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:
6 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,005 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2008 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #127

Dec 132021

Acadia

  • 147,028 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 at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist failed, and the steering wheel locked up. The contact's father, who is an independent mechanic, diagnosed that the power steering assist and rack and pinion were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,028.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #126

Jun 122017

Acadia

  • miles
Vehicle will cut off, still runs after switch is off, when making a turn popping in the wheel, steering gets hard when making a turn, something kills battery and it leaks inside, this happens whether in motion or not

- Crystal Springs, MS, USA

problem #125

Dec 262019

Acadia

  • 172,975 miles
I was driving down the highway and the stabilitrak turned itself off and a warning light came on saying it was off and to service it. I tried to push the button and it did nothing and then it cleared itself and turned back on without any prompt and when slowing down and pressing the brake pedal the steering wheel vibrates and the whole right side of the car shakes.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #124

Jul 192019

Acadia

  • 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 the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the power steering pump was faulty and diagnostic testing was required. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Twin Falls, ID, USA

problem #123

Apr 292019

Acadia

  • 198,000 miles
Steering gets stiff intermittently. Steering glitches (hard to turn) at times in the middle of turning. Happens in motion taking turns on surface streets and highways changing lanes and taking corners. It has now happened several times.

- Jamestown, CA, USA

problem #122

Mar 112019

Acadia

  • miles
This is the second complaint I have made has still have not heard anything. This is sad that it has not been dealt with. I hope my family is not in a serious accident because of this car.

- Batesville, IN, USA

problem #121

Mar 022019

Acadia

  • 167,000 miles

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

I just recently purchased this vehicle and the second day of having it me and my husband were driving home an the power steering went out while the vehicle was stopped to turn onto another road as we finally got the steering wheel to turn the power steering kicked in an was much easier to turn again this happened for the rest of the day and was only happening when we would turn from a complete stop or when we would slow down to stop. I have herd this was in a GM bulletin but am I still covered under the bulletin we purchased vehicle March 1,2019 an the incident happened March 2, 2019 we have our children with us as well an if my husband hadn't grabbed the wheel with both hands we would have went unto on coming traffic. This is not safe espically for famlies with children. Please let me know what will be done about this unsafe default.

- Newton Falls, OH, USA

problem #120

Feb 202019

Acadia

  • miles
My girlfriend's vehicle power steering stiffened up in a turn and then came back during the and caused her to over correct and end up on the side of the road if she was going any faster the problem could have been worse. The vehicle does this every once in awhile power steering works and then doesnt at random times.

- Pocatello, ID, USA

problem #119

Nov 142018

Acadia

  • 134,500 miles
The lights are going in and out, and the high beams as well as the taillights are doing the same. I was told there is a short in the system. The steering system is making a very loud noise any time the steering wheel is moved. The stability lights as well as others keep coming on and off but when checked shows nothing is wrong.

- Ferriday, LA, USA

problem #118

Nov 012018

Acadia

  • miles
Car loose power and stabilitraker control, press car gas pedal and only goes to 20 mph it happen anywhere highway and regular street

- New Britain, CT, USA

problem #117

Nov 182018

Acadia

  • 125,000 miles

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

I was on a road trip and half way through the trip while on the freeway the power steering went out. I barely had control of the vehicle almost crash into the wall. I was in the middle of nowhere and it was a Sunday so I had to drive back home 3 hours with no power steering.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #116

Oct 232018

Acadia

  • 113,000 miles
Takata recall- I purchased a 2008 GMC AWD Acadia about a year ago. While test driving the vehicle I noticed a whiny sound that I informed the dealer about upon return. The dealer checked it out and told me it just need power steering fluid. So he filled the fluids and I heard nothing for a month or so. I took the truck back for misc. Repairs two other times after that regarding sounds that I was heard coming from the vehicle. After that things seemed fine for a few months or so. Early September, the truck slowed down on the highway. The dash was reading 60mph but I was really going 30mph. Then while exiting to turn off the highway the power steering began acting up and was extremely hard to turn. I almost ran into the wall not prepared to use such force. August 29th I went to jiffy lube and had the fluids topped off and power steering fluid was full. I put the truck in the shop for a full diagnostic after the battery went completely dead and the vehicle would not start in October. They informed me that the power steering rack needing replacing and the faulty sun roof had flooded the entire vehicle with 1 1/2 inches of water. The battery died because the port was filled with water. From the beginning of September, when the power steering went out, the vehicle has only been driven very short distances (to the gas station on the corner, less than a mile). I called a GM dealer to check for recalls and there are none which is sad and a total rip off.

