Problems · by component

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer exterior lighting problems

159 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer cite exterior lighting, 12% of all 1,277 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
159
12% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SOLENOID WHICH HE BELIEVED REPAIRED THE ISSUE. SOON AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHT FUSES AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CIRCUIT BOARD HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V096000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED CORWIN MOTORS KALISPELL (2565 US-93, KALISPELL, MT 59901, (406) 755-5555) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 247,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11415169
“CHEVROLET DEALER BEGAN RECALL REPAIRS BUT GM FILED BANKRUPTCY AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR CITING INABILITY TO GET PAID BY GM FOR RECALL, RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME UNREPAIRED. NEXT DEALER SAID RECORDS SHOWED REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THEY WERE NOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11194474
“I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND SHUT MY TRUCK OFF BUT MY DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK. THEN IT STARTED MAKING FUNNY TICKING SOUNDS AND ALL MY LIGHTS INSIDE STARTED FLICKING AND MY WINDOWS ALL ROLLED UP AND WOULDN'T GO BACK DOWN SO I COULD GET OUT. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO I TURNED IT BACK ON AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET MY DOOR UNLOCKED TO GET OUT. NOW WHEN I TOUCH ANYTHING MY OTHER WINDOWS GO UP AND MY SEAT STARTS TO MOVE ON ITS OWN. MY DRIVER'S WINDOW IS STUCK UP AND WON'T COME BACK DOWN. I HAVE 5 KIDS AND CAN NOT CHANCE SOMETHING HAPPENING AND US NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT SAFELY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, SeatsODI 11011787
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 05/09/17*LJ *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10950233
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,982.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10944266
“BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AS OF 10/27/2016. THE AMBER TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS SEEM TO WORK SPORADICALLY. AS OF NOW, THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN SAFELY DURING THE DAY. EARLY MORNING DARKNESS AND THE EARLIER ONSET OF SUNSET MAKE DRIVING HAZARDOUS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME THIS WAS DISCOVERED, BUT BEFORE LEAVING TO MAKE A SCHOOL DROP-OFF. THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS AND FOG LAMPS WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. THE R AND L HEAD LIGHT FUSES ARE INTACT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10919868

Showing 6 of 159 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Exterior lightingReported Mar 21, 2006NHTSA 06E025000

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Exterior lightingReported Nov 1, 2004NHTSA 04V527000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.