. It is also slow to shift into higher gears at high speeds on the freeway. In cases of quick acceleration, the check engine light comes on and the message "Engine Power Reduced" shows. This has caused potentially dangerous situations where I am not able to…

   NHTSA complaint #11769082 · source
2. Filed Sep 7, 2026ILElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Dear Chevy, I am reaching out to you again because I am desperately requesting immediate assistance with my vehicle, which has now become an extremely serious and dangerous safety concern. On Friday, [XXX], I had my vehicle towed to the dealership because of the ongoing mechanical issues I have been experiencing. I was advised that the repairs would cost $877, which included a battery replacement and new sensors. I paid for these repairs and picked up my vehicle on…

   NHTSA complaint #11762612 · source
3. Filed Sep 3, 2026MDEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   Original Owner of 2021 Chevy Trailblazer LT. Purchased new in April 2021. Vehicle has a history of major powertrain issues, starting with Check Engine light during its first year of ownership, culminating in a complete turbocharger replacement in December 2025. This only as a result of my research, after many visits to dealership trying to diagnose the issue. The check engine was consistently illuminated in the vehicle 2021-2025. 9 days ago while traveling the vehicle,…

   NHTSA complaint #11761820 · source
4. Filed Jul 30, 2026MATransmission & Drivetrain

   "shift to park" issue on a 21 traiblazer causing your car to not being able to shutdown entirely meanwhile the shift is perfectly on Park.

   NHTSA complaint #11753767 · source
5. Filed Jul 23, 2026MOEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   My trailblazer will not shift properly into drive from park or reverse. GM calls this a "loss of forward motion" or "delayed forward engagement" in their service bulletin TSB-24-NA-009. It is a safety issue because you never know when or how long the vehicle will take to engage and allow forward movement. This causes issues when leaving a parking spot or a driveway, especially on busy roads. If the car will not move forward, my family is stuck in the road until it finally…

   NHTSA complaint #11752367 · source
6. Filed Jul 16, 2026NCTransmission & Drivetrain

   Vehicle has 67,000 miles and suffered a catastrophic CVT transmission failure, documented by dealership diagnostic code P2714. The transmission severely slips and exhibits a dangerous 15-second delay to engage forward gear after shifting into Drive. More critically, the vehicle suffers from unpredictable engine stalling. The car completely shut down and stalled in traffic while trying to accelerate into a driving lane after shifting. The vehicle did not trigger any dashboard…

   NHTSA complaint #11750836 · source
7. Filed Apr 29, 2026NCTransmission & Drivetrain

   I am reporting a serious safety issue with my 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer related to transmission failure. The vehicle has approximately 83,000 miles. While driving, the vehicle experiences a sudden loss of power when attempting to accelerate. In some instances, the vehicle has stalled or shut off while I was actively driving, creating a dangerous situation, especially when merging into traffic or driving through intersections. The issue is intermittent but has become more…

   NHTSA complaint #11734472 · source
8. Filed Mar 10, 2026TXTransmission & Drivetrain

   My transmission is defective and past 60,000 miles but only a little. I had a diagnosis and it needs replacing like many of these trailblazers in the ongoing lawsuit. I cannot pay for it and it should not be broken!

   NHTSA complaint #11723367 · source
9. Filed Jan 2, 2026TXTransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer has a defect in the gear shifter system that intermittently fails to recognize when the vehicle has been shifted into “Park.” When this occurs, the vehicle displays a persistent “Shift to Park” warning message and prevents the engine from being turned off or the vehicle from being locked. This malfunction creates a safety and consumer concern, as I am unable to exit and secure the vehicle and am forced to remain inside or leave the vehicle…

   NHTSA complaint #11708387 · source
10. Filed Oct 30, 202540,000 miINTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle failed to shift into park properly, and the message “Vehicle Not in Park” was displayed. The contact stated that several attempts were needed before the transmission was able to be shifted into park. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the shifter gear assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired.…

    NHTSA complaint #11696558 · source
11. Filed Oct 16, 202542,000 miMIEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that after reversing, the transmission was shifted to drive (D), but the vehicle failed to immediately recognize the selected gear. The check engine warning later illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the under boost, transmission control module, and transmission control solenoid had failed, and there was a loss of communication with the radio and loss of…

    NHTSA complaint #11693768 · source
12. Filed Aug 27, 2025INElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

    My vehicle displayed a Shift to Park message even though I was already in Park. I could not turn off the engine, I could not lock my car. I had to go back into Drive and then Park mode and wiggle the shifter multiple times to get it to recognize Park and turn off the car. This is now happening almost every time I drive the car. I did an internet search to see how to rectify the problem only to find that this exact issue has plagued GM vehicles for a decade and they still…

    NHTSA complaint #11683489 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology