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

Engine complaints

124 reports

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1,168,945 miles · Sep 4, 2019

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AIRBAG LIGHT , TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR POPPED ON. THE CAR WOULD HAVE A SLOW TAKE OFF AND SHAKE AS YOU ACCELERATE ON THE CITY STREET. WHEN I DRIVE THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL HESITATE AND TAKE 15 SECONDS BEFORE IT SWITCH GEARS TO CATCH UP TO SPEED AND JERK. THE S…

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NHTSA ODI #11253167

120,000 miles · Jul 12, 2019

Engine

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH IN TURN BROKE THE ENGINE AS WELL. IT HAPPENED AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY, IT JUST STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11231438

152,800 miles · Jul 1, 2019

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

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TAKATA RECALL IT KEEPS SHUTTING COMPLETELY DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND THIS AFFECTS EVERYTHING STEERING, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO VEHICLE. NO CODES TO INDICATE SOMETHING IS WRONG !!!! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THIS HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR EVEN AFTER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BRAND NEW. MORE THAN 5 TIMES ALREADY. THIS WILL MOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO DEATH. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. THAT'S 4 LIVES THAT COULD BE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM!!!! . WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY LUCKY BECAUSE IT HAS SHIFT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND BRIDGES WHERE THERE IS NOWHERE TO GET ON THE SIDE BUT REMAIN IN THE LANES WHERE TRAFFIC IS 70 MPH AND UP!!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #11228754

310,000 miles · Jun 24, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I BOUGHT MY 2008 GMC ACADIA AND NOT LONG AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I HAD THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT WHICH WAS ALMOST $3000.00. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER $3000.00. NOW IT'S JUST SITTING. VERY UP SET ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11222330

137,600 miles · Jun 20, 2019

Engine

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO JUMPED TIMING 3 DAYS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALERSHIP AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER IT HAD JUMPED TIMING AGAIN SO NOW I HAVE TO COME UP WITH 800 TO TEAR DOWN THE MOTOR SO THEY CAN PROPERLY DIAGNOSE IT. SO I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT I AM PAYING FOR AND CANNOT DRIVE. IT IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS WE SPEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE WHEN IT HAPPENED. BOTH TIMES. THE DATES IT HAPPENED WERE 1/5/2018 WITH 137000 MILES ON IT AND THE OTHER DATE WAS 2/5/2019 AND IT HAS 152045 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #11221574

102,230 miles · Jun 18, 2019

Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF BUSY TRAFFIC

NHTSA ODI #11220982

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST UNSAFE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I CAN NOT EVEN TRADE IT IN THE GET A SAFER CAR. WE HAVE COME SO CLOSE TO HAVING MANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR. THE STEERING JUST FREEZES UP THE ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT DOWN WILL DRIVING. WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE AND NOT IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. WE ARE NOT HARD ON OUR CARS..I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT COME DOWN TO HAVING A ACCIDENT BEFORE SOMEONE SEES HOW BAD THIS CAR IS.. THIS HAPPENS OFF AND ON ALL THE TIME HARD TO PUT THE DATES AND TIMES DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE TAKE INTO A DEALER AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH THEM OR THE COST IS JUST CRAZY.

NHTSA ODI #11186043

1,480,000 miles · Jan 31, 2019

Electrical SystemEngine

THE VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION, THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL IN A LARGE RANGE OF YEARS. THE RECALL IS A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. HOWEVER BECAUSE UNDER THE VIN NUMBER IT DOES NOT SHOW THERE IS A RECALL THIS WILL NOT BE FIXED FREE BY DEALERSHIP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT HAPP…

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NHTSA ODI #11173324

142,293 miles · Jan 28, 2019

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,293.

NHTSA ODI #11172521

142,290 miles · Jan 28, 2019

Engine

MY TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. NOW MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAYS CAMSHAFT SENSOR. I TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT I NEED A NEW MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI #11172515

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