CarComplaints.com Notes: Ahh, the ole' sophomore slump. The 2008 Acadia suffers from widespread transmission failure around 75,000 miles.

9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,750
Average Mileage:
86,700 miles
Total Complaints:
53 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace the transmission (34 reports)
  2. replace transmission (8 reports)
  3. not sure (5 reports)
  4. fixed under warranty (4 reports)
  5. replace torque converter (1 reports)
  6. replaced transmission under warranty (1 reports)
2008 GMC Acadia transmission problems

transmission problem

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2008 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

May 122014

Acadia LX 3.2lv V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,574 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my GMC 2008 Acadia Feb 6, 2014 with only 42000 miles. After 3 months of having it. I have had to change the tires, front end alignment and now replace the transmission. I couldn't buy the extended warranty because I could not afford it.

There are so many complaints about people having to replace their transmissions in their Acadia's. Why has GMC not had a recall for the transmissions on these vehicles. Thanks to replacing the transmission we had to cancel our vacation that was planned in June. THANKS A LOT GMC. Tell that to my children. I will never ever buy GMC vehicles again. If I can sell this piece of sh*t I will.

- Dorena R., Larose, LA, US

problem #12

Apr 102014

Acadia SLT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Just out of extended warranty!! No consideration by GMC!! Purchased as a "certified" vehicle!!!!!

Low miles,never towed anything. Drive to work! No abuse...and it failed!!! Many documented problems,why does GMC refuse to recall??

Last Gmc for me!!! Will buy the IMPORT next time....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of this on top of: failed steering/rack noisy steering column!!

Suspension issues!!

Sensors failing left and right??

What happened to quality customer service??

- Bbb H., York, PA, US

problem #11

Mar 282014

Acadia LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

Driving down the interstate with 6 kids in the back and transmission goes out. No warning. No signs, just goes out and leaves us stranded on the highway!!!!

- smackk23, Lafayette, IN, US

problem #10

Mar 282014

Acadia 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

66,000 miles and the transmission went out, this is absurd! Who has $4000 laying around. When you spend 25,000+ on a vehicle... you should be covered!

- Christa D., Eau Claire, WI, US

problem #9

Feb 072013

Acadia LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

Manufacturer warranty expired January 1, 2013. Transmission went out February 7, 2013. First noticed that the vehicle would not go into reverse. Then slipping between 3-4 gear. pulled into transmission shop, they said this is very common, they are seeing 2-3 of these vehicles every week. The GMC Acadia has the 6T75E transmission in it as does the Saturn Outlook, Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave. They have an inferior transmission installed that has a Wavy Plate that breaks inside the transmission. This causes extensive damage to the gears. The entire transmission has to be rebuilt. GMC is aware of this problem but refuses to recall. The 6T75E or the 6T70E transmission is the same as well as the smaller version of the 6T40E transmission. I had purchased an extended warranty that paid all but my deductible thankfully. February 13th, 2013 - sensors within the transmission failed and had to be replaced. March 2013 - another sensor went out inside the trainsmission, had to R&R. February 2014 - Transmission slipping again, locked in 2nd gear. Took to same repair shop, have to pull the transmission again to replace yet another sensor. Have been in negotiations with GM. 1st 2 hours senseless conversation. Finally forwarded to a supervisor. Created a complaint number. Waiting for them to call back over 1 week.

- David D., Carmel, IN, US

problem #8

Jun 142013

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

I think it's going out again!! I take it in tomorrow to find out. If it is, this car will be sold and I will never let anyone I know buy a GMC. I had a my last car for 100,000 miles without any transmission problems!

This is wrong!!! Do a recall! Too many people having the same problem. Way to go USA ! I don't want to buy a made in another country car! Do you give us a choice?

- angr, Keller, TX, US

problem #7

Sep 212013

Acadia SLE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No warning no nothing. Driving in 30 mph zone and when to 40mph zone and when I accelerated it wouldn't go. Called my husband and he told me to see if I could manually shift and it went in low but wouldn't do anything else. Drove in 2nd to have diagnostics run.codes p0770 p0776 and a couple others I can't remember. I

Taking to Greiner GMC tomorrow to hear the bad news. We bought it in October 2007 so warranty is out of date. Read so many issues just like this makes me wonder why no recall. My husband works and drives a ton of miles and replaces his GMC pickup every 18 months so has been faithful GMC buyer. I am not so confident.

