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

What owners actually said

428 reports

60,700 miles · Aug 7, 2012

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY BECAUSE OF ACCIDENT AHEAD. AT THIS TIME, THE STABILITRAK SERVICE MESSAGE AND BRAKE MESSAGE STARTED ALTERNATELY FLASHING ON DIC. BRAKE AND STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHTS ALSO CAME ON. THE CAR DECELERATED LIKE WHEN YOU SHIFT DOWN ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, NO RESPONSE. TRIED TURNING STABILITRAK BUTTON BACK ON AND OFF, BUT THIS DID NOTHING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS DIFFICULT TO GET OVER TO SHOULDER. I HAD ABOUT 10 MILES TO GET TO MY HOUSE, SO WATCHED THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE, AND MADE IT HOME. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED LIT. THE ENGINE GAUGE INDICATED THE CARS TEMPERATURE ROSE ABOUT 15 DEGREES ABOVE WHAT IT USUALLY IS .STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR MESSAGES DISPLAYED AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, HE RAN THE CODES ON CARS COMPUTER. IT SHOWED NO ERRORS,WAS A LITTLE LOW ON WATER. HE SAID TO DRIVE IT AND LET HIM KNOW IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ANOTHER 45 DAYS, WITH NO MORE SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. 46TH DAY, THE VEHICLE'S SERVICE MESSAGE FOR STABILITRAK AND BRAKE FLASHED AGAIN, WITH WARNING LIGHTS FOR THESE COMING ON AS WELL, AFTER CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROX. 4 MILES AND PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE OPERATED FINE. I PARKED THE CAR AGAIN FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER ABOUT A MILE THE NEXT DAY THE SAME EPISODE. NOW I'M INTO THE 2ND WEEK OF THE BRAKE AND STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF. WILL CALL THE DEALER BECAUSE AT THIS POINT I'M AFRAID OF ANOTHER GEAR DOWN LIKE THE FIRST INCIDENT AND BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC-THAT'S NOT SAFE HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER BEFORE ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR SAYING IT'S OFF WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING THERE. CHECKING CARS COMPUTER SAID ?CODES? SHOWED NOTHING WRONG? ARE THE "CODES" INFALLIBLE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469457

42,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012

Electrical SystemStructure

MOLD/MUSTY SMELL, WATER LEAKING FROM DVD ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM AND UNDER DASH ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARDS. DEALER CLEANED SUNROOF DRAINS, REPLACED SUNROOF SEAL, STILL LEAKING. WATER IS SETTLING INTO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN DASH INCLUDING THE BLOWER MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469447

67,502 miles · Aug 6, 2012

EnginePower Train

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WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED SKIPPING/CATCHING WHILE ACCELERATING AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO CREEP UP. I ENTERED A LEFT TURN LANE IN ORDER TO PULL OVER. WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE IT INTO THE PARKING LOT. WARNING BELLS STARTED GOING OFF "SHUT OFF ENGINE" "SHUT OFF A/C" "ENGING OVERHEAT" AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. I HAD PICKED UP ENOUGH MOMENTUM AS I HAD BEGUN MY TURN BUT IT WAS STILL LITERALLY A COAST INTO THE PARKING LOT, NARROWLY AVOIDING A T-BONE SITUATION WITH AN ONCOMING MINI VAN. IT WAS SO CLOSE THE MINI-VAN LAID ON THE HORN AND SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES. I COASTED INTO THE PARKING LOT BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT INTO A SPOT. I TOOK OUT MY KEYS AND OPENED MY DOOR TO GET OUT. THE ALARMS CONTINUED EVEN WITHOUT KEYS IN IT. THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO TURN ON AND OFF THE CAR NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES TO STOP THE WARNING BELLS. I CALLED A LOCAL SHOP AND HAD IT TOWED. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND A/C BELT. GOT MY VEHICLE BACK TWO DAYS LATER. DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING WITH NO ISSUES, HOWEVER COMING HOME IT STARTED TO CATCH/SKIP AGAIN. (I LIVE ONLY 5 MILES AWAY FROM WORK). I HAD MY HUSBAND DRIVE IT BACK UP TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. WHEN HE GOT INTO IT HE WAS UNABLE TO REVERSE IT; REVERSE JUST SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. HE HAD TO TURN AROUND IN OUR YARD - ON THE WAY TO THE SHOP (6 MILES AWAY) THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AND AGAIN SHUT OFF ON HIM WHILE TRYING TO TURN INTO THE AUTO SHOP. THE DIAGNOSIS NOW IS THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. UPON FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL/MAKE AND YEAR WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES OCCURRING ROUGHLY AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE/TIME FRAME. THERE ARE THREE OTHER ACADIAS ALONE AT OUR LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP WAITING TO BE FIXED WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469386

