Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he attempted to install a child safety seat in the third row seating, but none of the seat belts would successfully tighten and retain the child seat. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The contact also stated that the headlights were experiencing a recurring failure in which they would periodically burn out. Upon examining the headlight housing, the contact noticed that the wires were burned. The contact stated that he replaced each headlight approximately three times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, he discovered that the brake lights were not functioning correctly. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the sockets for the lights had become burned. In addition, the passenger side headlight intermittently failed and the socket for the passenger headlight was also found to be burned. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000 and the current mileage was 96,112.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While at a stop, the contact noticed that the tail lights failed to illuminate. In addition, when the key was turned to the off position, the vehicle remained on. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that both tail light strips needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 163,000. Updated 4/27/15 the consumer stated both tail lights failed, the stop light on both sides, and the brake lights. Ignition wire was burned. Updated 10/9/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the low beam headlights turned on and off without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact also stated that the low beam headlights failed and there was a burning smell in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuse box and wiring burned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle lost interior and exterior lighting. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed which caused the contact to crash into a creek. A police report was filed. The contact was not injured in the crash. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while turning on the vehicle, the day time running lamps failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) May cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2005.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat May cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb May flicker and eventually become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on November 22, 2004.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of 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.
Brake lamp failure
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…
Brake lamp failure
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…
Headlight complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the lights of the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 10% of the model year's 1,081 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 05V-198 (turn signal, May 5, 2005); NHTSA recall 04V-527 (brake lights, Nov 1, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.