Power Train. Review the 279 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 153 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 150 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports13 fire reports24 injury reports

What owners actually said

854 reports

80,000 miles · Jul 19, 2017

Power Train

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I BOUGHT THE GMC ACADIA USED IN 2014. IT HAD ABOUT 80K MILES ON IT, FROM A DEALERSHIP. THEY ASSURED ME IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH MY 5 CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY. I'M A SPECIAL ED TEACHER AND DRIVE ONLY 5 MILES FROM MY HOME AND OCCASIONALLY TO LOS ANGELES TO VISIT RELATIVES. AFTER 3 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I WAS HORRIFIED!!! THE WARRANTY COVERED THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTS. BUT THEY CHARGED ALMOST $4000 FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY TOLD ME WOULD BE NEW, I FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WAS REBUILT WITH NEW PARTS. FAST FORWARD TO 3 YEARS LATER, THE WATER PUMP, THE FUEL PUMP, THE AXLE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER HAS WENT OUT AGAIN. ANOTHER ALMOST $4000, THIS TIME IT HAS TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET AS THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. IT IS BLEEDING ME DRY. I HAVE THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND KEEP ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS, THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. AS A PARENT OF 5 CHILDREN, (2 SPECIAL NEEDS), I WAS EXCITED ABOUT MY PURCHASE, NOW I WISH I WOULD'VE NEVER DONE IT. --

NHTSA ODI #11006371

122,000 miles · Jul 7, 2017

Unknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION GONE COMPLETELY

NHTSA ODI #11003720

160,000 miles · Jul 7, 2017

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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WHAT'S NOT WRONG WITH THIS CAR?? I BOUGHT IT USED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER A YEAR EVERYTHING WENT DOWNHILL. IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT THE GMC SERVICE AT LEASE 3 TIMES A YEAR. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON BUT IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE AIRBAG RECALL. WHAT ABOUT SAFETY? THERE HAS BEEN A CHECK STABILITY TRAC AND TRACTION LIGHTS ON AS WELL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN THOSE LIGHTS COME ON THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE KENTUCKY BRIDGE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A 12 CAR PILE UP. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO SKIPS GEARS. WHEN TRYING TO SPEED UP IT JERKS INTO THE NEXT GEAR LIKE A HICCUP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THESE PROBLEMS WERE ELECTRIC AND WEAR COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. HOWEVER, THEY STATED OTHERWISE. LITERALLY, 4 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. BUT WHAT A SURPRISE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I'M LOOKING AT A $5,000 BILL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO AN ELECTRIC ISSUE (OUT OF MY CONTROL). THERE IS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. BUT AFTER TALKING TO GM THEY, BASICALLY EXPLAINED THAT THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AFTER 100,000 AND THAT THEY CAN'T PROVE THAT THE ISSUES ARE ACTUALLY MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I STRONGLY DISAGREE AS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME HARDSHIPS AS ME WITH THE 2008 VEHICLE. ON [XXX], FOR GMC ACADIA, 2008 IS THE WORST YEAR WITH THE MOST COMPLAINTS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HOW AREN'T THESE ALREADY RECALLED BY NOW? THEY ARE NOTHING BUT JUNK! NOT WORK ANYTHING. EVEN A GMC SERVICE REP. SAID THESE WERE THE WORSE YEAR AND GET THEM IN THE SHOP ALL THE TIME. WHY WON'T GMC JUST ISSSUE A RECALL AND TAKE THEM OFF THE MARKET. I HAVE ALL THE PROOF OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE RECEIPTS. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11003705

128,000 miles · Jun 28, 2017

Structure

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. WHENEVER IT RAINED, THE VEHICLE WOULD FLOOD AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (PRADO AUTO SALES, NEW CASTLE, DE) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED, BUT WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #11001972

129,000 miles · Jun 27, 2017

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE ON THE VEHICLE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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NHTSA ODI #11001802

164,000 miles · Jun 27, 2017

Air BagsElectrical SystemStructureCrash

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WE HAVE A 2008 GMC ACADIA THAT NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000 MILES. IT WAS RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT A WATER LEAK HAS CAUSED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BE COME COMPLETELY DISABLED. WATER LEAKS IN THESE MODEL VEHICLES ARE A KNOWN ISSUE AND GM HAS PUT OUT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THESE LEAKS AND HOW TO FIX THEM. BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS SAYING GM WILL NOT WARRANTY THE LEAK REPAIR OR THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FROM THE LEAK. WE ARE NOW FACED WITH A BILL OF $1600 TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO REPAIR THE WATER LEAK AND ANY OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY IT TO THE VEHICLE. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY A LEAKING SUNROOF WITH ADMITTED FACTORY DEFECT ISSUES FROM THE MANUFACTURE HAS A MILEAGE LIMIT FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. I CAN UNDERSTAND A TIME LIMIT. THIS ISSUE HAS NOW MADE OUR VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE AND RIDE IN.

