# Used Holden Trailblazer: Common Problems and Which Years to Buy > What to check on a used Trailblazer or Colorado 7, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: Colorado 7 (RG) (2012–2016), Trailblazer (RG) (2016–2020). Last updated: 2 November 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-holden-trailblazer-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-holden-trailblazer-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Holden Trailblazer The most commonly reported problems on a used Holden Trailblazer, sold as the Colorado 7 until 2016, are a blocked exhaust filter (DPF), torque converter shudder from the automatic gearbox, and the diesel engine using oil. Also check the timing belt history and for injector wear. ### Blocked Exhaust Filter (DPF) The 2.8-litre diesel's particulate filter (DPF) traps soot and burns it off on longer drives. On cars used for short trips it can block and fail to clear, leading to warning lights and loss of power. Check the dash for a DPF or engine warning light, and ask how the car has been used. On the drive, it should pull well, with no sudden loss of power or black smoke. Ask whether the DPF has been cleaned, replaced or had software updates, with receipts. A blocked DPF can be costly, so price it in if the warning is on. ### Torque Converter Shudder Owners report the six-speed automatic shuddering when pulling away or at light throttle around 60 to 80 km/h, from wear in the torque converter or valve body. On the test drive, pull away gently and hold a light throttle at around 60 to 80 km/h, feeling for vibration like driving over rumble strips. Gear changes should be smooth. A fluid flush sometimes helps, but a shuddering converter often needs replacing. Ask what's been done, and price a repair into your offer if it shudders. ### Diesel Engine Oil Use Holden issued a service update for 2014–16 Colorado 7s whose engine oil could run low before the next service was due ([AustralianCar.Reviews](https://www.australiancar.reviews/recalls-faults-holden-rg-colorado-7-2012-16/)). Pull the dipstick: the oil should be between the marks. Ask how often it gets topped up, and look for blue or heavy smoke from the exhaust. Ask whether the service update was done. A diesel that uses a lot of oil needs a mechanic's check before you buy. ## Which Holden Trailblazer Years to Avoid? No single Holden Trailblazer year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear. Whatever the year, a car's condition, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. - **Colorado 7 (RG) (2012–2016).** 10 to 14 years old, typically about 130,000–180,000 km. ANCAP rating: [5 stars (2012)](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/holden/colorado-7/01f8fc). Stability control is standard. At this age, condition and history count for more than the year: look hard for rust, worn suspension and leaks, and check whether a timing belt (if it has one) has been replaced. - **Trailblazer (RG) (2016–2020).** 6 to 10 years old, typically about 80,000–130,000 km. ANCAP rating: [5 stars (2016)](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/holden/trailblazer/691f20). Stability control is standard; AEB wasn't available. Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. Kilometres are at the Australian average of about 12,600 km a year. Well above that means harder use; well below, ask why. ## Holden Trailblazer General Inspection Guide A guide to checking for Holden Trailblazer problems, built on the [used car buying checklist](https://shufti.com.au/checklists/australian-used-car-inspection-checklist) for any car. It can't cover every problem reported across its years in one viewing. Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Exterior - [ ] **Bullbar.** Check any fitted bullbar is bolted solidly with no rust or cracks at the mounts and doesn't sit over sensors. A loose bullbar can affect crash sensors and front-end alignment. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Towbar.** Check the towbar is bolted on securely with no rust or cracking around the mounting points. A sagging towbar or cracked welds suggest heavy or careless towing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Panel gaps.** Walk around the body checking panel gaps and paint colour match on every panel. Uneven gaps or slightly different paint usually mean a crash repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tray or tub.** If fitted with a tray or tub, check for dents, cracked coating and rust in the corners from loads shifting. Heavy scoring or dents show hard work use that can hide frame damage. (Negotiate) ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Timing belt.** Ask for evidence the timing belt has been replaced on schedule, as it isn't a chain on this engine. A belt that's overdue risks sudden engine damage if it fails. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Engine oil.** Pull the dipstick and check the oil sits between the marks, isn't above the top mark and doesn't smell of diesel. A rising, diesel-smelling oil level points to fuel getting into the oil. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Coolant.** Check the coolant in the overflow bottle sits at the mark and looks a clean colour, not rusty or oily. Oily or rusty coolant points to a cooling system or head gasket problem. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Turbo pipes.** Look inside the big rubber air intake pipes for oil residue and listen for a loud whistle on startup. Oily pipes or a screaming whistle point to a tired turbo. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Cold start smoke.** Start the engine from cold and check it fires within a couple of seconds with no heavy knocking or lingering smoke. Rough starting or smoke that doesn't clear quickly needs a diesel mechanic's opinion. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Chassis rails.** Crouch down and run your eye along the chassis rails, especially near the towbar and rear suspension, looking for kinks, cracks or fresh welds. Fresh welds or a kink usually mean a serious impact or overloading. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Exhaust filter.** Check the exhaust filter (DPF) is still fitted and ask whether the car struggles to regenerate on short trips or has thrown a warning light. A car used mostly for short trips may have a clogged filter needing costly cleaning. