Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 GMC Envoy problems

Owners filed 17 complaints about the 2009 GMC Envoy with NHTSA between Jan 2010 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is exterior lighting (6).

Complaints
17
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Exterior lighting6
  2. Engine4
  3. Electrical system4
  4. Power train2
  5. Steering2
  6. Air bags1
  7. Wheels1
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  10. Fuel system, other1
  11. Other / unknown2

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20101
20110
20121
20131
20143
20154
20161
20173
20180
20191
20201
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Exterior lighting

6 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11253806

Engine

4 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service stabili-trak warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle filed accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. Additionally, the contact stated that the battery was drained. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times previously. The contact stated the battery was charged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a peracetic battery drain, the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2024EngineODI 11564458

Electrical system

4 reports
“HEADLIGHT DRIVE MODULE (HDM) CONTROLS BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THIS RELAY HAS FAILED ON ME TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR, AT NIGHT RESULTING IN GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO LIGHTS AND UNABLE TO SEE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH AT NIGHT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2017Electrical systemODI 11000147

Power train

2 reports
“THE TRANSMISSION I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED BUT THE ONE THEY PUT IN IT IS REALLY ACTING LIKE THE OTHER TRANSMISSION DID NO REVERSE AND THE FIRST 2 GEARS WERE MAKING THIS GRINDING NOISE I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT THE DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK LUCKY I MADE IT TO THE PLACE WHERE I GOT IT TO FIX IT BUT I BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION THEY PUT IN IT IS GOING TO DO THE SAME THING BECAUSE IT DRIVES JUST LIKE THE OLD ONE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2020Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11372522

Steering

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 (STEERING), AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,566 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 12/16/2014 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2014Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10611219

Air bags

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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