NHTSA ODI #11001702

115,000 miles · Jun 23, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE IN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODE. FOUR BY FOUR CENTER IN ESSEX, VERMONT WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE THAT WAS COMMON IN THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11000820

119,100 miles · Jun 2, 2017

Steering

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I AM EXPERIENCING STEER LOSS WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS WHICH INVOLVE TURNING STREET CORNERS, PULLING AND OUT OF PARKING LOT SPACES AND ANY OTHER TIME A 90 DEGREE TURN IS REQUIRED (MOST OFTEN IN ANY CITY TRAVEL). THE STEERING BECOMES SO TIGHT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WIDER TURNS ARE REQUIRED WHEN STEERING WHEEL WON'T ENGAGE TO ASSIST. AT STREET CORNERS, THIS MEANS WIDER TURNS WHERE ATTENTION TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS. IN PARKING LOTS, THE ABILITY TO PULL INTO A SPACE IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT 3-4 POINT TURNS TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. THIS TOO CAN BLOCK ONCOMING VEHICLES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AVOID CONTACT WITH THOSE PARKED IN THE ADJACENT SPACES. THE WHEEL CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND FREEZE ON YOU WHEN YOU ARE NOT APPLYING THE GAS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO APPLY THE GAS WHEN YOUR TURN IS ALREADY TOO WIDE FOR A STREET CORNER TURN AND TRAFFIC IS COMING YOUR WAY OR YOU ARE TRYING TO AVOID PARKED CARS NEXT YOU WHEN PULLING IN OR OUT OF PARKING SPACES. BOTH STRAIGHT ON PARKING AND VERTICAL PARKING IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER IN. MY VEHICLE HAS 119,200 MILES. I NOTICED MY STEERING GETTING STIFFER ON RARE OCCASIONS AT 88,000 MILES BUT I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO MAKE MY TURNS PROPERLY. I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL NOW SO MY MILES HAVE ADDED UP QUICKLY IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY FIRST WAS AT 67,000 WHEN THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. PRIOR TO THAT, THE ENTIRE BACK AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY). SINCE THEN, THE THROTTLE BODY AT 84,000 MILES. RECALLS OF SEVERAL GM VEHICLES HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE POWER STEERING AND THE RACK AND PINION BUT THE 2008 ACADIA IS NOT LISTED. THESE STEERING ISSUES ARE NOT "ONE-OFF" SITUATIONS PER VEHICLE BUT RATHER ENTIRE POPULATIONS OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH A COMMON PROBLEM - POWER STEERING NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT SEVERAL INTERVALS OF MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE!

NHTSA ODI #10992797

123,000 miles · May 31, 2017

Steering

THE STEERING IN MY 2008 GMS ACADIA IS SEVERELY TIGHTENING WHEN I'M AT LOW SPEED MAKING A TURN INTO PARKING SPACE OR GARAGE FOR EXAMPLE. ITS VERY HARD TO TURN AND IS DANGEROUS. WE'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED ONE TIME BEFORE BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE. I HAVE 123,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS I…

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NHTSA ODI #10992370

160,000 miles · May 26, 2017

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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AS I WAS DRIVING TO PICK MY KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COME ON INDICATING THAT MY TRACTION CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF. THEN THE STABLITRACK LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER BECAUSE MY VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS MISSING AND ABOUT TO GO DEAD. I CUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND IT RUN FINE. TWO DAYS LATER WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON AGAIN AND THEN I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE HAD REDUCED SPEED. I MASHED THE ACCELERATOR BUT COULD NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED I ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. I'VE CALLED GMC AND THEY WERE NO HELP! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHER ACADIA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR YOUR VEHICLE TO STALL OUT ON YOU ON A MAIN HIGHWAY OR INTERSTATE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. OTHERS REPORTED TAKING THEIR ACADIA TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING TO PAY TO REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS AND THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10991829

Official recalls

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 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 & remedy

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> .

08V410000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Aug 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 & remedy

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> .

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12003 · Loss Of Headlamp Illumination

Opened Jun 4, 2012 · Closed Jul 24, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

As of July 16, 2014, out of a population of 248,453 subject vehicles, NHTSA received 473 consumer complaints of inoperative head lamp. Many of these complaints indicated that the head lamp harness suffered damage from overheating. After reviewing the complaints, ODI found: -69% (328) alleged that a single head lamp was inoperative. -18% (86) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but not at the same time. -9% (41) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but the complaints did not indicate whether the failures had occurred at the same time. -4% (17) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative at the same time. -One additional complaint cited wire harness damage to both sides but did not specify an outage -No crashes or loss of vehicle control were reported. -Any alleged thermal damages were limited to melting of the head lamp harness and the head lamp housing. -A head lamp would intermittently fail to come on or flickers before becoming completely inoperative. For the seventeen complaints that alleged simultaneous failure of both head lamps while attempting to turn them on or while driving, the head lamp failures likely had occurred one at a time. The subject vehicle's head lamps are connected in a parallel circuit and each circuit is fused. Therefore, failure of one head lamp or its harness should not affect the other head lamp operation. Over the last 25 years, ODI has opened numerous defect investigations of the loss of headlamp illumination.Investigations that resulted in safety recalls involved simultaneous loss of illumination from both headlamps. NHTSA does not consider the loss of a single headlamp as presenting an unreasonable safety risk-such failures are readily detectable by the driver while allowing the vehicle to retain forward visibility and conspicuity from the remaining headlamp.There is typically enough time between the failure of the first headlamp and the second during which the vehicle operator can obtain the needed repairs. Based on the information currently available, NHTSA does not believe that the headlamp condition as alleged by the petitioner indicates the likelihood of a safety-related defect that would warrant a formal investigation.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.Further specifics can be found in the Federal Register Notice ODI complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

EA08010 · NON-CRASH Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 12, 2008 · Closed Sep 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (9)

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Electrical System:wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring