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 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was a burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact pulled over and inspected the head lights and noticed they were melted on the inside. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
When driving vehicle both left and right low beam headlights go out. The first time it happened was when I was driving long distance in the dark. Had to drive with my high beams on for the rest of the trip. There is no specific time frame, but generally it happens anywhere from 10- 30 minutes of driving. I suspect it is heat related. I have changed the headlight relay #46, bit it only fixed the problem for a week. Again the lights will go out after driving several minutes. I noticed there is a recall for a similar issue on the 2006 Chevy Trailblazer. Could this be the same problem with my vehicle. There are also multiple forums explaining the same exact issue with early 2000 model trailblazers. This issue happened approx 6 months ago. Last week we ran into another problem. Our ABS light comes on periodically. …
I bought this car used in 2009. It had about 60000 miles on it. 1) the first problem I had with it was a burnout of the hac blower plug, that part of the wiring harness had to be cut out and replaced wth a completely new plug( both halves) and rewired in for a cost of 125.oo and 3 hours of labour. I looked this up on the internet very common problem 2) rider side door control panel stopped working with strong odor of burnt plastic. Again looked up and found there was a recall, but only 2006 vehicles 3)brakes burn out of rotors only on rightside- left side rotors were fine, brake job with replacement of 2 left rotors I front piston amd all 8 pads 650.00. Failure occurred while driving on city street 4) failure of ignition switch with erratic electrical function of running lights, radio and dashboard instrumentation. …
Multiple times while driving the headlights will malfunction and turn on and off, at random driving speeds under many different conditions. I continued to drive the Trailblazer even after this occurred. Just not as often. If the heater was on while driving and the headlights would short the heater would stop and then turn back on. The fan turns on at random, first it turns on when driving at random times. The fan will turn on at random times with a higher speed and sound. I have had the inspection completed multiple times with a mechanic re-assuring the issue although it has been happening frequently. The check engine light is on all the time due to computer error and is a $500.00 fix. This has all happened and been reported within the first year I bought the vehicle from kendal motors in lewiston idaho. …
The low beam headlight on my 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer turn off while I am driving down the road with no notice. The first time this occurred was on lawndale/7 mile road in saginaw county michigan in June 2014. The incident has happened several times since, most recently on 8/8/15 on greenwood road in alger mi. The low beam lights go out for no reason and cannot be turned back on. The high beam lights will work. The low beam lights will later turn on on their own. It generally takes several minutes before this happens. Several times this has occurred on dark, county roads which increase the danger to the occupants of my vehicle and other passengers on the road. I have contacted GM and their executive office and was informed that while the issue is a recall for the 2006 model year, because my vehicle was built in June 2005 it is not covered.
While driving southbound on I-75 in michigan at approximately 9:10 pm on August 16, 2015, the low beam head lights went out near mile marker 180. The high beam lights and running lights continued to work. The low beam lights remained off until after I exited I-75 at the southbound 155 exit. After leaving the exit and driving an additional 4 miles, I again tried the low beams and they worked. I later got back into the vehicle (after it was off for approximately 30 minutes) and the low beam lights were again off. They would not come back on and I left the vehicle. The following morning, the low beam lights were functioning again. This situation has been reported to the executive customer service office at GM and they have stated that there is not a current recall and therefore they will not repair it.
The headlights work then shut off. (on the way to work in a downpour, no less) dashboard lights partially working. (if I go over 40 mpg can't tell what my speed is) was working correctly for a couple of days now nothing. I checked for recalls and there are recalls for 2006-20xx (NHTSA 14V755000 ) just wondering, after finding on the internet, numerous 2005 owners with same problem, why this model wasn't included in the recalls? I would like to file a complaint on the potentially deadly problem of the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer that should be corrected and included in this recall. Thank you
The headlights and gauges keep dimming while driving.they will flash.the headlights will go off completely and then come back on after a minute or so.it is very dangerous when the headlights go off while driving at night.I have seen several complaints of the same trouble.the 2006 models were recalled for this problem but the 2005 models were not.why when they have the same dangerous issues?this needs to be recalled and fixed before someone is killed by the lights going off causing a wreck.this problem has happened allot every since I purchased this Trailblazer several years ago.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. While driving, the headlights shut off frequently. When the failure occurred, the high beam headlights had to be activated. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls and advised the contact to schedule an appointment with tom gill Chevrolet (7830 commerce dr, florence, ky 41042, [phone]). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was 91,800. Consumer stated he read on the internet that there was a recall in 2006 other people had same problem, his was on 2005.
While driving at night I have an intermittent problem where the headlamp low beams just go out. I have moved relays around but it doesn't correct the problem. I have been stopped by police several times because I am blinding other drivers because I have to drive with brights lit. I see they recalled the 2006 and later models for this problem. I work at a shop and we see , on average, 10 per year that are 2005 and that's just in our small community. If I set a half hour, sometimes an hour then the dims start working again. The most recent time was May 5th of 2018
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.
Headlight complaints in other Trailblazer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
NHTSA has 143 complaints about the lights of the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 10% of the model year's 1,466 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 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.