vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Gmc ACADIA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

854 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

82,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 705 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 266 of 854 complaints (31.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting26931.5%
Steering behavior13716.0%
Electrical and battery issues12114.2%
Braking behavior627.3%
Engine operation455.3%
Fuel system concerns40.5%

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.

Power Train
266
Electrical System
148
Air Bags
143
Steering
127
Engine
124
Unknown Or Other
63
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
57
Exterior Lighting
44
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train266
Electrical System148
Air Bags143
Steering127
Engine124
Unknown Or Other63
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)57
Exterior Lighting44

Power Train: 266; Electrical System: 148; Air Bags: 143; Steering: 127; Engine: 124; Unknown Or Other: 63; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 57; Exterior Lighting: 44

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
66
25,000 to 49,999
74
50,000 to 74,999
160
75,000 to 99,999
180
100,000 to 149,999
163
150,000 and above
62
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00066
25,000 to 49,99974
50,000 to 74,999160
75,000 to 99,999180
100,000 to 149,999163
150,000 and above62

Under 25,000: 66; 25,000 to 49,999: 74; 50,000 to 74,999: 160; 75,000 to 99,999: 180; 100,000 to 149,999: 163; 150,000 and above: 62

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (180). 149 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.

2007
3
2008
25
2009
21
2010
27
2011
30
2012
47
2013
156
2014
169
2015
101
2016
71
2017
54
2018
38
2019
51
2020
27
2021
9
2022
11
2023
5
2024
5
2025
1
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20073
200825
200921
201027
201130
201247
2013156
2014169
2015101
201671
201754
201838
201951
202027
20219
202211
20235
20245
20251
20263

2007: 3; 2008: 25; 2009: 21; 2010: 27; 2011: 30; 2012: 47; 2013: 156; 2014: 169; 2015: 101; 2016: 71; 2017: 54; 2018: 38; 2019: 51; 2020: 27; 2021: 9; 2022: 11; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 269 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 137 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 121 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10206899 · 2007-10-25 (October 25, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, BUT THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACCELERATION WAS NORMAL. THE GMC AREA REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 6 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING DAMAGED, THUS THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 127 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206899 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10212394 · 2007-12-20 (December 20, 2007)

THE SEAT BELT LATCHES IN THE SECOND ROW BENCH SEAT IN OUR 2008 GMC ACADIA PRESENT AN INJURY RISK. THEY ARE MADE OF METAL, EXTEND APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES ABOVE THE SEAT, AND ARE IMMOVABLE. WHEN A PERSON TRIES TO "SLIDE" ACROSS THE SEAT THE LATCH CAN CAUSE INJURY. IT WOULD BE WORSE IT A PERSON SIT ON THE LATCH DIRECTLY. WE HAVE HAD TWO PEOPLE WITH PAIN AND BRUISES FROM CONTACT WITH THESE LATCHES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10212394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10212682 · 2007-12-25 (December 25, 2007)

MY 2008 GMC ACADIA SLT2 MODEL HAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE WATER LEAKS ARE COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT RETRACTION AREA ON THE PILLARS LEADING DOWN FROM THE ROOF AND ALSO ON THE PILLARS AT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WHERE THE AIRBAGS ARE LOCATED. I ALSO HAVE WATER SOAKING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER RUGS, IT APPEARS WATER IS RUNNING DOWN THE FIRE WALL FROM THE FRONT POSSIBLY DOWN THE PILLARS. THE ROOD HEADLINER IS GETTING WET AT EACH SPOT WHERE THE ROOF PILLARS MEET THE HEADLINER. I AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER AFFECTING THE ELEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212682 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10214007 · 2008-01-07 (January 7, 2008)

MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS MY 2008 ACADIA DELIVERED SEPT.2007. CURRENTLY WITH LESS THAN 5,900 MILES ON IT. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR FAILURE TO START FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE BATTERY IS SOMEHOW BEING DISCHANGED. OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ORIGINAL BATTERY, ON THE FIRST OCCURANCE, THE DEALER SERVICE CAN NOT SEEM TO TRACK DOWN THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKS OUT OK. IT DOES SEEM TO START FINE FOR A WHILE, SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL HAVE A DEAD BATTERY OVER NIGHT. NOTHING IS EVER LEFT ON. I CHECK THAT …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,876 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214007 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10217051 · 2008-02-05 (February 5, 2008)

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND AT A STOP, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALL WINDOWS ARE IN THE UP POSITION, AND ALL DOORS ARE PROPERLY CLOSED DURING THE EVENT. RESULTS IN NAUSEA AND HEADACHE. OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. DEALER HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 966 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217051 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223233 · 2008-04-03 (April 3, 2008)

2008 GMC ACADIA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND BURNT TO NOTHING BUT THE FRAME. LUCKILY WE ALL GOT OUT OK. PRIOR TO THIS OUR CAR WAS IN THE SHOP DUE TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE COMING APART. WE FEEL THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THIS TIME AS WELL BECAUSE BY THE TIME WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD WE HAD NO POWER STEERING TO THE CAR. GMC AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT FROM ARE DOING NOTHING AND I STILL HAVE NO CAR. I AM OUT MY DOWN PAYMENT AS WELL AS 2 ALMOST 700.00 PAYMENTS AND I LOST MY TRADE IN CAR ON TOP OF THAT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223233 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223676 · 2008-04-08 (April 8, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THE LIGHT EMITS A SHADOW, WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE OTHER VEHICLE'S OR OBJECTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT IS CORRECT AND FOUND NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS CORRECTLY DESIGNED AND MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,115 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700. UPDATED 04/28/08. *LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223676 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10224678 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND AT A STOP, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALL WINDOWS ARE IN THE UP POSITION, AND ALL DOORS ARE PROPERLY CLOSED DURING THE EVENT. RESULTS IN NAUSEA AND HEADACHE. OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. DEALER HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224678 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V410000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages

Reported: 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V441000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V240000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V118000 · Air Bags:Side/Window

Reported: 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V415000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate

Reported: 2015-06-30 (June 30, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

NHTSA campaign record ↗