Lights go off and won't come back on for 2 hours. You can smell something burning but cannot find where it is coming from. I have replaced all bulbs 3 times. And nothing changes.
2005 GMC Envoy lighting problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 5 model years of GMC Envoy in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Low-beam headlights are the main complaint. They flicker on and off during normal driving, sometimes progressing to complete shutoff without warning. Owners report this happens randomly at any speed and mileage range, from 1,000 miles on up. High beams work fine when the low beams fail. The problem is unpredictable—you might drive the car one day with working lights and the next day they're out. A few owners say the lights return on their own after a few seconds, or after hitting a bump in the road.
Multiple owners suspect a headlight relay overheating—one certified mechanic states it's GM part #15016745. One owner replaced the relay himself with temporary success but the problem recurred. Burning smells are occasionally reported.
A secondary pattern involves multiple light systems failing together: headlights, dash lights, interior lights, and tail lights shutting off simultaneously while driving. In one case, high beams kicked on automatically when low beams dropped out. One owner's chip firmware update at a dealership resolved flashing lights, but not all dealers are aware of this bulletin fix.
Dimming and brightness fluctuation also appears—lights dim and brighten repeatedly while driving, often when the brake pedal is pressed. One dealership dismissed this as normal for new cars running multiple systems; another dealership knew of technical service bulletins (05-08-42-001 and 06-06-03-004) but told the owner GM had no fix.
Dealers consistently cannot replicate or diagnose the faults. The 2005 Envoy is excluded from GM's 2006+ Envoy recall (14V755000) and later campaigns, even though owners report the exact same symptoms the recalls address. Replacing bulbs and fuses does not fix the issue.
Same GMC Envoy lighting reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Low-beam headlight flickering and dropout
Low-beam headlights flicker on and off intermittently during normal driving, progressing to complete shutoff without warning. High beams remain functional. Most frequent failure mode across the complaint set.
When: Various mileages from 1,000 to 124,000 miles; failures reported at different speeds and driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Low beams flicker on and off intermittently; Low beams shut off completely during driving; High beams function normally; Daytime running lights unaffected in some cases; Lights may return on after seconds to minutes or after hitting bumps; Problem occurs randomly and unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced headlight relay independently with temporary success; owners cite GM part #15016745 as suspected relay. New bulbs and fuses do not resolve the issue. Dealers unable to duplicate or identify root cause in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V755000 (GM Safety Recall 14291) addresses this condition in 2006+ Envoys and 2005 Trailblazers, but 2005 Envoys are excluded from the recall despite owners reporting identical symptoms. TSBs 05-08-42-001 and 06-06-03-004 reference the problem but do not provide a fix.
Simultaneous interior and exterior lighting failure
Headlights, interior lights, dash lights, and radio lights fail simultaneously or in combination, without warning. May include high-beam activation when low beams drop.
When: Reported between 26,000 and 58,000 miles in documented cases
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights, dashboard lights, and rear lights shut off together while driving; Interior and exterior lamps fail simultaneously; High beams activate when low beams shut off, distracting drivers; Visibility significantly reduced during failure; No obvious trigger for failures
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to determine cause despite multiple visits. One owner reports a firmware/chip update resolved flashing light issue at one dealership; another dealership initially dismissed complaint as 'normal.'
Intermittent dimming and brightness fluctuation
Headlights and interior lighting dim and brighten repeatedly during use without operator control, particularly when brake pedal is depressed or heater/radio are in use.
When: Reported as early as 11,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim then increase brightness intermittently; Dimming occurs when brake pedal is depressed; Problem repeats every time headlights are turned on; Interior lights flashing on and off with exterior lights; No discernible reason or action triggering the dimming
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; one dealership stated this was 'normal' for new vehicles with multiple systems running.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSBs 05-08-42-001 and 06-06-03-004 acknowledge the issue but provide no fix according to owners.
High-beam blinking on deceleration
High beams blink involuntarily when the accelerator pedal is released or vehicle is decelerating, independent of driver input to light controls.
When: Reported at 1,000 miles on one vehicle; current mileage 37,000
Symptoms owners cite: High beams blink when foot is removed from accelerator; High beams blink during deceleration at 30–50 mph; No operator control over the blinking; Failure occurs repeatedly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic found no failures. GM technical support acknowledged awareness of the failure but stated they did not know how to repair it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM technical support aware of issue but unable to provide repair procedure.
Relay overheating and fuse-box failure
Low-beam headlight relay overheats, melts fuse box, and cuts power to low-beam circuit. Affects same GM relay part used in recalls on other vehicle models.
When: One report at 50 mph on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights go out; Burning smell detected but source unclear; Lights do not return for extended periods (up to 2 hours); No power reaching low-beam circuit
Repairs/costs cited: GM part #15016745 (headlight relay) identified by certified mechanic as overheating component; same part recalled in other GM vehicles. Owner reports problem ongoing for 2 years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Same part is recalled in other GM vehicles but not addressed for 2005 Envoy.
Loose headlight lens
Headlight lens covering is loose on vehicle, causing flickering of fog lights when vehicle travels over bumps.
When: Reported during nighttime operation
Symptoms owners cite: Fog lights flicker on and off when going over bumps at night; Lens covering headlights is loose; Problem occurs at various speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership informed owner nothing could be done; stated this was how the vehicle was manufactured.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed this is a manufacturing design issue with no remedy available.
Rear lighting assembly failure
Rear light assembly mounted at top of vehicle snapped off during highway driving at normal speed.
When: Reported during travel at 55 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Rear light assembly snapped off completely; Loss of rear lighting function
Repairs/costs cited: Owner requested GMC cover repair cost; assembly failure suggests structural or mounting defect.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had lighting trouble with your 2005 GMC Envoy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2005 GMC Envoy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 28,000 and 124,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 124,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/GMC/Envoy.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.