repaired · 2018 Q2
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
2008 GMC AcadiaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 854 owner complaints about the 2008 GMC Acadia, most often about the power train. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-415 the manufacturer reports only 77% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 27, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 GMC Acadia has problems
854 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
279Power train3 crash/fire/injury
153Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
150Air bags16 crash/fire/injury
133Steering8 crash/fire/injury
124Engine7 crash/fire/injury
87Structure9 crash/fire/injury
57Electronic stability control (ESC)
47Exterior lighting
36Vehicle speed control
16320 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 279 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 153 | 9 |
| Air bags | 150 | 16 |
| Steering | 133 | 8 |
| Engine | 124 | 7 |
| Structure | 87 | 9 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 57 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 47 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 36 | 5 |
| 20 other systems | 163 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2008 GMC Acadia recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags: side/window
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: linkages
Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with GMC.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
77kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 253 power train complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.
16under 30k miles195under 100k miles58100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
34 owners mentioned a cost$3,900median
Middle half: $2,650 – $4,200
Air bags
24 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $600 – $913
Steering
12 owners mentioned a cost$850median
Middle half: $738 – $1,600
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $799 – $1,600
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Acadia year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Acadia median. How we score
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 GMC Acadia safety ratings
2008 GMC Acadia 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 GMC Acadia, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Headlamp IlluminationNo recall
- NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 08V-441
In owners' words
What Acadia owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Transmissions will not shift out of 1st gear. And puts out a 752 code. This can happen at anytime. Vehicle will suddenly lose power at any time.
Check engine light came on for the TCM. Car has had issues shifting (very rough shifting) and the manual shift option does not work. Was told the TCM had to be replaced. Attempt was made to replace it with a refurbished TCM but that couldn't be programmed to the car. Was then told I would have to…
'SERVICE AIR BAG' HAD BEEN ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN FOR A FEW DAYS AND ISN'T GOING OFF. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND THEY TOLD ME IT MEANS SOMETHING IS UNPLUGGED. I TOOK IT BACK ONLY TO HAVE IT COME BACK IN MONTHS LATER. IT SOMETIMES HAPPEN AS I'M DRIVING BUT LATELY IT'S THERE WHEN I TURN THE…
Own a 2008 Acadia?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.