Power Train. Review the 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports7 fire reports11 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

64 reports

Clear category filter

94,000 miles · Feb 7, 2014

Air BagsPower Train

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 2007 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE GMC ACADIA. AT 94,000 MILES I DON'T THINK THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT CAME WITH A 5 YEAR 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 7 YEARS. I KNOW GMC HAS MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO LATER MODELS. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE INJUSTICE. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $4500.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A REPUTABLE AAMCO SHOP THAT THE ONLY PLACE THIS CAN BE FIXED IS AT THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CODES TO MAKE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WORK TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563442

64,000 miles · Nov 3, 2013

Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

Read full complaint

BOUGHT WITH 58K MILES ON IT, 9/2012. PROBLEMS BEGAN THE FOLLOWING APRIL. SITTING AT RED LIGHTS, THE TRUCK WOULD STALL OUT AT ACCELERATION, OCCASIONALLY NOT RESTARTING IMMEDIATELY. DEALERS COULDN'T REPLICATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM BRIEFLY STOPPED, AND NOW IT HAS RETURNED AND IS FAR WORSE. WHILE DRIVING, IT SHAKES AND JERKS LIKE A NEW DRIVER LEARNING TO USE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL TIMES THE TRUCK HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY ON HIGHWAYS WHILE CRUISING AT OR AROUND 70MPH OR ACCELERATING TO PASS SOMEONE, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TOWED HOME 3 TIMES THIS MONTH FROM THIS ISSUE, I REFUSED TO TAKE IT TO A GMC DEALER BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP PAYING $109 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING (TWICE ALREADY). I RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE SCANNED INDEPENDENTLY AND IT'S GIVEN ME CODES 7EA AND 7E8. THE SECOND CODE DOESN'T GIVE A DIAGNOSIS. IN THE LAST WEEK IT HAS FAILED TO START 4 TIMES AND I'VE BEEN KEEPING VIDEO BLOGS TO RECORD WHAT IT IS OR ISN'T DOING. IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY, NOT OPERABLE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THERE ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A RECALL, BUT EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. TWICE IT STRANDED MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ON INTERSTATES. ON 10/30/13 (ON OUR ANNIVERSARY, OUT OF TOWN NONE THE LESS) IT SHUT OFF AND WE HAD TO GET PUSHED TO THE SHOULDER...VERY EMBARRASSING! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! EVERYBODY CAN'T BE TELLING THE SAME LIE! ALSO, THE "SERVICE AIRBAGS" NOTICE JUST STARTED SHOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550675

75,000 miles · Jul 8, 2013

Air Bags

Read full complaint

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE DASH; TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AVAILABLE TO DEALER FOR SIMILAR ISSUE ONLY COVERS THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR NOT THE AIRBAG MODULE, WHICH HAS GONE OUT IN THIS VEHICLE, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH DEALER AND GM AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2007, 2008 GMC ACADIA AS WELL AS THE BUICK ENCLAVE AND EARLY CHEVY TRAVERSE. A SIMPLE INTERNET REVIEW WILL SHOW MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. GM IS UNWILLING TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PART WHICH WOULD BE THE PROPER CUSTOMER CARE BUT INSTEAD WILL COMPLAIN HERE FOR REVIEW. A REVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523791

90,000 miles · Jun 7, 2013

Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER MOVES IN PASSENGER SEAT AND AIRBAG STOPS FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515694

119,212 miles · Feb 27, 2013

Air Bags

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICAL FROM OUR LOCAL GMC DEALORSHIP AND TWO WEEKS AFTER DRIVING AWAY FROM THE LOT, THE FRONT AIR LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR WAS NOT ACTIVE EVEN WITH A PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT. I CONTACTED THE DEALORSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $800.00 TO FIX THIS ITEM. KEEP IN MIND, I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICAL FROM THEM AND DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICAL YET NOT RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. MY WIFE WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME AND REFUSED TO RIDE IN THE VEHICAL UNTIL I GOT IT FIXED. WE ARE ALSO HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHICH APPEARS TO HAPPENING TO 100'S OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER ACADIA OWNERS. WHY HAS THIS VEHICAL NOT BEEN RECALLED YET? I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH SELLING THESE ITEMS KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500586

91,000 miles · Feb 13, 2013

Air BagsCrashInjury

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS PINNED IN THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE DAMAGES TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD AND CHEST. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BY FAMILY. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 3/10/13 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10498046

