NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
101 reportsClear category filter189,000 miles · Sep 8, 2022
Exterior Lighting
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights became inoperable. After a while, the headlights became operational. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not c…
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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the headlights became inoperable. After a while, the headlights became operational. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000.
NHTSA ODI #11483548
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY CLUSTERBOARD IS COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONING THE READINGS ARE NOT WORKING
NHTSA ODI #11386667
146,577 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PANEL SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PANEL SWITCH AND CONNECTOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,577.
NHTSA ODI #11242455
90,000 miles · May 31, 2019
Exterior LightingService Brakes
BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND BRAKES ARE PRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WITH A NEW LIGHT BULB PLACED IN.
NHTSA ODI #11217043
130,000 miles · Mar 30, 2019
Exterior Lighting
ALL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, EXCEPT WHEN SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAMS. FRONT LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. WHEN USING THE HIGH BEAMS, THE FRONT LIGHTS OPERATE ON HIGH ONLY. THE CAR CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN AT NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11192567
170,000 miles · Aug 12, 2018
Exterior Lighting
DRIVING CONDITIONS DARK, 11PM, UNLIT, STARS VISIBLE PAVED COUNTRY ROAD WITH HILLS, CURVES AND 2-5 FOOT DITCHES. WEATHER WET BUT DRYING. VISIBILITY GOOD. VEHICLE IN MOTION NEAR LEGAL SPEED LIMIT 80 KM/HR. OCCASIONAL ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SO OCCASIONALLY SWITCHING BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH BEAMS. NOTICED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED OC…
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DRIVING CONDITIONS DARK, 11PM, UNLIT, STARS VISIBLE PAVED COUNTRY ROAD WITH HILLS, CURVES AND 2-5 FOOT DITCHES. WEATHER WET BUT DRYING. VISIBILITY GOOD. VEHICLE IN MOTION NEAR LEGAL SPEED LIMIT 80 KM/HR. OCCASIONAL ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SO OCCASIONALLY SWITCHING BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH BEAMS. NOTICED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED OCCASIONALLY. EFFECT WAS ONLY VISIBLE AFTER ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD PASSED, BEFORE SWITCHING BACK TO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I HAD ATTRIBUTED THE EFFECT TO MY EYES ADJUSTING AFTER THE ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS. ON ONE OCCASION, AFTER THE ONCOMING VEHICLE HAD PASSED, I SWITCHED BACK TO LOW BEAM SETTING, BUT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AT ALL. ALL I COULD SEE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF YELLOWISH LIGHT OFF TO THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE OTHER RUNNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING YELLOW LIGHTS ON THE SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT LIGHT TO SEE ANY DISTANCE DOWN THE ROAD, SO I CEASED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND COVERED THE BRAKE APPLYING GENTLE BRAKING. I STILL HAD MY FINGERS ON THE LEVER AND WAS ABLE TO SWITCH BACK TO HIGH BEAMS AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. FORTUNATELY THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SAFE OPPORTUNITY, TO ASSESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED. ALL OTHER LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I DROVE AT REDUCED SPEED ALTERNATELY USING THE FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS. THE LOW BEAMS OCCASIONALLY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BY THE TIME I WAS HOME, THEY HAD CEASED TO WORK. I REPLACED THE GM HDM MODULE, AND THE LOW BEAMS WORKED FOR A YEAR OR SO UNTIL THAT MODULE FAILED. THERE IS A RECALL TO REPLACE GM HDM 15016745 WITH GM HDM 13506836 BUT THE RECALL APPARENTLY DOES NOT APPLY TO MY 2004 MODEL YEAR. NHTSA RECALL NO. : 15V-519 MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. : 14291 I CONSIDER THIS TO HAVE BEEN A SEVERE LIFE THREATENING EVENT.
