Problems · by component

2008 GMC Acadia power train problems

279 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Acadia cite power train, 33% of all 858 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
279
33% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Check engine light came on for the TCM. Car has had issues shifting (very rough shifting) and the manual shift option does not work. Was told the TCM had to be replaced. Attempt was made to replace it with a refurbished TCM but that couldn't be programmed to the car. Was then told I would have to buy a brand new one, which is very expensive, and that there was no guarantee that would fix the problem. Car can not be driven over 20mph without risking burning up the transmission. Car also jerks forward very hard when trying to gently accelerate.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2023Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11535302
“'SERVICE AIR BAG' HAD BEEN ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN FOR A FEW DAYS AND ISN'T GOING OFF. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND THEY TOLD ME IT MEANS SOMETHING IS UNPLUGGED. I TOOK IT BACK ONLY TO HAVE IT COME BACK IN MONTHS LATER. IT SOMETIMES HAPPEN AS I'M DRIVING BUT LATELY IT'S THERE WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION. I ALSO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND SOMETIMES SECOND. I WAS TOLD IT'S THE WAVE PLATES AND IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. HOW ARE THESE VEHICLES STILL BEING SOLD WITH THE SAME ISSUES OVER AND OVER! THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AS I'M DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2020Power train, Air bagsODI 11372859
“I'VE COME TO FIND OUT MY CAR IS THROWING A CODE FOR THE TCM BEING STUCK TURNS OUT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AS WELL AS THE WAVE PLATE FOR THIS MODEL GMC SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BEING THIS IS THEIR DESIGN FLAW AND SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALMOST ALL ACADIAS OF THESE YEARS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2020Power trainODI 11351689
“THIS VEHICLE WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN START SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE STABILITRAK LIGHT WILL COME ON. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY SEIZE UP, LOSING ACCELERATION AND NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE ENGINE WILL ALSO STATE THAT IT IS OVERHEATING, ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT ITSELF OFF AND SMOKE WILL START COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 65 MPH. ON THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. MY CHILDREN IN THE BUCKET SEATS IN THE BACK WERE SLEEP AND THEIR HEADS HIT THE WINDOW. THEY SUSTAINED INJURY. THAT WAS ON A REGULAR STREET AND THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 35 MPH. I WAS WITHIN OR SLIGHTLY UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, IT WILL SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON SIMPLE CURVES IN THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE. DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND FEAR OF MY FAMILY BEING FATALLY INJURED, IT WAS AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME. I HAVE HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC BY PHONE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE IN RETURN. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AND WAS INFORMED TO REPORT IT TO NHTSA. MAYBE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11342779
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. WILKINS BUICK-GMC 6913 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061, 410 999-1419, WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11338982
“TRANSMISSION FAILED, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, GM APPROVED A 2013 SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 2017, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT IS DANGEROUS. GM HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE AND THE AUTONATION HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. GM AND AUTONATION HAVE SOLD A DANGEROUS USED CAR WITH A FRAUDULENT INTENT. GM AND AUTONATION HAVE RATIFIED THE INTENTIONAL FRAUD. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT IS STILL DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY FAILING AGAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2019Power train, Unknown or other, EngineCrash reportedODI 11286604

Showing 6 of 279 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.