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:
81,929 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

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2008 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 13 of 14)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

Feb 232013

Acadia

  • 70,000 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 driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle shook and independently decelerated to 10 mph then stalled. After restarting, the transmission failed to shift into reverse. The vehicle was able to resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the transmission wave plate fractured which caused internal damage. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Russellville, AL, USA

problem #23

Feb 212013

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Transmission started slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear then two days later just quit in a drive thru lane at a fast food. Couldn't get into any gear. I had to have people push it out to a safe location. Towed it home. Now I have a $18,000 piece of scrap metal sitting in my driveway.

- Norfolk, NE, USA

problem #22

Dec 082008

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
I was taking my daughter to Florida for cheer leading competition; I was just outside of Illinois when the check airbag light and message screen came on thankfully the light went off but came back on on our way back to Chicago and kept coming on and off. Took it to dealer but they only said that the harness was tight they only wiggled it and light went off but came back a couple of days later. Then the power steering started making noise dealer said they didn't hear anything and didn't do anything and noise is getting louder. Then suspension stared it making noise. Took it to dealer and had tie rods replaced. Then the service airbag problem came back and this time didn't go away. Took it to the dealer and they said that the harness was to tight and they rerouted it so it wasn't tight anymore. Worked for a couple of days and its on again but I didn't take it back and now is past its warranty.then head lamp went out. Had to pay dealer $180 (rip off) next the other head light went out. My nephew replaced it in less than 10 min. Now there is a recall for that head light problem. Then wipers arm came loose from motor I had my cousin fix it for me. Now I have had the check engine light on for a couple of weeks took it to autozone came back with the code to replace the canister purge solenoid now I have the transmission problem, it started to act funny shifting pretty hard some times and then a few days ago I was driving on the freeway coming home when I notice the rpms at about 45000 and it wouldn't change gears and the fuel gauge started going nuts I don't know why and had to drive it home on the same gear. Took it to autozone and came back with the same code for the solenoid plus P0700/P0716/P0717 for the transmission. Now my Acadia is just sitting on my driveway no money to fix it and driving my 15 year old truck hoping GMC does something about this nightmare

- Northlake, IL, USA

problem #21

Feb 242013

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 123,000 miles

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

I was driving to the store when I turned a corner and went to hit the gas to go and I had nothing! my car started rolling backwards down the hill into traffic. I was lucky to not be hit. I slammed on the brakes and threw it into park. I turned my car off and restarted it and tried to move it and I had no drive so I tried to put it in reverse to back it up on the side of the road and nothing I had no drive no reverse nothing!!!!! I had it towed to the shop and I still know nothing on why it happened except they said there is an internal transmission issue. I haven't even owned it a year. I rely on this car to safely get my three kids where they need to be and now I'm terrified to put my children back in this car after reading all the other horror stories about this car. There needs to be a recall!!!!!!!!!!

- Mount Vernon , OH, USA

problem #20

Feb 042013

Acadia

  • 90,177 miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC arcadia. The contact stated that while traveling 25 mph, there was a loud pop noise from under the vehicle. The vehicle then became resistant to acceleration attempts. The check engine light was also illuminated and the vehicle would not move forward or when in reverse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileages were 90,177.

- Key West, FL, USA

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problem #19

Apr 012011

Acadia

  • 85,000 miles
I've had three transmissions in this car with only 114,000 miles. Wave plate, torque converter problems.

- Woodbury, MN, USA

problem #18

Sep 262011

Acadia

  • 37,960 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 he noticed a puddle of liquid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced.the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 37,960.

- Ofallen, MO, USA

problem #17

Jan 172013

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
On two occasions after putting the vehicle in park, turning off the ignition, removing the key and exiting the vehicle, it rolled back and only stopped when driver jumped back in and applied the brake. This occurred on a flat garage surface (no incline) on both occasions, with different drivers on each occasion. GMC dealer says they can not replicate the issue and there is nothing to repair. This vehicle is dangerous, as it can roll back unexpectedly, potentially causing serious bodily injury or death, or damage to physical property. GMC recalled the 2009 Acadia for the same issue previously, but maintains there are no issues with my vehicle. I found additional complaints for this issue on the 2008 Acadia on the internet as well, so this issue is not unique to me.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #16

Jan 212013

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 65,400 miles
Traveling approximately 65 mph in the far left lane of a major highway. Going up a slight incline I tried to accelerate but the car was not reacting then the rpms would shoot up but the car would not react. I had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to get to the emergency lane. The car would not go over 20 mph after that and struggled at that. I managed to get to a gas station. 1 tow truck, 1 rental car and now $1500 to replace the "wave plates" and "wave housing". additional note - the car broke down in August 2012 as well. In that incident the water pump had to be replaced.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

problem #15

Nov 052012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 105,169 miles
The power steering stopped working while driving and I had to complete emergency maneuvers to get the car off of the road.

- Atlantic Beach, NC, USA

problem #14

Nov 232012

Acadia

  • 77,700 miles

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

I'm concerned about the safety of the 2008 GMC Acadia and similar GM vehicles, as I was driving with my family out of town when the transmission suddenly had problems shifting in and out of gears. While driving the weekend after thanksgiving and approximately 4 hours from home, our 2008 GMC Acadia started down-shifting hard after passing a vehicle on the highway. A few minutes later this repeated, and then the check engine light came on. Soon after, when almost to our destination, the vehicle had no power to get up hills on the highway, and once we exited, could barely make it off the exit ramp and through a very busy intersection. It seemed to be stuck in a high gear. Being late Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend and now in a rural area, there weren't any repair shops that were either open or could look at it. So we had to rent a car and attempt to drive the Acadia back another 40-50 miles to get to a Chevy dealer that was open and could at least checkout the transmission. On Saturday they confirmed it was the transmission, and specifically the 3-5-R wave plate, but the vehicle wouldn't be ready until the following week. Later I researched and found this to be a common problem, but it still wasn't being recalled by GM. Luckily we were barely (1 month) inside of our power train warranty and didn't get hurt. I will say that the Chevy dealer that did the repair was great to work with, especially since we were from out of town. But now I'm worried about being able to safely drive this vehicle for any significant distance from our home.

