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

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,313 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 GMC Acadia drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 GMC Acadia:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 3 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #226

Apr 112016

Acadia

  • 143,000 miles

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

While driving, the vehicle began to idle sporadically. Eventually, it started to idle and not shift into the next gear. Finally, the check engine light came on. When took it to a repair shop determine the codes associated with the check engine light, and found P0700 and P0776 codes. These codes reference a well known problem encountered in the 2008 GMC Acadia. The waveplate may be broken, and cause issue in the 3rd, 5th, and R gears. So, now the vehicle doesn't shift into any gear, and I will have to pay out of pocket ($4K) for an issue that GM knows is an issue, and has since corrected in the later year models. I called GM to see if they would offer any type of assistance, and was told no, due to the mileage on my vehicle. I am currently at 143,000 miles. Regardless of the miles on my vehicle, if GM placed a faulty part in their vehicles, they should be required to place a recall to fix it, and not have it be the consumer's responsibility!

- Mason, MI, USA

problem #225

Mar 312015

Acadia

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power and was no longer operable. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic again where the engine was replaced again. The failure recurred. In addition, the engine oil coagulated and the air bag light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 110,000.

- St.Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #224

Dec 162015

Acadia

  • miles
My 2008 GMC Acadia leaks when it rains, the floor boards fill with water & water comes through the interior lights causing them to shorten, blink. The power windows got stuck wouldn't go down almost smashed my kids hand. The worse part driving on interstate at 65-70 traffic slows to 40 and your vehicle doesn't go almost causing the worse accident ever. Seems this wave plate, shift solenoid is a manufacturer defect especially since I was only a few months after initial purchase and the truck was returned to dealer for same issue so that means the transmission they replaced the bad one with was so bad or reached its time out mileage. This should be a recall if it happened shortly after purchase (purchased used) then it happens again with the replacement transmission and all the threads in have read every owner is experiencing this, someone will have bad accident possibly death. Does death have to occur for us to get better resolve and make GMC take care of this. Over $5,000 was tough to christmas time

- Webster, TX, USA

problem #223

Jan 032014

Acadia

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the transmission would intermittently became stuck in gear and the vehicle would not drive forward or in reverse. The vehicle was restarted and operated as normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission and warmer plate needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Maineville, OH, USA

problem #222

Jan 012015

Acadia

  • 115,000 miles
Purchased vehicle from dealer with 72000 miles with 4yr/48000 mile warranty. Warranty ran out this summer, mileage is now 133000 miles. Problem has been intermittent since early last year, but mechanics were not able to help because problems were not 'presenting' as the check engine light would go on and off at different times (just as the recalled service air bag light did!). in December 2015, the check engine began staying on all the time and the gears did not shift correctly. The tcm is messed up, which is a very common problem with all Acadias, apparently. We had a very scary issue on xmas eve with the gears downshifting while we were on the highway and it wouldn't let me go over 20mph! we took it to first dealership over an hour away and the guy came out with a handheld computer, put in on our car, said it is our tcm and $3800 to fix it. He never put anything in the computer, so we didn't have an official diagnosis. We spoke with GM and they said to get the diagnosis and they would see about helping us to cover it. So, we got the diagnosis today, it is the tcm and no help. They said it is out of warranty, GM won't cover it, it is up to the dealer to cover it, etc. We have been told so many different stories about why they won't cover it, just that they won't. our VIN number is literally 6000 off of the recall list! it is a common problem and should have been a national recall! does anyone know of a class action lawsuit? I would love to be a part of one.

- Roanoke, AL, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #221

Jan 012016

Acadia

  • 90,000 miles
The transmission in my 2008 GMC Acadia is currently at the dealer with codes PO752 and PO700 which are the shift solenoid and the transmission control system. I was stuck in first gear driving the truck. The NHTSA reference #10052215 and tsb reference #sb-13120 explains the exact problem that occurred with my truck. GMC and the dealer are saying that I have to pay approx. $2500 which is a 65% to 35% split with the dealership ( mine being the 65%). I shouldn't have to pay for a safety issue that has been clearly identified by the NHTSA. I am just another dissatified customer with GM and would like to add my experience and truck problem to your data base. This problem has been happening for the past month or so. Also, there is already a recall that GM has sent out on the wave plates located in the transmission. Which they have extended the warranty to 10 years or 120000 miles. The wave plates are beginning to wear causing premature debris in the transmission causing the solenoids to stick. Although the dealer is saying the wave plates are not worn.

- Matawan, NJ, USA

problem #220

Apr 012011

Acadia

  • 53,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle in the drive position, it reversed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to a faulty wave plate. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.

- Carlbad, CA, USA

problem #219

May 142015

Acadia 6-cyl

  • miles
Letter from congressman hudson on behalf of constituent re 2008 GMC Acadia transmission failure. The vehicle was returned to the consumer, after the repairs were completed. However, about 30 miles in route, various warning signs and messages began appearing on the dash. Some of the messages read service stabilitrak, service traction control, all wheel drive off, check right front tire pressure, and others. Including the ABS sign was flashing a scary and cautionary yellow symbol.

