IllustrationFOR 5 MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS THEY WERE WORKING MORE THAN NOT, LAST COUPLE MONTHS THEY WERE NOT WORKING MORE THAN THEY DID WORK.
2009 GMC Envoy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Envoy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 16 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
6 reportsLOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE HDM.
ON DECEMBER 20, 2015 WE WERE TRAVELING AFTER DARK (7:30 PM) AND THE HEAD LAMPS WENT OFF. WE MANAGED TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES THE LAMPS CAME BACK ON AND WE WERE DRIVING TO OUR HOME AND THE LAMPS WENT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALE…
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ON DECEMBER 20, 2015 WE WERE TRAVELING AFTER DARK (7:30 PM) AND THE HEAD LAMPS WENT OFF. WE MANAGED TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES THE LAMPS CAME BACK ON AND WE WERE DRIVING TO OUR HOME AND THE LAMPS WENT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I THEN CALLED THE GMC DEALER AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE. I THEN CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSED BY A HEADLAMP MODULE OVERHEATING. I KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO OTHER PEOPLE SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL.? HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEAD LAMPS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME USING THE FOG LIGHTS. AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE COOL DOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND NOTED THAT THE VOLT METER DROPPED TO 12 VOLTS WHEN THE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME USING THE FOG LIGHTS. AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE COOL DOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND NOTED THAT THE VOLT METER DROPPED TO 12 VOLTS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATE 01/13/16 UPDATED 01/22/16.*JB
THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING MY SISTER TOOK IT TO GM WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY SHE PAID $35,000 FOR THIS GMC AND CAN NOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT 6MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE ENVOY IF MY SISTER GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE ENVOY ITS ON GMC IF IT …
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THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON WHILE DRIVING MY SISTER TOOK IT TO GM WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY SHE PAID $35,000 FOR THIS GMC AND CAN NOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT 6MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE ENVOY IF MY SISTER GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE ENVOY ITS ON GMC IF IT COMES ON A GMC AND ITS STILL UNDER WARRENTY THEN IT SHOULD BE COVERED,IF GMC SELL DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THEN IT SHOULD FIX IT IF IT UNDER THE GMC NAME. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ17002 · 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.