69,000 miles · Aug 3, 2012

Steering

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DRIVING IN MODERATE RAIN AROUND A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR 1-2 SECONDS ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE PUT A NEW PIECE INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT RECENTLY HAPPENED TO MY WIFE IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469069

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 · Jul 20, 2012

Unknown Or Other

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I PURCHASED MY 2007 GMC ACADIA IN APRIL 2011 USED FROM CARMAX. ON MAY 6, 2011, I HAD IN BRING IT IN BECAUSE I NOTICED WATER AND LOUD WIND NOISE. THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THE GASKET SEAL ON THE SUNROOF HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE WATER WAS LEAKING FROM INTO THE HEADLINER AND INTO MY CAR. AFTER THAT I STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUES BUT HAD NO TIME TO BRING IT TO GET FIXED. THE WATER HAS LEAKED FROM THE MOONROOF AREA, FROM THE READING LIGHT ON THE THIRD ROW, FROM FRONT DIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR AIRBAGS, FROM THE PASSENGER SEATBELT AREA, AND FROM THE HEADLINER ABOVE THE MIDDLE ROW. ON JULY 7, 2012 THE LEAKING HAPPENED AGAIN SO I CALLED GM. THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DRAIN TUBE EXTENDERS WERE DONE ON 2-9-09 AT 26,139 MILES AND THAT THE TUBES MAY BE CLOGGED. I WAS TOLD I SHOULD TAKE IT IN TO A GMC DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I TOOK IT IN ON JULY 12, 2012 AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SUNROOF GASKET THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THAT THE TUBES WERE NOT CLOGGED. THEY COULD SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM THE SEAL. SO IT COST ME 240.00 TO HAVE THAT FIXED AND GM SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP PAY BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAD BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE DRAIN TUBE EXTENDERS. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK ON JULY 16, 2012 THE GM DISTRICT SPECIALIST ASKED ME IF I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK AND I TOLD HIM I WAS NOT SURE BECAUSE IT HAD NOT RAINED AGAIN YET. WELL, ON JULY 19, 2012 IT RAIN AND THE 240.00 I PAID TO THE HAVE PROBLEM FIXED BY REPLACING THE SUNROOF GASKET SEAL STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AND NOT SAFE BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL AND AIRBAGS THAT ARE GETTING WET WITH WATER. WILL MY AIRBAGS WORK IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THEY HAVE HAD WATER COMING FROM WHERE IT SAYS AIRBAG! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466772

93,452 miles · Jul 19, 2012

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHOWING 27 CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…

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NHTSA ODI #10466641

18,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012

SteeringWheels

POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS AFTER MAKING A TURN THROUGH WATER OFTEN NO MORE THAN A FEW INCHES IN DEPTH. USUALLY OCCURS DURING OR AFTER RAIN, WHEN WATER HAS ACCUMULATED AT INTERSECTION CORNERS OR RESIDENT/BUSINESS ENTRANCES. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION THE VEHICLE …

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NHTSA ODI #10465938

16,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012

EnginePower TrainService Brakes

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03/01/2008 - 16,000 I WASN'T ABLE TO STEER, POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY OUT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD 12/01/2008 - 32,000 - MISFIRE IN THE 2 ENGINE CYLINDERS AND WAS MAKING LOT OF NOISE, DEALER TOOK 5 WEEKS TO FIX THE PROBLEM 06/01/2009 - 41,000 ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE MAKING NOISE AT START, HAD TO MAKE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALER 06/01/2011 - 66,000 WATER PUMP LEAKING 03/01/2012 - 72,000 BRAKE CONTROL FAILURE 06/29/2012 - 76,000 BROKEN WAVE PLATES, EVAPORATER SOLENOID, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE MOST OF THESE ISSUES ARE VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL, GMC NEED TO RECALL AND FIX ONCE FOR ALL RATHER THAN WAITING ON THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN ON EACH VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10463991

42,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012

Steering

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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN RAINY WEATHER I WAS UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR AND TURN IT BECAUSE WATER HAD GOTTEN ON THE BELTS AND BELTS WERE SLIPPING AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING TO CONTROL THE CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH FRONT INNER WHEEL WELL FRONT COVERS REPLACED. THIS WOULD ELIMINATE WATER GETTING ON THE PULLEYS AND ELIMINATE THE SLIPPAGE OF THE BELTS THAT RUN THE POWER STEERING. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS WORK THAT WAS DONE WHICH I FELT SHOULD BE COVERED BY GMC AS I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALMOST HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES AS A RESULT OF MY NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER MY CAR AND THAT WAS QUITE SCARY. I WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463452

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