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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

36 reports

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84,000 miles · Sep 15, 2012

SteeringVehicle Speed Control

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ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I WAS STARTING TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 20 MPH AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STEER MY CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND JUST MISSED HITTING A TREE AND GOING IN A DITCH AND MY 2 CHILDREN WERE IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES SHOWING ON THEIR COMPUTER. I HAVE SINCE HAD THIS HAPPEN 4 MORE TIMES AND THE LAST TIME ALMOST ENDED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE POWER STEERING FINALLY WENT OUT ON THEM WHILE THEY WERE TEST DRIVING MY CAR. HOWEVER, THE COMPUTER STILL DID NOT SHOW ANY ERROR CODES AFTER THIS HAPPENED. AS OF TODAY, WHICH IS 3 WEEKS LATER, I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES EVENTHOUGH THE POWER STEERING KEEPS FAILING ON THEM. I AM FRUSTRATED AND AGGRAVATED AND AFTER READING ONLINE AT HOW MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE I AM DISGUSTED THAT GM HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FIX THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475504

61,002 miles · Aug 31, 2012

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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MY FRIENDS AND I LEFT A STORE AND WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY ROUTE. SPEED LIMIT IS POSTED AS 45 MPH. I WAS IDLING AT THE STOP SIGN WAITING FOR A VEHICLE TO PASS. WHEN IT DID I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I GENTLY PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THAT IS WHEN I FELT THE TRUCK JERK AND THEN THE PEDAL WAS FLOORED!!! I WAS NOT DOING THIS!!!! I WAS IN AMONGST THE TRAFFIC, TRYING TO DODGE OTHERS, AND THEN I TRIED TO TURN MY TRUCK OFF. I COULDN'T DO IT. IT WAS NOT ALLOWING ME TO AND THE SPEED HAD INCREASED DRAMATICALLY!!! I REACHED DOWN AND WAS MESSING WITH THE ACCELERATOR HOPING TO PULL IT UP FROM THE FLOOR. THE ACCELERATOR WAS COMPLETELY PRESSED INTO THE FLOOR AS IF SOMEONE GLUED IT THERE. I CROSSED OVER 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO DODGE VEHICLES AND TRYING TO PREVENT A CRASH. I FINALLY MANAGED TO FREE THE ACCELERATOR. IT FREAKS ME OUT WHEN I DRIVE NOW,. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473224

60,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE UTILIZED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 50 MPH. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED FROM 40 MPH TO 50 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION WAS NOT BEING UTILIZED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND A TEST DRIVE, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10464340

18,700 miles · Aug 29, 2010

Power TrainTraction Control SystemUnknown Or Other

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I NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND WOULD ATTEMPT TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE, AS I WOULD MOVE INTO THE PASSING LANE AND ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS, LOSE SPEED, THEN SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT AND ACCELERATE AT AN UNEXPECTED RATE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, BUT THE WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I FOUND IT DANGEROUS. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER'S REMEDY WAS TO "RESET THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER." DURING THIS TIME, I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE "SERVICE STABILITRAC AND TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING WOULD COME ON. ONSTAR RECOMMENDED I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO RESET THE SYSTEM. I FOUND THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST USED THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS TO GO TO WORK. AGAIN, THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THE COMPUTERS WERE SHOWING NO CODES -- THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN - AT 7:00 AM. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY GAVE ME TWO CODES. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND GAVE HIM THE CODES. IT NOW SEEMS THAT THERE WERE TWO DEFECTIVE SENSORS CONTROLLING THE STABILITRAC / TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT GM IS CHANGING MANUFACTURERS ON THE SENSORS. I HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE CAR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUNE AND AM STILL WAITING FOR GM TO PRODUCE THESE PARTS. IN THE MEANTIME, UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, AND GEAR SHIFTING WAS OCCURRING UNDER ALL DRIVING SITUATIONS CAUSING -- IN MY MIND -- A DANGER TO MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHERS. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 8. THIS LAST SERVICE THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE JULY 20. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352620

44,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010

EquipmentPower TrainSteering

POWER AND POWER STEERING FAILURE- WHEN IT RAINS OR I DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND SLOWS. ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND THERE IS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT MY ACADIA AND THEY SAID THEY COULD READJUST THE BELT GUARD. THIS DID NOT WORK AND THEY SAID JUST…

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NHTSA ODI #10324778

83 miles · Jul 8, 2008

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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WE PURCHASED A NEW GMC ACADIA ON 6/16/08. SINCE OUR PURCHASE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. AFTER COASTING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT WHICH CAUSES A RAPID DECELERATION WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL. THIS RAPID LOSS OF SPEED PUTS THE DRIVER IN THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION OF A REAR END/CHAIN REACTION COLLISION ON THE ROAD GMC CLAIMS TO HAVE A FIX, BUT THIS FIX CAUSES THE DOCUMENTED GAS MILEAGE TO BE REDUCED BY AT LEAST 2-3 MILES PER GALLON. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS ISSUE TWICE IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233561

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