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

Steering complaints

133 reports

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140,000 miles · May 5, 2016

Electrical SystemSeatsSteeringFireInjury

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I OWN A 2008 GMC ACADIA I HAVE HAD IT USED SINCE JAN 2015 I HAVE HAD IT IN DEALERSHIP ALMOST EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING AND HAD A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT WHERE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING AND IT BURNED A SMALL HOLE IN HER JEANS SO FAR GMC IS CHECKING TO SEE IF ITS A DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR NOT? IN THE MEAN TIME MY SUNROOF HAS QUIT WORKING AND NOW MY ROOF IS LEAKING AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE MOLD. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING CRAZY WITH FLASHES OF INTERIOR LIGHTS. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE STOP ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF PARKING AND FOUND OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN RIDE WITH US AND THEY ARE UNSAFE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HER JEANS ARE BURNED AND SHE HAS A SMALL PINK SPOT FROM THE HEATED SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TODAY LIKELY THE SEAT WONT BE REPLACED AND IF ITS NOT I WILL BE CONTACTING ME A LAWYER. MY CHILDREN S SAFETY COME FIRST. HOPEFULLY THE WILL ALSO DO A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND THE SUNROOF LEAKING BECAUSE OUR VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE AFTER WATER GETS ONTO ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES AND SHORTS OUT AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE NEXT.

NHTSA ODI #10863449

80,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

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RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM RE POWER STEERING, DO NOT TAKE TO VEHICLE FOR SERVICE UNLESS PROBLEM IS KNOWN. I TOOK VEHICLE FOR TIRE ROTATION AND MECHANIC NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING, CAUSED DAMAGE TO RACK, PINION, ETC. (ESTIMATE ATTACHED). CALLED GM DEALER AND GM CUST SERVICE, WILL ONLY COVER DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP NOT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PUMP. SINCE GM ADVISED NOT TO GET FIXED UNTIL ISSUE OCCURS (I STILL HAVE POWER STEERING, WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE UNTIL TIRES WERE ROTATED) WHY SHOULD I BE LIABLE FOR THE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE CAUSED? ALSO, THIS MORNING 12/08/15, WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, THE CAR BUCKLED AND STABILTRAK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE "POWER REDUCED", ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE 20-25 MILES. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED APPX. A YEAR AGO AND I FILED A COMPLAINT. THE LIGHT GOES AND OFF JUST LIKE A YEAR AGO. AFTER READING SEVERAL BULLETINS FOR THE 2008 GMC ACADIA, ALL THE ABOVE ISSUES ARE A KNOWN ISSUE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR VEHICLE DEFECTS THAT ARE COMMON IN ALL OF THE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10808993

130,000 miles · Dec 2, 2015

Steering

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TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING MANEUVERING AND TURNING CAUSES SAFETY AND CONTROL ISSUES. DURING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING EVENT THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRES A DRIVER TO APPLY MORE THAN NORMAL AMOUNTS OF TORQUE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO ROTATE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE (REQUIRES MORE THAN NORMAL AMOUNTS OF TORQUE) WHEN THE SPEED OF THE STEERING WHEEL INPUT IS INCREASED TO PERFORM SHARP TURNS OR LOW SPEED MANEUVERING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT GM WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BASED ON REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT CAN BE RECREATED IN THE GARAGE BY THEIR DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE A COMPLETE FAILURE IN THE SYSTEM IS THEN GOING TO OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH PRIOR TO GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS EVENT MAY HAPPEN 0 TO 5 TIMES A DAY/TRIP.

