Should I buy a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer steering problems

severe Owners of the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 95,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$700

steering complaints on the Chevrolet Trailblazer, by model year
Model year	steering complaints
2005 Trailblazer	26
2006 Trailblazer (this page)	28
2007 Trailblazer	26
2008 Trailblazer	11

2crashes

2injuries

When does it fail?

Of the 28 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.

0-25k

0 (0%)

25-50k

0 (0%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

1 (100%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.

What stands out

Of the 6 model years of Chevrolet Trailblazer we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 28.

No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 05V455000 October 5, 2005

Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification

If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort would be required. If the power steering fluid spray were to spray onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, Buick at 1-866-608-8080, Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, or Hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin 03-00-91-001I Nov 2023

This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin 120232002B Jun 2020

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PI0671A Mar 2017

This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PIC3278G Feb 2017

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage in the circuits. The OnStar module could have an internal fault and produce a ″Phone Unavaila

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin PIP4404E Aug 2013

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician vehicles with a slight rough idle. Technician should compare the concern with a like vehicle. If the concern is worse than a like vehicle, technician should follow published Service Information diagnosis and repair as necessary.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

The 2006 Trailblazer's steering system exhibits multiple recurring failure modes across these 28 complaints. Power steering hose and line fractures are the most common critical failure; owners report sudden loss of steering assist while driving, fluid leaks under the vehicle, and one owner had to replace the rack and pinion four times before also replacing the pump and hose. Some owners' vehicles are included in NHTSA recalls (05V455000, 12V248000) but others with identical symptoms are not, and in at least one case, recall parts were unavailable for extended periods.

Tie rods fail prematurely and wear out again within a year or two, causing violent vibration above 35 MPH. Steering wheel position and angle sensors trigger unwanted stability control engagement and cause erratic steering assist. Owners also report mysterious power losses during turns—engine shutdown, complete electrical loss, and loss of both power steering and acceleration—sometimes triggered by simple turns. These incidents can occur multiple times per month or sporadically, making diagnosis difficult even when battery and alternator test good. One owner's problem was resolved only after the PCM/ECM was replaced.

Steering column wiring has caused independent windshield wiper activation, and some owners report ongoing vibration and creaking from the steering area that dealers cannot pinpoint. Multiple repair attempts on the same vehicle often fail to resolve intermittent problems, with at least one owner spending over 30 days at the dealer across three visits.

Same Chevrolet Trailblazer steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008

Failure modes owners describe

Power Steering Hose/Line Failure

Hard line to rack and pinion fractures or develops leaks, restricting fluid flow and causing loss of power assist. Multiple owners report the same failure mode recurring after repair attempts.

When: 95,000–200,000 miles; some as early as vehicle purchase

Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering while driving; Difficulty turning the steering wheel; Power steering fluid leaking from under vehicle; Loss of power steering during turns

Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement (one owner replaced four times before pump and hose also replaced); power steering hose/line replacement; one owner spent over $1000 previously

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 05V455000 (Steering) exists but some owners' VINs not included; NHTSA Campaign 12V248000 (Electronic Power Steering) issued but parts not available in reasonable timeframe

Power Steering Pump Noise

Power steering pump produces loud, grinding, or awful noise during operation, particularly at low speeds and during turns.

When: 6,000 miles; multiple occurrences reported

Symptoms owners cite: Awful noise from power steering pump at 25 MPH; Noise/creaks from steering wheel when driving slow and turning

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; one owner states extended warranty was refused by GM

Tie Rod Wear/Failure

Driver-side tie rod fails prematurely, causing violent vibration at highway speeds and requiring premature replacement. One owner reports needing replacement twice within several years.

When: 42,000 miles first failure; second failure mentioned without mileage; approximately 1 year apart

Symptoms owners cite: Tire shakes uncontrollably when accelerating above 35 MPH; Shaking begins at 25 MPH, levels out at 30 MPH; Violent shaking at 60 MPH

Repairs/costs cited: Tie rod replacement ($100 diagnostic fee mentioned); one owner replaced tie rods about 1 year before complaint, then needed replacement again

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised owner to pay $100 diagnostic fee; no dealer assistance outside warranty

Steering Wheel Vibration/Shaking

Steering wheel shakes or vibrates violently at certain speeds, particularly around 60 MPH or during turns. Difficult to diagnose as it occurs intermittently. Multiple repair attempts do not resolve the issue.

When: Early in ownership; recurring intermittently over extended period

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes violently at 60 MPH; Shaking occurs intermittently, hard to diagnose; Stability control light illuminates during shaking episodes; Vehicle shuts down or loses power when shaking occurs

Repairs/costs cited: Tires, rotors, calipers, master cylinder, and brake booster replaced; brake components replaced multiple times; one owner had vehicle in dealer over 30 days with multiple visits, issue unresolved

Steering Position Sensor Failure

Steering wheel position or angle sensor malfunctions, causing stability control to engage inappropriately or causing erratic steering assist. Can make steering unpredictable and unsafe.

When: No specific mileage provided; multiple owners report issue

Symptoms owners cite: Stability control engages when not necessary; Steering becomes erratic when stability control light comes on; Service Stability Trak message displayed on screen

Repairs/costs cited: Steering angle sensor replacement ($100 sensor cost plus $200 labor estimated by owner); steering wheel position sensor replaced

Power Loss During Turns/Engine Shutdown While Driving

Engine shuts down or loses all electrical power and power steering during turns, leaving the vehicle uncontrollable. Occurs unpredictably—some days multiple times, other days not at all. Owner suspects electrical system failure but diagnosis has been inconclusive.

When: Random occurrences; one owner reports 4 times in last 30 days

Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down or loses power during left or right turns; All gauges read normal except RPM drops to zero; Loss of power steering and acceleration during turns; Engine stalls when attempting to start; restarts after delay

Repairs/costs cited: Battery and alternator checked; no defect found; PCM/ECM replaced in one case and resolved the problem

Steering System Electrical/Electronic Failure

Intermittent failures in steering column wiring or electronics cause unexpected windshield wiper activation, steering angle sensor malfunction, or complete loss of steering control. Some failures traced to steering column.

When: 72,000 miles (wiper failure); early in ownership (other issues)

Symptoms owners cite: Windshield wipers activate independently when vehicle is started; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn without warning; Erratic steering behavior

Repairs/costs cited: Steering column diagnosed as failure source for wiper issue but not repaired; no other repairs documented

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed steering column as failure source

Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

steering · 90,000 mi · filed 12/22/2015

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet trailblazer. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the power steering seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Had steering trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer?

It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 60,000 and 133,800 miles, with the median around 95,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 133,800. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to steering?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/Trailblazer. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.