Steering. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

10 reports

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Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2022

Engine And Engine Cooling

Timing chain and gears

NHTSA ODI #11487993

100,000 miles · Dec 5, 2016

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

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WATER LEAK INTO THE AC- BLOWER FAN, THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HERE IS THE FRONT DEFROSTER WONT BE WORKING SIMPLY CAUSE THE FAN STOPS WORKING DUE TO IT BEING SUBMERGED IN WATER. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN NOTED BY MANY USERS AND REQUIRES INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE. HERE IS A DETAILED LINK TO A YOUTUBE SHOWING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND I WILL ATTACH PICTURES FROM MY OWN CAR WITH THE PROBLEM SHOWN, HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=FNYKJLHUSXI I WENT TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE TECH. TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE AND IT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HOSE CONNECTOR AND THE DASH HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT TO GET IT FIXED. PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10930085

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

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2010 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING ISSUE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF AND MADE TURNING DIFFICULT AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO RACE AT A LOW STEADY SPEED WITHOUT ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER'S PRIVATE MECHANIC, INFORMED HER, THE STEERING GEAR WAS LEAKING AND RECOMMENDED SHE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR AND FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SHAFT SEAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER. HOWEVER, FIVE DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE AGAIN, WITH THE ENGINE RACING AND THE TIGHT STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN SHE LEFT THE DEALER, THE ENGINE RACED AGAIN. SHE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. BETWEEN MAY 2013 AND AUGUST 2013, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SEVERAL SPORADIC INCIDENTS OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING OR SIGNIFICANTLY TIGHTENING ON LOW SPEEDS. ALSO, A NOISE AND VIBRATION DEVELOPED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS LOOSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10621649

55,944 miles · Jun 6, 2013

Engine And Engine Cooling

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MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2010 GMC ACADIA IN JULY 2012. SINCE WE'VE HAD THE VEHICLE WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WHICH FORTUNATELY IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT NOW THE AC IN THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE TECHNICIAN DID A BLACK LIGHT TESTING OF THE AC AND IT REVEALED LARGE AREAS OF ULTRA-VIOLET DYE COVERING THE AC HOSES AND SURROUNDING AREA. THEY RECHARGED A SMALL AMT OF R-134A FREON INTO THE SYSTEM TO HELP PINPOINT THE LEAK TO THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE HOSES WHICH HAVE BLOWN. WHEN THEY CHECKED ON ORDERING THE HOSES, THESE HOSES ARE ON BACKORDER WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE HOSES. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT BEING OUT $700 FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3 YRS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515455

64,000 miles · May 12, 2013

Engine And Engine Cooling

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SINCE I GOT THE CAR SET 2012 HAVE STINK COMING FROM AIR VENT A/C SOMETIMES PRETTY BAD NOW IN SPRING WHEN THE A/C IS ON HAVE A WEIRD NOISE AND IS NOT COOL AT ALL AND I CAN FELL THE MOIST BESIDES I CAN SEE A SMOKE COMING FROM THE A/C VENT. I NOW IS A LIKING PROBABLY FROM THE WATER PUMP. I JUST RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A GMC SEEING THAT THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM (WATER PUMP SHAFT SEAL) AND THEY JUST GOING TO ADD ENGINE COOLANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAVE TO BE A RECALL. WE BOUGHT EXPENSIVE US CARS DON'T SALES US JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511593

20,000 miles · Sep 26, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP FOR CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, HWY 75, IT BECAME VERY SLUGGISH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO PICK UP. I NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED BY A FAST TRUCK! SINCE APRIL OF 2011 I NOTICED THAT IT HAD NO PICK UP. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY, WHEN I LEARNED TO NOT ACCELERATE TOO MUCH TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, JUST GRADUALLY VS IN A HURRY. THEN TODAY, SEPT 2011, WHILE DRIVING AT APPRX 45 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD, THE CAR SEEMED TO PULL BACK, AND THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, AND BEEPS AT ME. IT WAS A SUNNY, DRY DAY. I PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF MY TRUNK, AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN - AND, NO, THE OVERRIDE BUTTON WAS NOT ON. WEIRD. I START THE CAR, AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY, AND I DRIVE SAFELY BACK TO MY DESTINATION. WHY DOES THE PROBLEM ALWAYS EXIST WHEN I AM BY MYSELF, AND WATCH, WHEN I TAKE THE TIME OFF TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE. I PRAY THAT I MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSE SOME SORT OF DEFECT AND FIX IT BECAUSE IT STILL IS UNDER WARRANTY. I CANNOT BEAR THE WORSE CASE SCENARIO OF ANYTHING HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427488