NHTSA ODI #10808020

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2015

SteeringSuspension

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RE: DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FROM A LOYAL CUSTOMER. BEGINNING IN 2014, AFTER NARROWLY AVOIDING SERIOUS FROM THE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR LIFT GATE WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE, SUFFERING MINOR SCRAPS AND BRUISING. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST GMC SERVICE CENTER AND RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR REPLACEMENT STRUTS. I LATER HAD THEM REPLACED IN 2015 AT MY OWN EXPENSE, ONLY MORE RECENTLY BECOMING AWARE THAT IT WAS DUE TO A PART FAILURE AND SUBJECT TO RECALL AND REPLACEMENT. OF WHICH I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST. FOLLOWING THAT INCIDENT MY STEERING COLUMN TIGHTENED DURING TURNS FORCING ME TO EXERT EXTREME PRESSURE IN SLOW SPEED TURNS, CREATING A HAZARD TO BOTH MYSELF AND OTHERS. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERFORMING OF STATED REMEDIES PRESCRIBED BY THE GMC SERVICE MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST AND MORE RECENTLY IT BEING SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO SUSPENSION STRUTS AND POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION ISSUES SINCE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WAS ON WITH FOR CODES RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WERE PRESENT. THROUGH MY OWN RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE RELATED TO EITHER RECALLED ITEMS OR ITEMS LISTED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, YET NOW I'M BEING TOLD THAT MY COST WOULD BE $1900 FOR REPAIRS AND AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TO REPLACE A FAULTY NAVIGATION/ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, DUE TO A SUCK DISC. COLLECTIVELY, I FIND THESE EVENTS, THE MECHANICAL FAILURES AND THE FACT THAT THE BURDEN FOR THESE FAILURES AND EVENTS ARE BEING PLACED ON THE CUSTOMER AS BEING ABSURD AND EGREGIOUS. I CHOOSE TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE TO SUPPORT AMERICAN COMPANIES SUCH AS YOURS AND DRIVE AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES OUT OF LOYALTY TO YOU, BUT IF THIS IS THE REWARD I RECEIVE FROM MY LOYALTY I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME I BEGIN RETHINKING THINGS.

NHTSA ODI #10789798

92,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015

Parking BrakeSteeringStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED…

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NHTSA ODI #10765088

86,922 miles · Sep 1, 2015

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP BEING FRACTURED AND DAMAGING THE RACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FA…

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NHTSA ODI #10760829

91,500 miles · Jul 15, 2015

Steering

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AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND FLUID WAS JUST LEAKING EVERYWHERE. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AFTER I RESEARCHED MY PROBLEM. I WAS AWARE THERE WAS A SPECIAL NOTICE OUT ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING ISSUES. GM WAS INITIALLY ONLY WILLING TO FIX THE POWER STEERING PUMP, NOT THE POWER STEERING COOLING LINE AND POWER STEERING GEAR. AFTER COMPLAINING AND QUESTIONING, THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET THE COST DOWN, BUT GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST ENTIRELY TO MAKE MY VEHICLE DRIVABLE AGAIN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE ADMITTED TO IT BEING A PROBLEM, YET THEY AREN'T WILLING TO FOOT THE BILL TO FIX IT BACK TO THE CONDITION IT WAS PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE. WHILE THEY OFFERED ME A MUCH BETTER PRICE TO FIX IT, THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO ME. THE WORDING IN THE SPECIAL STATEMENT WAS "STEERING PUMP WEAR" AND "SUDDEN LOSS OF HYDROLIC PRESSURE." BOTH OF WHICH WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE WORD LEAK SHOULD BE COVERED AS WELL. WEAR TO ME MEAN THINGS BEING LESS THAN PERFECT AND SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE MEANS LEAK. INEXCUSABLE FOR GM TO WEASEL OUT OF FIXING THIS ISSUE COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #10734405

78,757 miles · Apr 7, 2015

Steering

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THE STEERING WHEEL IN OUR CAR HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (PARKING, IN PARTICULAR INITIALLY). WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE MECHANIC TRIED SEVERAL REPAIRS SUCH AS REPLACING THE POWER STEERING FLUID AS WELL AS LOOKING FOR LEAKS IN THE POWER STEERING. (NONE WERE FOUND). THE CAR WOULD DRIVE BETTER AFTER BEING SERVICED, BUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS/WEEKS BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. FINALLY IT GOT SO BAD THAT WE COULD BARELY TURN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN. WE RETURNED IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED BECAUSE THE STEERING PUMP WAS BAD AND HAD NOT BEEN SENDING FLUID TO THE RACK. WE HAD BOTH REPLACED AT THAT TIME (APRIL, 2014). WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2014 THAT GMC ISSUED A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP AS IT WAS CAUSING "AN INTERMITTENT DROP OF POWER STEERING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE THAT WILL CAUSE REDUCED OR LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST." WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GMC SINCE THAT TIME ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR BOTH THE PUMP AND THE RACK SINCE THE TWO ARE CLEARLY RELATED AND THEY INFORMED US THAT ONLY THE PUMP WAS COVERED (BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY RECALLED) DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PUMP IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE RACK AND THE RACK IS WHAT MADE OUR CAR UN-DRIVABLE. THE STEERING RACK SHOULD ALSO BE ON A RECALL LIST SINCE DAMAGE TO IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PUBLIC RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE PUMP AND ANY SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PUMP, INCLUDING TO THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704243

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2015

Steering

IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE POWER STEERING IT'S MAKING ALOUD NOISE AND HARD TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701900

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2015

Air BagsSteering

2008 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER REQUESTS REPAIRS FOR HIS AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE STEERING. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO IN AND OUT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE AIR BAG RECALL, DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10667979

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