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 GMC Envoy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
As I was driving the vehicle, the dashboard lit up and the odometer and all the information systems went to zero. This has happened often over the years. I took it to two GMC car dealerships and the first one said it was the kill switch installed by a buy here pay here dealership. The kill switch was removed and the dashboard continued to flicker. Then the car would not start, I took it to another dealership and was told they couldn't find anything. The car began to tribble, again I took it in and was told that I needed to clean the fuel injection system. I did that and bought a battery but that didn't help. The tow driver said it seems to be something electrical but the car dealership can't find a solution. Have you had this complaint before? Not to confuse the complaint, I have several issues. 1. Dashboard lights up and the information panels shut down (all are at zero) 2. …
I was driving on a curvy 2 lane road in the country and the sun was just setting and I couldn't get any lights on my car. My lights are automatic and I just assumed that I had bumped a button and accidentally turned them off, so I started turning the switch to turn them on and it wasn't working. I almost drove off the road several times trying to get some light on. I then hit a section where tree lined curved section that was pretty dark. There had been no shoulder or anywhere to pull over there or for several miles. I could get bights lights, but no dim. I ended up driving with my fog lights, unknowingly at the time. We had just replace the bulbs 5 months before but we tried new bulbs and fuses to see if this would fix the problem. Unfortunately, it didn't. I have noticed a recall on lights for the Envoy years 06-07 for what seems like the same reason and mine is an 05.
I've had my 2005 Envoy for a little over a year and had my headlights flash on and off while driving on the road and freway. On one occasion while driving on a two lane highway ay night the lights went out completely for a few seconds. I was so scared wss really glad for no one behind me or on coming traffic. On another occassion I had to pull over on city street as my lights were going on and off and I could see the car ahead was a cop and I didnt want him to think I was flashing for help especially at 2 in the morning. Ive also had to exit the freeway because my lights started going on and off and on and wasnt sure if they would just go out completely while I was driving and since it was night time I didnt want to take the chance of causing an accident and hurting someone else or myself. I have a teenage daughter and am afraid to transport her and her friends in my car.
A while back, we noticed while driving down the interstate at night that our lights seemed to be flickering (low beams). It would do it occasionally, but we never knew when it would happen. Since then, we have had the lights go completely out while driving, and had to turn the fog lamps on to have headlights of any sort. Tonight, the lights went out, and I pulled into my driveway and was going to have my husband come out and see what was going on if he could. While I sat there with the car running and in park, after about 3 minutes, they came back on. I have read that there was a recall on the light modular for 2006+ envoys, but mine is a 2005, and having the same problem that I heard the recall was for. I have also heard that the 2005 trailblazers were included in the recall, but not the envoys????
About 4 years I noticed my low beam headlights sometimes would not work at night, forcing me to drive with my high beams on, blinding other motorists. This was reported to the dealer's service manager and he said it May cost $500 to determine the cause. I could not afford this expenditure. I try to avoid driving at night and only recently I had to drive at night and again my low beams would not work, forcing me to again drive with my high beams on. My fianc did a google search and learned this is a common problem with this fuse/relay. We learned we could pull out the high beam fuse/relay which is identical to the low beam and switch them. Upon doing so, the low beams once again worked.
I was driving down the highway after dark and my low beams completely went out. I could only get my high beams to work. Currently only one low beam is working and the other will not work even after changing the bulb or the fuse. I believe this is a huge safety concern especially having a young child. It was very scary going down the road at night and have your lights completely just go out. I have noticed that there are issues with 06-07 envoys but I wanted GM to be made aware that 2005 models have been affected as well.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Envoy. While driving, the contact noticed that the front passenger side headlight flickered and failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the headlight and fuse; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.
The vehicles headlights keep going out at night will driving. I have been dealing with this problem for about 2 years, I am a certified mechanic and I believe the problem is the headlight relay that is overheating. This is the same GM part that is being recalled in other GM vehicles. GM part # 15016745. So why has it not been recalled in 05 . The problem happens at random the light will go out while driving or parked it does not matter.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that the exterior low beam headlamp failed without warning. The dealer was not contacted. The contact previously replaced the headlamp relay independently, but the failure occurred approximately three times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Envoy. While driving at any speed, the exterior lighting failed. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 15V599000 (visibility). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
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 Envoy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2005 GMC Envoy?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the lights of the 2005 GMC Envoy, 9% of the model year's 488 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 GMC Envoy headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2005 GMC Envoy, 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 GMC Envoy headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
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.