- Dardenne Prairie, MO, USA

problem #13

Nov 222012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
We were coming home from family on thanksgiving night and the check engine light came on as we were getting on the highway. When we got off the highway and onto our exit, we hit a red light. Luckily, it was on a hill, because my husband hit the gas and we didn't go anywhere. The car just revved up to around 4 RPM's. we finally gained some momentum going down the hill and then the car drove just fine again. Next stop light, same thing...only this time, we were making a left hand turn and facing on-coming traffic. It took everything it had and about 20 seconds just to roll through the intersection! if our kids had been in the car with us, this could have been a major accident if we had been hit! the car was towed to the mechanics and was found to be a broken wave plate. There are numerous complaints about the wave plates in the Acadia's, traverse's, and the outlook's, but no recall. I am also only 1 month out of the power train warranty! please help! thank you!

- Glenpool, OK, USA

problem #12

Nov 232012

Acadia

  • 74,450 miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC arcadia. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle failed to move. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed her the reverse wave plate had fractured and the reverse clutch four, five and six housing were damaged. As a result, the housings had to be reconditioned and the reaction sun gear needed to be replaced. Recently, the transmission failed again with the same problem. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified who stated a representative would contact her within twenty four hours. The failure mileage was 74,450 and the current mileage was 110,000.

- Fairview, TX, USA

problem #11

Nov 202012

Acadia

  • 61,000 miles
Been going through forums and know a few people who have purchased Acadia's and the transmission gives out on these cars really quick and it's a 5000 dollar fix that GMC knows about and refuses to fix and at 50,000 miles their is no reason you should need a new transmission I personally am two weeks out of warranty with a 22000 dollar sitting brick and expected to pay for poor production quality this should be addressed on the national level and is extremely unfair to loyal tax payers to be almost robbed in plain daylight.

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #10

Nov 022012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 32,200 miles
Picking up my car after an oil change and tire rotation at the dealer, the car would not go into reverse. They ran diagnostics on the vehicle and I was told the transmission or more specifically the wave plate in the transmission broke. It's been at the dealer going into the second week now. They are still having a shifting issue.

- Linden, NJ, USA

problem #9

Aug 252012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 61,002 miles
My friends and I left a store and was pulling out onto a busy route. Speed limit is posted as 45 mph. I was idling at the stop sign waiting for a vehicle to pass. When it did I pulled out into traffic. I gently pressed on the accelerator and that is when I felt the truck jerk and then the pedal was floored!!! I was not doing this!!!! I was in amongst the traffic, trying to Dodge others, and then I tried to turn my truck off. I couldn't do it. It was not allowing me to and the speed had increased dramatically!!! I reached down and was messing with the accelerator hoping to pull it up from the floor. The accelerator was completely pressed into the floor as if someone glued it there. I crossed over 3 lanes of traffic trying to Dodge vehicles and trying to prevent a crash. I finally managed to free the accelerator. It freaks me out when I drive now, .

- Farmer City, IL, USA

problem #8

Jun 272012

Acadia

  • 72,000 miles
I was driving on the highway and pressed the gas and started to move then without the warning the car stopped running. It felt like the car had been pushed into neutral, the motor would rev but it would not go anywhere. Took it to the GM dealer. I was told it was all set. Fast forward 2 weeks later same exact thing happened, also my car started to "buck" in reverse. Again brought to GM dealer and told nothing is wrong with it. Fast forward 4 days later heading on vacation with my 4 year old int he car. Same thing happens in the middle of the highway, we came to a dead stop. This was very scary since I had my daughter with me and we were 150 miles from home. Called GM dealer I had been dealing with and they gave me the number for the GM dealer closest to were I was located. Called the GM dealer on cape cod, MA. Was told to drive it there and they are so busy it will be days before they could even look at it. They had my car for 2 weeks and told it is fixed. I can tell it is not the transmission is still acting up. Due to the incidents with this car I do feel myself or my family could have been seriously injured with from this car stopping in the middle of highways. After doing research on the vehicle I have come across numerous GM owners with the same situation. I do believe that this situation could have been life threatening- by a major car accident. I hope someone can help us because GM does not seem to care about what is happening.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #7

Jul 252012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I bought my GMC Acadia in February and have had it at the dealership I know 15+ times. Everything is wrong with it. It started off that it was the stability track and stability control censors, then it went to both rear wheel bearings replace, bypassing the wiring (because GM) told the dealership to bypass the factory wiring and build a new harness for the wiring, several other things wrong, and now the transmission!!!! what will happen next!!! so many people are having major issues with the Acadia. Not dependable nor safe for me nor my family!!!!!

- Pulaski, TN, USA

problem #6

Jul 132012

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
My Acadia's transmission failed (the 3, 5, R wave plate) while 4 hours from home. It has now been at the dealership for 22 days... the transmission has been taken out 3 times and still can't "get it right". this is a huge mess that GM has not handled well at all. They will not let the dealership put a new transmission in it. They can't tell me when my car will even be ready... there are 4 other Acadia's at the dealership with the same problem.... just google GMC Acadia transmission problems and you will see that I am not alone..... thank you for any help you can provide.

- Pulaski, TN, USA

problem #5

Jul 012011

Acadia

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle shook and decelerated to 40 mph. The contact was unable to accelerate beyond 40 mph. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the transmission was replaced. Approximately one year later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken back for repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Carmel, IN, USA

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