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

4.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,949 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2008 GMC Acadia Owner Comments

problem #9

Sep 112010

Acadia

  • 50,000 miles

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

2008 Acadia 50,000 miles. A whinning noise from the time I start the car until the car is cut off. Repairman stated that they were aware of the problem and they had no fix for it now. He told me it would be okay to drive..........not very happy!!!!

- Cove City, NC, USA

problem #8

Nov 152010

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 44,232 miles
Recently, when loading the cargo area of my 08 GMC Acadia, the vehicle started rolling forward (the ignition was off, and in "park"). it rolled approximately 2 ft. Before "park" engaged. (my 2 grandsons were playing in my driveway a short distance away). After having the vehicle checked out at the GMC dealership where it was purchased the service mgr told me that this is a "normal" condition, acceptable by GM, that the parking gear "pawl" can actually roll up to 2 ft. Before engaging. It doesn't seem probable, or even possible this can be considered to be a "safe" condition. When I asked who would be responsible for injuries resulting from this situation his response was, "GM".

- Whitman, MA, USA

problem #7

Jun 012010

Acadia

  • 18,700 miles
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.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #6

Jul 102010

Acadia

  • 19,450 miles

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

My 2008 GMC Acadia has trouble accelerating/merging into traffic. The transmission, at least according to a GMC service writer, is due to GMC's transmission design. It was intended to upshift and even skip gears, in order to conserve fuel. I understand that this was "corrected" in later years. The dealership says it is "not a problem, it is the way it was designed to operate". if that is the case, then why was it corrected in subsequent models? entering traffic is dangerous, the transmission "lags" at all the wrong times, and accelerating to pass, or while changing lanes, produces the same lagging effect, thereby causing my vehicle to become a road hazard! this is totally unacceptable to me, and after spending almost $30,000 on this vehicle in 2010, I do not feel I alone, or I while driving with my family, should be subjected to this dangerous and hazardous situation 90% of the time we are on the road.

- Surfside Beach, SC, USA

problem #5

Nov 152009

Acadia

  • 44,000 miles
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 be cautious while driving. Also the cruise control doesn't coast and the speed increases as you go down hill.

- Republic, MO, USA

problem #4

Nov 302009

Acadia

  • 21,000 miles
I own 2008 GMC Acadia. On two occasions the weekend of Nov 28, 2009 once when I was driving, separately when wife driving, after the car was put in park and the ignition turned off, key removed, the car rolled backwards several feet until the brake was applied. Took the car to dealer service who could not replicate and expressed disbelief there was an issue. Surfed web and found NHTSA recall id# 09V073000 on 2009 Acadia. The recall is exactly what's happening with my 2008 Acadia. Just called GM 866# and they denied that the 2009 Acadia recall existed. Please help and get GM to recall the 2008 Acadia's with same issue as 2009.

- Oceanside, NY, USA

problem #3

Mar 032009

(reported on)

Acadia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

2008 GMC Acadia consumer wants to know if it's normal for a vehicle with automatic transmission to roll backwards when stopped on an incline. The consumer stated he took his foot off the brake and let the vehicle rolls backwards. The vehicle began to pick up speed as it rolled and very shortly, the engine stopped.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #2

Nov 192007

Acadia

  • 80 miles
Turned down a road and felt something pop and then the transmission would not shift out of 2nd. Gear. Since then have had several issues with the transmission shifting to excessively. That some issues with extremely excessive shifting. Once my wife pulled out into traffic and the transmission would not shift causing a man in a truck to slid off of the road to avoid hitting her because the vehicle would not shift and go down the road. And also with the battery dying for no reason. This has happened 4 different times.

- Pardeeville, WI, USA

problem #1

Jun 182008

Acadia

  • 83 miles
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.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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