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

53,000 miles · Apr 22, 2015

EnginePower Train

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2008 GMC ACADIA WITH SLIGHTLY UNDER 53,000 MILES. WAS DRIVING ACROSS TOWN AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY AS IF SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE GOING TO HIGH REVOLUTIONS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE STOPPED FOR AWHILE, RESTARTED, BEGAN HEADING TOWARDS DEALERSHIP. ACCELERATION COMPLETELY FAILED AND VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP WITH INABILITY TO GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. VEHICLE TOWED TO GM DEALERSHIP. BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH BROKE AND SPREAD METAL BITS ACROSS THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. COMPLAINT ALSO FILED WITH GM CUSTOMER CARE REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF PREMATURE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712151

87,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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JUST AFTER BUYING MY 08 ACADIA EVERYTHING ON IT WENT WRONG. BUT NOW 2 HALF YEARS LATER AND ONLY 13000 MILES I CANT TAKE ANYMORE. THE SUNROOF HAS LEAKED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. I HARDLY EVER DRIVE IT DUE TO THE LEAK AND THE NOISE THE STEERING MAKES. RETURNED TO DEALER . THEY SAID DRAIN TUBES CLOGGED. STILL LEAKED. CARRIED TO BODY SHOP THEY SAID SAME THING. FIXED AGAIN. STILL LEAKS. CALLED GM DEALER TODAY SAID THEY CANT FIX IT.THEY SAID TO CALL BODY SHOP I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM. THEY SAID THAT IS WHO THEY WOULD CARRY IT TOO. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT I HAVE MOLD ISSUES. I CAN ONLY ASSUME MY AIRBAGS WONT WORK. I ALSO FIGURE WITH ALL THE WIRING WET ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. I PROMISE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY FAMILY DUE TO THIS CAR GM WILL PAY. I WILL MAKE IT MY LIFE WORK TO MAKE THEM PAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706714

47,507 miles · Apr 16, 2015

Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT NON-FUNCTIONAL. INTERMITTENTLY, PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL DEACTIVATE WITH ADULT PASSENGER ON SEAT. BY 2013 WAS NEARLY CONTINUOUSLY NOT FUNCTIONING. LESS THAN 50K MILES. RECALL WAS PERFORMED (WIRES SOLDERED). NO CHANGE AFTER RECALL. DEALER STATES THAT SENSOR MODULE DEFECTIVE ($…

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NHTSA ODI #10706041

116,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015

Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

HVAC BLOWER MOTOR SUBMERGED IN WATER. CAUSING MOTOR TO FAIL. NO DEFROST. EFFECTING FIELD OF VISION. NO SUNROOF ON THIS MODEL ACADIA. SEEMS TO BE FROM CONDENSATION. ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705464

94,000 miles · Apr 8, 2015

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT LOST A LITTLE BIT OF POWER AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OFF THE ENGINE TURNED OVER AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. WHEN I TURNED IT OVER THE CAR LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T START AND MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO IT STARTED UP AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. LATER WHEN I DROVE IT IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW IT STARTS WHEN I STICK THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITHOUT TURNING IT OVER AND MY CAR STALLS OUT AND LOSES POWER AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704432

86,000 miles · Apr 8, 2015

Air BagsService Brakes

IT HAD RAINED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND I CAME OUT TO START MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS LEAKING WATER AND THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR BOARD AND WATER WAS DRIPPING FROM MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND I'M AFRAID MY AIRBAG WON'T WORK PROPERLY IF I WAS EVER IN A WRECK.…

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NHTSA ODI #10704424

78,757 miles · Apr 7, 2015

Steering

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THE STEERING WHEEL IN OUR CAR HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING, IN PARTICULAR INITIALLY). WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE MECHANIC TRIED SEVERAL REPAIRS SUCH AS REPLACING THE POWER STEERING FLUID AS WELL AS LOOKING FOR LEAKS IN THE POWER STEERING. (NONE WERE FOUND). THE CAR WOULD DRIVE BETTER AFTER BEING SERVICED, BUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS/WEEKS BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. FINALLY IT GOT SO BAD THAT WE COULD BARELY TURN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN. WE RETURNED IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED BECAUSE THE STEERING PUMP WAS BAD AND HAD NOT BEEN SENDING FLUID TO THE RACK. WE HAD BOTH REPLACED AT THAT TIME (APRIL, 2014). WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2014 THAT GMC ISSUED A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS IT WAS CAUSING "AN INTERMITTENT DROP OF POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE THAT WILL CAUSE REDUCED OR LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST." WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GMC SINCE THAT TIME ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR BOTH THE PUMP AND THE RACK SINCE THE TWO ARE CLEARLY RELATED AND THEY INFORMED US THAT ONLY THE PUMP WAS COVERED (BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY RECALLED) DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PUMP IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE RACK AND THE RACK IS WHAT MADE OUR CAR UN-DRIVABLE. THE STEERING RACK SHOULD ALSO BE ON A RECALL LIST SINCE DAMAGE TO IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PUBLIC RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE PUMP AND ANY SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PUMP, INCLUDING TO THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704243

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2015

Steering

IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE POWER STEERING IT'S MAKING ALOUD NOISE AND HARD TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701900

100,000 miles · Mar 23, 2015

Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS ALSO DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REP…

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NHTSA ODI #10701076

100,000 miles · Mar 22, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

STABILITRAK SYSTEM SAYS IT IS "OFF" CAR MAKES A RECURRENT BEEPING NOISE, WARNING LIGHT TO CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM SHOWS. OCCURS RANDOMLY AT ANY TIME OF DAY. NO LEAKS FROM CAR, STILL BRAKES WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700930

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