- Lumberton, NC, USA

problem #218

Nov 102015

Acadia

  • miles
Transmission started getting sluggish around 88, 000 miles. Vehicle wouldn't crank due to electrical stabilizer, now my sunroof is leaking. Dealership is going to charge me $275 dollar to unblock the sunroof drains what a rip off when this is the three time I have had the drains cleaned and the sunroof still leak. This has to be a GMC problem that they refuse to acknowledge. The transmission is still under the GMC warranty so thank god I don't have to pay out of pocket for that. The electrical modules seem to be okay for now but at any giving time the vehicle may stop working. GMC should own up to these problems and look out for their customers.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #217

Apr 062015

Acadia

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the transmission was slow to change gears and there was an abnormal noise present. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven, but the dealer was not able to replicate and diagnose the failure after having the vehicle for longer than a week. The contact indicated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #216

Sep 202015

Acadia

  • miles

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

Driving down the interstate when the transmission burnt up inside. The transmission shop said this was a very common issues with vehicles of the same make and model of ours. If there is so many of these going bad shouldnt this be fixed by the manufacturer"?"

- Larchwood, IA, USA

problem #215

Mar 072015

Acadia 6-cyl

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle, and was told there were no active recalls and nothing wrong with vehicle, the dealership supposedly had took it through a hundred point inspection, immediately, the air bag light came on, it started losing anti-freeze and the check engine light came on, after several trips to the service dept at this Toyota dealership, I am still having issues, they fixed the small things like the water pump, the rear wiper blade, electrical but the engine light still comes on and I had it checked out and it is the transmission, it is going out, and the air bag (service air bag soon) is still on, but was supposedly fixed by a recall in 2011, either it was a bad part, or it was not serviced at all. I have been driving for 40 years and I have always been a loyal GM owner, especially the Buick lasabre which I drove for 15 years, but I am not happy with the quality of this vehicle and the dealership that I purchased it at, and they are rated by the BBB as a. I also do not like the fact that on GM commercials it states non GM owners, like come on in, we will take care of non GM owners but not the loyal ones. I think it very important to stick with american brands and love GM, just very dissatisfied with this one. I think GM should fix this car, the air bag and especially the transmission!!!!updated 11/10/15

- Lincolnton, NC, USA

problem #214

Sep 152014

Acadia

  • 115,000 miles
During acceleration the vehicle vibrates when going between 35 and 45 mph. Was not able to reproduce issue at dealership last fall, but is now getting much worse. Happens almost everytime the vehicle accelerates.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #213

Jul 112015

Acadia

  • 83,000 miles
My husband was driving our 2008 GMC Acadia and the power train started to make a whining noise, when the gearbox shifted the noise stopped. A minute later he stopped and then when he tried to proceed forward the vehicle would not shift into any gear and the car would no longer drive. We had several people in our vehicle, mostly kids, and had to recruit bystanders to help us push the vehicle off the road to a nearby parking lot. This is a huge saftey issue! my family had to stand on the side of the road while my husband and some gracious strangers had to push the vehicle since it was no longer drivable. And they we had to wait for someone to come get us. I have seen several complaints with the same scenario and really think this issue needs to be investigated. And this worst part to this whole situation is that we are military and are currently stationed overseas and will cost us over $5000 just to have the part shipped here.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #212

Jul 052015

Acadia

  • 78,000 miles
Numerous uncommanded gear changes....car became stuck in 2nd gear....moved to right lane of interstate highway...event occurred during heavy thunderstorm....car almost uncontrollable....finally came to an exit...car creeping along....pulled into service station and stopped at pump...when trying to restart....car would not go forward...I was able to back to clear the pump...very scary incident...internet reveals numerous incidents of a similar nature...all were involved with 2008 GMC Acadias. Incident occurred Sunday 5 July 2015. Unable to enter date of incident

- Windermere, FL, USA

problem #211

Jul 012015

Acadia

  • 121,500 miles
Driving vehicle with my family in it 3 kids and wife and it just stopped working. No warning no nothing just stopped.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #210

Jun 302015

Acadia

  • miles
Get on the freeway with 30 mph, then suddenly the car stop accelerate. Luckily, I was able to merge into exit ramp. The engine light is on and the car won't move any more. I be able to start the engine but there is no acceleration.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #209

May 152015

Acadia

  • 90,000 miles
As I was driving onto the freeway and trying to merge my vehicle had slipped out of gear while it was in drive. I had no acceleration and I was on an incline. Once my vehicle slowed to 20mph it had re engaged and I was able to merge off of the freeway. This created a safety hazard for my girlfriend and I and her 3 young children because the speed limit on the freeway was 65 mph with very limited space to merge because other drivers are trying to merge onto an exit ramp. This created a safety hazard not only for our family but for others trying to merge onto the freeway behind us at a very low speed and those trying to exit at the same time. Luckily for us nobody was hurt. The vehicle is now in the shop and we were told that it is the 3-5-R wave plate. After reading on multiple forums about this vehicle and the transmission issues I believe that GMC needs to be held accountable for the malfunctions in this transmission because it is a safety hazard to those on the road.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #208

May 132015

Acadia

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. While driving approximately 45 mph, the transmission slipped into a low gear in a jerking motion and the rpms increased rapidly. The engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. After restarting the vehicle, the contact was able to resume driving 45 mph with caution. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

- Madisonville, LA, USA

problem #207

Jul 012014

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
Needed to replace the transmission due to wave plate failure.

- Sandwich, MA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?