5,900 miles · Aug 8, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

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EXCESSIVE SOOT FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAR IS WHITE, REAR IS COVERED WITH BITS OF SOOT EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUG 2010 TILL TO DAY AUG 2011. DEALER STATED NOTING IS WRONG BECAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS NOT ON. ON START UP AFTER OVERNIGHT PARKED-THERE IS A VISIBLE PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE. VEHICLE HAD 2800 MILES, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO BE DRIVEN, SO I DROVE 2000 MILES IN A WEEK, IT MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND IT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. A CHEVY DEALER TOLD ME HE HAS HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON TRAVERSE MODEL (SAME ENGINE) BUT THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT. I'M A FORMER WHEEL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE OFFICER US ARMY, THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR AN ENGINE EXHAUST TO EMIT SOOT. IT IS A SIGN THAT THERE IS UNBURNED FUEL IN THE CYLINDERS. I AVERAGE 14.5 MPG. AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A FUEL LEAK OR FUEL BYPASS INTO THE CYLINDERS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED DUE TO THE PRESSURIZED FUEL SYSTEM OR JUST TOO MUCH FUEL THAT IS NOT EFFICIENTLY BURNED BEING ALLOWED TO ENTER THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418090

43,000 miles · Jul 1, 2011

Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

NHTSA ODI #10410196

34 miles · May 2, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR EXHAUST TAIL PIPE FOR 35-40 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3…

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NHTSA ODI #10398523

9,000 miles · Jan 13, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GASOLINE AND THEN IT STALLED. THERE WAS GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THREE DAYS, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 9,000. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE VALVE SPRING BROKE AND WENT THROUGH THE CYLINDER AND SEIZED. UPDATED 09/19/11

NHTSA ODI #10376482

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.

14V266000 · Seat Belts

May 20, 2014

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

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.

10V375000 · Seat Belts

Aug 12, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS RETURNED TO A SEATING POSITION AFTER BEING FOLDED FLAT. IF THE BUCKLE CONTACTS THE SEAT FRAME, ADDITIONAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO RETURN THE SEAT TO A SEATING POSITION. IF SUFFICIENT FORCE IS APPLIED, THE BUCKLE COVER COULD BE PUSHED DOWN THE STRAP, EXPOSING AND PARTIALLY DEPRESSING THE RED RELEASE BUTTON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELDS. IF A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE IS DAMAGED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

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

EA20002 · Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

Opened Aug 31, 2020 · Closed Aug 30, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:front:anchorage

On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The subject vehicles included model year (MY) 2009 through 2014 GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse SUVs as well as MY 2009 through 2010 Saturn Outlook SUVs. These vehicles were previously repaired for this defect under recall 14V-266. The subject vehicle population is approximately 1.3 million vehicles. Special Coverage N192219480, issued in June 2019, addressed the subject defect in vehicles that previously received the recall remedy repair for subject recall 14V-266. The Special Coverage allows for component replacement for 12 years or 180,000 miles from the initial sale date, whichever comes first. Special Coverage N192219480 instructed service technicians to inspect the driver’s seat belt anchor cable for any damage to the protective sleeve and if damage was observed, the cable was replaced with a new sleeve as well as a new closeout piece that relocated the cable to mitigate the subject condition. In view of the Special Coverage conducted by General Motors, the high detectability of the subject failure, and the low rate of occurrence, this Engineering Analysis is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov. Please see the attached document “EA20-002 Detailed Closing Summary” for more a detailed closing resume summary.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Seat Belts:front

Seat Belts

RQ19003 · Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure

Opened May 28, 2019 · Closed Aug 31, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front; Seat Belts:front:anchorage; Seat Belts:pretensioner

On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform) vehicles.The remedy was to inspect for signs of damage and replace pre-tensioner anchor cables as needed. Re-work was conducted to relocate the pre-tensioner anchor cable out of the occupant entry path. ODI has subsequently received four (4) Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQ) reporting anchor cable separations with no apparent warning in covered vehicles after the Recall 14V266 remedy had been applied.ODI opened RQ19-003 to assess the effectiveness of the actions GM took in Recall 14V266 and review the full warranty and complaint data related to seat belt anchor cable separations and replacements. ODI continues to receive occasional cable failure complaints both for the subject vehicles and other GM models and model years that have also been previously recalled addressing this condition.Although the cable separation complaint rate is very low, over the past three years ODI has received two (2) additional VOQ?s citing belt cable separations for Lambda platform vehicles outside the scope of recall 14V266, (11217092, 11118075) and complaints for other GM models covered in a number of similar Safety Recalls:* 15V269, 2011-12 Chevrolet Malibu (11181115, 11288168); * 16V209, 2014-15 Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500 (11254364, 10935183, 10953851, 11025376, 11282043, 11288701, 11309884); and * 16V518 2014-16 Caprice Police Pursuit, SS (10905644, 10990669, 11340893).ODI's review of GM's data confirms the low potential failure rate for the vehicles covered by recall 14V266. However, ODI believes that complainants may not recognize accumulating cable fatigue damage from the visual cues available in routine vehicle use.ODI is upgrading RQ19-003 to an Engineering Analysis to more closely assess seat belt conditions and strength levels in the field. This work will include the collection of seat belt samples from a wider range of recalled and peer vehicles for detailed analysis and testing.The ODI reports (VOQs) associated with this RQ19-003 can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following reference numbers: 11144704, 11076704, 11185619, 11151922, 11164011, 10967518, 11113486, 11115648

Additional source detail variants (3)

Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Seat Belts:front

Seat Belts:pretensioner