Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 GMC Envoy problems

Owners filed 77 complaints about the 2008 GMC Envoy with NHTSA between Mar 2008 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (18).

Complaints
77
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system18
  2. Exterior lighting17
  3. Electronic stability control (esc)12
  4. Engine and engine cooling8
  5. Suspension7
  6. Seat belts5
  7. Air bags5
  8. Power train5
  9. Engine4
  10. Steering3
  11. Service brakes3
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  13. Wheels2
  14. Visibility2

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20082
20093
20106
20111
20122
20137
201418
20158
20169
20179
20186
20194
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

18 reports2 fires
“I was living in my car and the windows and door lock cluster caught on fire I had to tear my door panel off to get to the source and unplug it I believe there is a major electrical issue with this vehicle I shouldn't be driving it also my heater fan stopped working on 4 and 5 works on 1 2 and 3 but not 4 or 5 please help me get this recalled so I can finally get this vehicle fixed right this is so dangerous I could have burnt up in my car 7”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2025Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11705985

Exterior lighting

17 reports
“I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND IT'S HAD CONSTANT ISSUE WITH LOW BEAM LIGHTNING. WE REPLACED THE RELAY THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. THIS CAR WAS MFG 1/08 AND I HONESTLY THINK IT WAS ASSEMBLED WITH THE 2017 PARTS THAT WERE RECALLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11222424

Electronic stability control (esc)

12 reports1 crash
“THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT FOR MY HUSBAND AND HAVE SELDOM DROVE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN HE WAS INJURED DRIVING IT. HE DROVE THROUGH OUR GARAGE AND DEMOLISHED IT. I HOW DRIVE IT AND FIND THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS THE WORST PROBLEM. NO MATTER WHAT SHOES OR BOOTS YOU ARE WEARING YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT HAS COST US THOUSANDS IN DAMAGE AND REPAIRS. I DO NOT HAVE PICTURES, BUT WILL OBTAIN THEM AND FORWARD THEM. THE CAR WAS JUST PULLING UP TO BE PARKED OUTSIDE BY OUT GARAGE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURED. THE WEATHER WAS FINE-AUGUST 2017. IT WAS JUST GETTING DARK. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD ASAP UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY GMC. MY SON DRIVES A USED GMC AND IT HAS NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE PICTURE I AM SENDING YOU IS OF (BEN), A TECHNICIAN AT BRETTING MANUFACTURING, INC. IN ASHLAND. BEN HAS ALSO BUILT DIRT TRACK RACE CARS AND I HAVE BUILT JOHN DEERE COMBINES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2018Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11084757

Engine and engine cooling

8 reports
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ACCORDING TO TESTS IT IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN GO OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS CREATING A ERROR MESSAGE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. WITH IT GOING ON AND COMING OFF IT IS NOW DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET MY INSPECTION COMPLETED WITH THE SENSOR READING NOT BEING ACCURATE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10692879

Suspension

7 reports
“HAVE REPLACED RIGHT SIDE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY TWICE, AND HAVE TO REPLACE IT A THIRD TIME, IN 4 YEAR'S. GETTING BEST PART FROM O'REILLY'S AUTO PARTS. VEHICLE IS MOVING, FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEEL IS GOING TO FLY OFF, SHAKING, WOBBLY, JUST TOTALLY UNSAFE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2018SuspensionODI 11114279

Seat belts

5 reports
“The contact owns a 2008 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on several occasions with the driver's side seat belt latched, while attempting to release the seat belt, the seat belt remained locked in the buckle. The contact depressed the release button and wiggled the seat belt several times before the seat belt released. On one occasion while the passenger’s seat was occupied, the seat belt failed to release while depressing the seat belt release button. The contact exited the driver's seat and attempted to assist the passenger to release the seat belt; however, the seat belt tightened around the abdomen. The contact stated that a bystander attempted to assist, but the seat belt failed to release and became tighter around passenger’s abdomen. The contact used a pair of scissors to cut the seat belt webbing to release the passenger. The contact was unable to remove the seat belt even after cutting the webbing. The passenger was not injured and did not receive medical attention. The vehicle was taken to the residence where the contact's spouse inspected the vehicle and attempted to release the seat belt. The vehicle was not repaired or…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2026Seat beltsODI 11747917
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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