VehicleVerdict

2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer lighting problems

The 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer has 156 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

156

Lighting complaints

10%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

Trailblazer lighting complaints by model year156 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 3 complaints2002: 156 complaints2003: 83 complaints2004: 110 complaints2005: 154 complaints2006: 113 complaints2007: 154 complaints2008: 18 complaints2009: 13 complaints2021: 1 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Trailblazer lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

06E025000LightingMarch 21, 2006 · 1,450 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.

04V527000LightingNovember 1, 2004 · 871,473 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

What owners report

THE PASSENGER-SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKET CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED. THIS SAME SOCKET AND BULB WERE REPLACED DUE TO MELTED CONTACTS ONLY 4 MONTHS AGO. I WAS AWARE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AS THERE WAS A STRONG BURNT ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FUSE FOR THE HEADLIGHT DID NOT BLOW IN EITHER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · February 20, 2009 · fire

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer have?

NHTSA has 156 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer lighting — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer lighting?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the lighting: 04V527000, 06E025000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.