NHTSA ODI #11119418
160,000 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Exterior LightingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, CIRCUIT BOARDS, AND FUSES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. WHEN REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS RANDOMLY STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, CIRCUIT BOARDS, AND FUSES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. WHEN REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BULBS MELTED INTO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ODI #11118517
104,060 miles · May 6, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. ALL 3 TIMES BOTH LOW BEAM BULBS BURN OUT AT THE SAME EXACT TIME WHILE TRAVELING ON A RURAL ROAD IN NH..
NHTSA ODI #11092112
140,000 miles · Nov 1, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY DRIVING LIGHTS TURN OFF AND ON WHILE IM DRIVING I TOOK IT TO CHECK AND THEY SAID IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WITH ELECTRIC SYSTEM BUT MY LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE IM DRIVING
NHTSA ODI #11042205
162,500 miles · May 12, 2017
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND INDEPENDENTLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND INDEPENDENTLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,500.
NHTSA ODI #10985053
NHTSA investigations
4RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
EA07009 · Fuel Pump Module Leaks Gasoline
Opened Jul 10, 2007 · Closed Aug 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS EA INVESTIGATION, ODI OBSERVED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS (88%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (94%) WERE REPORTED FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR USE IN THE SALT BELT REGION OF THE US.THIS AREA INCLUDES 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEAST, MID ATLANTIC AND THE MIDWEST REGIONS AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.CONSUMERS IN THE SALT BELT REGION REPORTED TO ODI THAT THEY COULD SMELL FUEL VAPORS IN THEIR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING.UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES, THEY DISCOVERED THAT FUEL VAPORS WERE COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE RETURN AND SENDER LINES OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.WATER AND ROAD SALT COLLECT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP LEADING TO SMALL PINHOLES APPEARING ON THE FUEL LINES.FUEL MAY LEAK AND COLLECT ON TOP OF THE MODULE AND/OR SPILL ONTO THE GROUND.THE DATA EVALUATED UNDER THIS INVESTIGATION REFLECT A RELATIVELY LOW FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE THAT LARGELY ARISES IN SALT BELT STATES.GM HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE SUBJECT COMPONENT TO TEN YEARS OR 120,000 MILES.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME; ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH.
EA04021 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Aug 3, 2004 · Closed Nov 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE/TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.ON MARCH 2, 2004, GM INITIATED A 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE SPECIAL POLICY FOR 989,487 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.ON APRIL 4, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-032) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.ON AUGUST 3, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE04-032 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-021).BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V527) COVERING SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER GM'S SPECIAL POLICY.MY 2004 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER AUGUST 8, 2003 CONTAIN IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLIES AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE IMPROVED BRAKE LAMP ASSEMBLY ON SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT ON AUGUST 8, 2003 AND EARLIER.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE04032 · Brake Lamp Failure
Opened Apr 6, 2004 · Closed Aug 3, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002-04 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER VEHICLES.GM REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES SHARING THIS PLATFORM AND BRAKE LAMP DESIGN ARE THE MY 2002-2004 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT; GMC ENVOY, XL, XUV; OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AND 2004 BUICK RAINIER.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR BRAKE LAMP DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.THERE IS NO INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT ONE OR MORE BRAKE LAMPS BULBS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING.GM FOUND THAT HEAT FROM THE BULB COULD DEFORM THE LAMP SOCKET, PRODUCE ELECTRICAL ARCING AND AN INOPERATIVE BULB.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, GM CHANGED THE BULB TO A BULB THAT TRANSMITS LESS HEAT TO THE SOCKET AND CHANGED THE SOCKET TO A THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER TO IMPROVE THERMAL STABILITY.THESE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED INTO PRODUCTION VEHICLES ON OCTOBER 1, 2003.GM IMPLEMENTED A SPECIAL POLICY BY NOTIFYING CONSUMERS THAT IF THEY SHOULD EXPERIENCE A BRAKE LAMP FAILURE TO GO TO THEIR GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CIRCUIT BOARD CONTAINING THE BRAKE LAMP REPLACED ALONG WITH NEW BULBS.THIS POLICY IS GOOD FOR THE FIRST 6 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-021 AND INCLUDE THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLES.
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