- Kristi G., Casper, WY, US

problem #6

Sep 212013

Acadia SLE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

Go to arfc.org and file a complaint. If they see a trend they will open a case. Ridiculous! My transmission went out with only 64k miles on it. Wave plate issue!! over 5 yrs old so no warranty. GM refused to help when this is a known problem. Would really like to get everyone's complaints together on one site and one document to submit to GM. Contact me at randkgrant@bresnan.net to jump on board and see what we can do. My sister in law is an attorney and can help.

- Kristi G., Casper, WY, US

problem #5

Aug 022013

Acadia SLS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,290 miles

We liked our Acadia until a few weeks ago, first the steering locked for a few seconds while turning left, then the Service Brake System light started randomly going off and on and then out of the blue the transmission failed. I am so disappointed with GMC and their customer service. I don't think it is normal for a transmission to fail under 100k miles. Then you go read all the complaints online about the issues with the 2008 Acadia. I don't think it is safe, I will never buy another GMC.

- Jennifer R., Tewksbury, MA - Massachusetts, US

problem #4

Apr 012013

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,100 miles

i've been dealing with GM customer service for about a week now with the same failed wave plate issue. My car stopped dead with my kids inside about 7 miles from home. I'm livid that this has happened and even more so after reading these postings. My 2008 Acadia has 48,000 miles on it, has been drive LESS than 10k miles a year and is just 6 month out of the 5yr/100k powertrain warranty. After opening a case with GM and much negotiations they did the repair for $500 - that might be ok for some people but it infuriates me! Not only am I out $500, I'm also out for the cost of towing the vehicle to the dealership and another $400 for a rental vehicle that they refuse to reimburse me for. I was given a Volvo xc60 as a rental because all they had was a pick up truck and a BMW when I went to Enterprise. The Volvo was the cheapest. 5 days later I was told they would have covered the rental had I chosen a GM vehicle. NO ONE TOLD ME THIS UNTIL I HAD ALREADY HAD THE RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS! Why did I have the car for 5 days? Because it took Michelle at customer service and her "field unnamed GM counterpart" that long to come to a decision on the case. I wasted my money on a rental car because they couldn't get back to me with a decision on what my "good will" warranty would cover.

It's absurd to me that this issue is so prevalent and a recall has not been sent out. This is a known issue at GM and a bulletin has gone out to all service departments detailing the problem and the repair. Why has there not been a recall? Has anyone heard of a class action law suit regarding this? Anyone want to start one? This was my first experience with a GM vehicle and will be my last. I feel just awful as 4 of my close friends bought the same vehicle after I raved about how much I likes mine. This, to me, was the perfect mini-van alternative for my family. Now I'm kicking myself for not going with the mini-van.

- Sarah P., Westport, CT, US

problem #3

Feb 162013

Acadia LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,010 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Completed new suspension / front end, went to pick up vehicle from tire store. They informed me that the GMC Acadia transmission will not go into reverse. Called transmission shop, found out that this is a common problem with the GMC Acadia. Had to put into neutral, push it backwards out of the shop, drive it to the transmission shop.

1 day later, the transmission shop informed me that the tranny blew up inside. Parts fell out of the housing when they opened it up.

Had to take it apart, wait for extended warranty company to send rep. to inspect tranny, give permission to rebuild.

During inspection found another problem, will detail that elsewhere.

Got vehicle back after 10 days.

- David D., Carmel, IN, US

problem #2

Jul 132012

Acadia 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Disappointed. That's all it really comes down too. First off I had the water pump fail, Nice right at about 30k miles. Anti-freeze pouring out. Under warranty yeah!!! Next, about to go on vacation the next day driving to Minneapolis from chicago, Transmission just explodes, Took them 3 hours to clean up the debris. Shop Tech says they put a horribly small trans for the heaviest SUV in its class. Pretty smart those engineers at GMC. So be warned about this Trans. Make sure you buy an extended power train warranty. It will save you in the end when this car's trans goes and it will go.

- Mike L., Chicago, IL, US

problem #1

Aug 142012

Acadia SLT 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,739 miles

transmition got disconnected while it is in D driving mode !

- Mustafa Salim A., Seeb, MCT, Oman

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