This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 GMC Envoy lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 GMC Envoy have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Envoy | 27 |
| 2006 Envoy | 51 |
| 2007 Envoy | 62 |
| 2008 Envoy | 15 |
| 2009 Envoy (this page) | 6 |
When does it fail?
Of the 6 lighting complaints filed for the 2009 GMC Envoy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of GMC Envoy we track for lighting problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (6).
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
On december 20, 2015 we were traveling after dark (7:30 pm) and the head lamps went off. We managed to pull out of traffic safely. Could not figure out what happened. After sitting for approximately 5 minutes the lamps came back on and we were driving to our home and the lamps went off again. I took the vehicle to a Chevy dealer and they could not help me. I then called the GMC dealer and got…
The headlights go out and will not come back on while driving my sister took it to gm while it was still under warrenty and was told that is not covered under warrenty she paid $35,000 for this GMC and can not drive it at night 6months after buying the envoy if my sister gets killed because of this unsafe envoy its on GMC if it comes on a GMC and its still under warrenty then it should be…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 GMC envoy. While driving at an unknown speed, the head lamps failed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14v755000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 GMC envoy. While driving 35 MPH, both headlights and tail lights failed. The contact was able to drive home using the fog lights. After letting the engine cool down, the vehicle would operate normally. The contact was a certified mechanic and noted that the volt meter dropped to 12 volts when the failure occurred. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and stated…
For 5 months the headlights work when they want to, the first couple months they were working more than not, last couple months they were not working more than they did work.
Low beam headlights don't work even after replacing the hdm.
Had lighting trouble with your 2009 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 2009 GMC Envoy?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 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?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 87,241 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2009/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.