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tow ball.** Check the tow ball for wear or scoring from regular heavy towing. A badly worn tow ball suggests a lot of heavy trailer work. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Tyre age.** Check all four tyres, including the spare, match the door-sticker size, wear evenly and aren't more than about six years old by their sidewall date code. A tyre can look fine but be unsafe once it's hardened with age. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Underbody rust.** Look at the underbody and suspension mounts for rust; light surface rust is normal but flaking metal or holes are not. Vehicles used near the coast or beach corrode from the inside out. (Safety critical) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Warning lights.** Turn the key to "on" without starting and check the engine, ABS, airbag and 4WD lights all come on, then go out once the engine is running. A light that stays on, especially the exhaust filter light, needs an explanation before you buy. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Third-row seats.** Fold and unfold the third-row seats and check the belts latch properly. Stiff folding or badly worn trim suggests heavy family use. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Seatbelts.** Pull each seatbelt out fully and let it retract, checking it latches firmly with no fraying in the webbing. A belt that won't retract smoothly or is frayed is a safety risk in a crash. (Safety critical) ### Test Drive - [ ] **Automatic gearbox.** Automatic: drive off from a stop and through gear changes, feeling for a shudder or vibration as the car takes up drive, particularly around 60-80km/h. Judder at low speed is a warning sign of a worn torque converter. (Negotiate) - [ ] **4WD engagement.** On gravel or grass, select 4WD high and low range, checking for clunks and that the 4WD light stops flashing once engaged. A light that keeps flashing means the system hasn't properly engaged. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Steering.** At highway speed, check the car tracks straight without wandering or needing constant correction. Wandering at speed can mean worn steering or suspension parts. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Braking.** Brake firmly from speed and feel for shaking through the pedal or the car pulling to one side. Shaking under braking often means warped rotors, common on towing 4x4s. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Acceleration response.** Accelerate firmly from low revs and feel for hesitation or a flat spot before power comes in. Poor throttle response can point to worn fuel injectors. (Negotiate) ### Documentation - [ ] **Modification paperwork.** Ask for certificates for any GVM upgrade, suspension lift or bigger tyres, and check your state and insurer were told. - [ ] **Service history.** Check the logbook or invoices show oil and fuel-filter changes on time, with extra gearbox and diff servicing if the car has towed heavily. Gaps in servicing are a strong bargaining point. (Negotiate) ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Holden or General Motors; Holden, Trailblazer and Colorado are trademarks of General Motors LLC. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Holden Trailblazer: Questions Answered ### Is a used Holden Trailblazer reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Holden Trailblazer years should I avoid? No single Holden Trailblazer year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear. Whatever the year, a car's condition, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. This checklist covers the Colorado 7 (RG) (2012–2016) and Trailblazer (RG) (2016–2020) Holden Trailblazer. Problems reported across them include DPF trouble, torque converter shudder and the engine using oil. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Holden Trailblazer? Kilometres matter less than how the car was driven and serviced. A high-kilometre SUV with a full service history can be a better buy than a low-kilometre one that's missed services, done short trips or been used for rideshare. Check the history for regular servicing, and on a hybrid ask for a battery health check. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Holden Trailblazer? It's most worth it on a car where a hidden fault could be costly. All-wheel-drive and hybrid systems can hide faults a visual check won't show, so ask for the service records for them and watch for warning lights on the test drive. Either way, start by checking the car yourself with this checklist, so you know what to look for and whether it's worth paying a mechanic to see. See Pre-purchase car inspection: what it checks and costs (https://shufti.com.au/guides/used-car-inspection-options) ### How do I check a used Holden Trailblazer for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN on ppsr.gov.au (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/). It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) ### How do I check recalls on a used Holden Trailblazer? Search the government's Vehicle Recalls site for the Holden Trailblazer (https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/browse-all-recalls?search=Holden%20Trailblazer). Each notice says which models and build dates it covers and what the fault is. A recall on record doesn't tell you whether the work was done on a particular car, so ask the seller for proof, or ask a Holden dealer to check the VIN. --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A Tailored check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. To start, Shufti's General inspection guide is free: pick the car's make and model, and it takes you through the checks that matter for that model, on your phone. There's a guide for popular models, and one for every type of car. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shufti-used-car-inspection/id6795718336?pt=129235165&ct=Website%20guide&mt=8), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app&referrer=utm_source%3Dshufti.com.au%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite%26utm_campaign%3DWebsite%2520guide%26utm_content%3Dllms%26utm_term%3D%252Fllms.txt).