90,000 miles · Aug 8, 2012

Air BagsElectrical System

Read full complaint

FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE FRONT RIGHT AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT SENSE THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT. WE HAVE HAD THE SENSOR CHECKED REPEATEDLY AT THE DEALER, AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM (SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE). THE PASSENGERS TYPICALLY ARE OUR CHILDREN, BOTH OF WHOM ARE 5'9" TALL AND WEIGH 120 TO 125 POUNDS. WE USUALLY HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON, AND THEN IT WORKS. THIS PAST WEEK, THE SENSOR WAS FLASHING, AND WE GOT A RELATED "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A $1,000 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SENSOR MODULE. THIS AFTER WE HAVE HAD THIS ITEM CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES (AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING WRONG WITH IT), AND, AFTER A FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR (WHICH INCLUDED AIR BAGS) HAS EXPIRED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR 2007 GMC ACADIAS FOR IMPROPER SENSORS, BUT OUR CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IN 'GOOGLING' THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, WE SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON OFFICIAL CAR SITES LIKE EDMUNDS, STATING A SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR OTHER ACADIAS. WE BELIEVE THAT GMC HAS KNOWN THAT IT HAS HAD FAULTY SENSORS ON THEIR 2007 GMC ACADIA MODELS, BUT DID NOT MAKE THEIR 2007 RECALL COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSB TO INVESTIGATE WITH GMC HOW MANY OTHER 2007 GMC ACADIAS HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. OUR CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY VEHICLE CRASH OR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469719

91,400 miles · Jul 21, 2012

Air Bags

WE PURCHASED A USED 07 GMC ACADIA FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE RECALL LIST FOR OUR VEHICLE, HOWEVER THEY STATED ALL THE RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE. WE HAD TO PAY $500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466904

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2011

Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

Read full complaint

I AM ON ACTIVE DUTY AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBER. WHILE ATTENDING A MILITARY SCHOOL, I PURCHASED A NEW 2007 GMC ACADIA FROM A GMC DEALERSHIP NEARBY. AFTER THE COURSE, I SERVED A YEAR AT A MILITARY STATION IN ANOTHER STATE, WHILE THERE, MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED TWICE FOR RECALLS BY A GMC SERVICE CENTER NEARBY. ONE OF THE RECALLS WAS TO FIX A DEFECT IN THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS CAUSING WATER LEAKS. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED IN 09 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY JUST BEFORE SHIPPING FOR A 2 YEAR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME, I IDENTIFIED SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SOON AFTER MY ARRIVAL TO MY OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT, MORE ELECTRICAL ISSUES DEVELOPED ALONG WITH MYSTERY WATER LEAKS THAT WERE SATURATING THE CARPET AND CAUSING MOLD TO GROW INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO GM SERVICE CENTER IN THAT COUNTRY SO I HAD TO LIVE WITH THE LEAKS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WHERE MY TIRE HIT A GUARD RAIL DOING ABOUT 10 MPH. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT I QUIT USING THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T WORK, THE AC AND HEATER DIDN'T WORK, THE LEFT BLINKER DIDN'T WORK, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WITH THE KEY, THE BATTERY BOX BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT KEPT FLOODING WITH WATER AND I HAD TO DISCONNECT A BATTERY CABLE EVERY TIME I PARKED THE CAR TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM DYING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. I AM NOW STATIONED IN THE US AND HAVE SHIPPED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE USA. I AM NOW TRYING TO RESOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES WITH A LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER BUT I AM BEING TOLD BY THAT SERVICE CENTER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY TOTALED WITH ONLY 60K MILES BUT SINCE IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441073

45,000 miles · May 5, 2011

Air Bags

PASSENGERS FRONT SEAT AIRBAGS. BOTH FRONT AND SIDE ARE EFFECTED. SENSOR IN SEAT BECOMES INOP AND THE DRIVER IS NOT AWARE THE CHILD IN THE FRONT SEAT IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAG SYSTEM!!!! CAN RESULT IN DEATH!!! SEAT SENSOR STOPPED WORKING IN THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF SERVICE. THE APPARENT RECALL OF 2007 WAS A TEMP FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399163

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.

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> .

07V062000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Feb 21, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM), WHICH CONTROLS THE FUNCTION OF FRONT AIR BAGS, MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY FAIL TO PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM COMPUTER MODULE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-966-9463 OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

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