RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Jun 28, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
48%
of 27 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 28, 2026

My first complaint is that headlights, low beam, would not work. Only high beams worked. The issue stopped, unexplainable, on its own, has not occurred again. The 2nd complaint is the radio volume would 'slip' as if there were a loose wire to the speakers, and loss of sound became more frequent and for longer periods of time, eventually all sound stopped, it has not been fixed, as of yet. 3rd complaint, a brand new battery, in under a year of use, went completely dead, without any visible explanation. When an attempt to jump start the vehicle the cables from another cars battery were touched at my cars battery, it sparked, indicating to the person performing the task, there is a 'short' somewhere in the wiring system. I drive this vehicle less than 3000 miles per year, and use it sporadically with my second vehicle to keep the batteries active. I cannot explain why these issues are occurring but thought it important to mention them to other possible victims with the same issues.

NHTSA ID
11747022
Incident
Sep 15, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 24, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO DRIVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,731.

NHTSA ID
11131077
Incident
Sep 24, 2018
Mileage
136,731 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 3, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. AND NOT COME BACK ON YOU HAVE TO TURN ON HIGH BEAMS TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED AND PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE TURNED IT BACK ON AND LOW BEAMS STILL DID NOT COME BACK ON

NHTSA ID
11042969
Incident
Nov 2, 2017
Mileage
157,654 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2017

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. ALL OTHER LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WORK. ONLY THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE AFFECTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION AND FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING IT IN DRIVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ON SEVERAL GROUP WE SIGHTS AND FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER MODULE (HDM). I HAVE REPLACED THIS TWO TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WHICH ALWAYS FIXES IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR THEN IT STARTS FAILING AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AFTER DARK. I CAN PULL OVER AND STOP, OPEN THE HOOD AND TAKE OFF THE FUSE BOX COVER AND REMOVE THE HDM AND PUT IT BACK IN THE SOCKET. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON EARLIER TRAILBLAZERS BUT NOT THIS YEAR. IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED.

NHTSA ID
10956853
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 16, 2016

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED. ALL THE LIGHTS BLINK WHILE YOU RIDE ALONG. THE TWO BACK DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE STARTING TO NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK PROPERLY. THE ITEMS THAT LET YOU KNOW WHEN A TIRE IS LOW IN AIR ARE FAILING. THE LAST ONE COSTING OVER $100 TO FIX. I AM GETTING VERY UPSET WITH THE ELECTRIC PARTS IN THIS TRAILBLAZER. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE. AS A PHOTO I CAN SEND YOU A PHOTO OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10885231
Incident
May 13, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE NEW FUSE ONLY LASTED SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED AGAIN PER THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10838940
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS BULBS SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,374.

NHTSA ID
10823568
Incident
Jan 25, 2016
Mileage
60,374 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 31, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,050.

NHTSA ID
10817166
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
66,050 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 17, 2015

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF AND DID NOT COME BACK ON BY THE TIME SHE GOT HOME (APPROX. 15 MIN.). SHE WAS ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHICH ALSO INVOLVES SOME SHARP TURNS AS THE DRIVE PROGRESSES TOWARD HOME.

NHTSA ID
10810878
Incident
Dec 10, 2015
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 2015

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIGH BEAMS FUNCTIONED AND FOG LAMPS FUNCTIONED. DROVE APP. 5 MILES AND PULLED OFF ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHTS STILL DID NOT FUNCTION. LEFT THE CAR FOR 2 HOURS AND RETURNED. STARTED THE CAR AND LIGHTS WENT ON FOR 1 MILE AND THEN WENT OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LESS THAN A MILE OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678191
Incident
Jan 17, 2015
Mileage
81,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 1, 2014

I JUST SAW THE RECALL GM IS DOING FOR THE 2006~2007 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. I NOTICED THAT OTHER YEARS ARE NOT AFFECTED SPECIFICALLY MINE. MY 2009 TRAILBLAZER CURRENTLY HAS THIS ISSUES, BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS DO NOT WORK. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THEM TO WORK. I HAVE HAD NO LUCK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER. WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH OUR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU *JS

NHTSA ID
10661488
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
83,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 29, 2014

TRAVELING BETWEEN 50 TO 55 MPH. HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO DIM AND FLICKER. ON 10/29/2014, WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLAMPS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. TRAVELED WITH HAZARDS ON FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES BEFORE HEADLAMPS CAME BACK ON. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10651180
Incident
Oct 22, 2014
Mileage
44,300 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED OPERATING SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10648336
Incident
May 1, 2014

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .