2008 Hummer H3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
77,079 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 87 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 113 complaints (27.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 4 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 4 |
Electrical System: 31; Engine: 18; Air Bags: 13; Visibility/Wiper: 12; Unknown Or Other: 8; Structure:Body: 6; Air Bags:Side/Window: 4; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 8; 2011: 2; 2012: 9; 2013: 10; 2014: 8; 2015: 21; 2016: 13; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10363985 · 2010-11-04 (November 4, 2010)
NOTHING LEAD TO THE FAILURE. SECOND OCCURRENCE IN 11 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME. FIRST OCCURRENCE 12/3/2009 AND NOW ANOTHER REPAIR NEEDED 11/4/2010. SUNROOF CHANNELS CLOGGING AND LEAKING WATER INTO VEHICLE. HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN WHEN WATER POUR THROUGH THE VEHICLE DOUSING AND DISTRACTING THE DRIVER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A POSSIBLE JERK OF THE WHEEL OR WRECK. FRONT WINDSHIELD ALSO BEGINS TO FOG TO DO MOISTURE AND IMPEDES VIEW OF ROAD. WATER POURING INTO VEHICLE CAUSING MOLD IN CARPET, SEATS AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,784 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483371 · 2012-11-05 (November 5, 2012)
I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT WHY MY HEATER BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING AND THERE WERE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WIRING HARNESS AND RESISTOR BURNING OUT. I CHECKED MINE AND SURE ENOUGH MINE WAS BURNT ON THE WIRING HARNESS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PLASTIC. GM NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT WOULD CAUSE IT TO MALFUNCTION LIKE THAT CAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216059 · 2008-01-26 (January 26, 2008)
2008 HUMMER H3 ALPHA NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 30-DAYS OF OWNERSHIP. ALIGNMENT REPAIR 3 TIMES, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID REPAIR, 2 TIMES, BELT REPLACED 2 TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224652 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)
I OWN A BRAND NEW BASE MODEL 2008 HUMMER H3 NOT EVEN DONE 300KMS ON THE METER AND I HEAR AND FEEL A RATTLING SOUND UNDER THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE CAR TRAVELS 10 MILES OR SO OR WHEN ITS VERY HOT, I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST DUBAI AND ITS ALWAYS HOT HERE... SO PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE I THINK ITS THE STEERING SHAFT,,,, AND FIND A SOLUTION THANKS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084719 · 2018-04-12 (April 12, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H3. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT AND A BUSHING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253131 · 2019-09-04 (September 4, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SPRINGS DISLODGED FROM THE MOUNT AND THE DRIVESHAFT DISLODGED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE AXLE WAS NOT BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11488302 · 2022-10-07 (October 7, 2022)
The contact owns a 2008 Hummer H3. The contact stated that upon shifting into drive (D) or reverse (R) the doors of the vehicle would unlock automatically. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that upon pressing the power master door lock switch to lock the vehicle, all four doors were unlocked. Additionally, the contact stated after refilling the gas tank at the gas station, the vehicle failed to restart and made an abnormal clicking sound. The contact stated that upon inspecting the hood of the vehicle, he saw flame…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11488302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10655114 · 2014-11-14 (November 14, 2014)
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND STALL OUT AFTER STARTING FROM A GREEN LIGHT. IT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. AFTER THIS, THE ENGINE QUIT MISFIRING AND BEGAN TO HAVE AN AUDIBLE WHINE COME FROM UNDER THE GEAR SHIFTER. THIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AS AN INTERMITTENT MISFIRE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. AFTER EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC, IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ENGINE A BOLT HOLDING IN PLACE ONE OF THE BALANCERS WORKED ITSELF FREE. THE ENTIRE BOLT WAS DISPLACED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATI…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10655114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415729 · 2021-05-09 (May 9, 2021)
THE ANTILOCK SAFETY IS PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING MY VEHICLE. WHEN IT DOES START, AND I GO TO AN INTERSECTION TO TURN THE TRUCK WILL THEN STALL OUT. IT CAN CAUSE A WRECK. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, TIME CONSUMING, AND MONEY CONSUMING WHEN I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY TO START MY TRUCK, OR IT DOESN'T START, I HAVE TO REPLACE IT FOR $450+ WHICH I DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT DOES LET IT START I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OUT ON ANY GIVEN SECOND CAUSING A CATASTROPHE!!! THERE ARE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415729 at NHTSA ↗