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #115

Aug 012018

Acadia

  • miles
Worst vehicle ever.

- Batesville, IN, USA

problem #114

Apr 222018

Acadia

  • 112,391 miles
2008 GMC Acadia with intermittent loss of power steering, I have 112,396 miles and my SUV as well as a lot of others people on the internet have loss of power steering while driving. This was a special coverage and this is still happing to people in these vehicle because they put a time frame on when they would cover the vehicle issues. This issue could cause the driver to lose control and crash when this issue happens. I have got ahold of GM motors and they said I am out of the time frame and they won't cover it. Please help me out and see about a recall so people won't get injured or possible killed over this issue that they know about. The issue locks the steering wheel and won't allow you to turn it left or right. Until you slow down enough to turn it.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #113

Mar 062018

Acadia

  • miles
This car came with a 30 day and/or 1000 miles warranty. Within a week pass the warranty it started. The radio illumination started to go out we would have to tap on it to get it to turn on so we could see the time etc. Then it would not come back on at all and all chimes went away., stopped working altogether. No turn single indicator, seat belts, back up warning, door ajar etc. The passenger side air bag indicator would say no one when someone was sitting in it and while driving blink between the two. Also air bag needs maintance indictor in dash will flash while driving. Park assistant on and off will flash while driving. The steering will move in itself while driving and around bends/turns in the road and worsening on highway! to the point I do not take my children on. There is also a faint burn smell around front floor.I decided to take it to the local advanced auto parts store and have them hook it up to see why I lost my radio, steering etc. They tell me that it was a dead battery cell and that my battery is located in the floor of this vehicle behind the passenger seat. By the way this vehicle does not have a sunroof all the windows go up tight as well. I called my mechanic who I've known for years my family has went to him as well and asked him to assist me in the battery issue. So we get there he opens the floor behind my seat and we discovered the battery is underwater dark sludgy water! the battery is replaced after a very unprofessional and disrespectful experience with this particular establishment by now I am at my wits end. I've exhausted all efforts with them! I paid to have a GMC certified mechanic run diagnostic on these issues at hand and to my thinking they determined to be flood and/or water damage and would need further diagnostics. However puzzling the VIN is clean and no recent or active recalls. I am barely into this contract 3 months!

- Waynesboro, PA, USA

problem #112

Sep 202017

Acadia

  • 124,000 miles
My steering in my 2008 GMC Acadia seems to lock up intermittently. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason why this happens and I cannot predict when it happens. Power steering fluid is full and not leaking. Was told the power steering is not "gone" but it is very hard to turn the vehicle when this happens. I feel unsafe considering I travel with multiple kids all the time. This is not something I can afford to go out on my vehicle at this time. Due to the other complaints I have read I feel this is a recall issue and it should be deemed so immediately by the manufacturer.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #111

Aug 062017

Acadia

  • 120,000 miles
When I accelerate and get to 40 mph the car begins to shake randomly, intermittently. Then the service engine light came on, then the traction control shut off and the light to service traction control came on then the car drop the speed from 60 mph to 10-20 mph! when I tried to accelerate it did nothing ! the speed wouldn't increase at all then it started running fine and then a few miles down the road it did the same thing, dropped speed from 60 to 10-20 mph! I pulled over and shut the car off and when I restarted it the same lights were on and when I tried pulling away it would only go up to 10-20 mph for a few miles then it got up to 60 mph for a few miles just to drop again! I had my 11 month old grandson in the car that was dangerous! I was on townline road and manito blacktop that are very high traffic

- Manito, IL, USA

problem #110

May 112017

Acadia

  • 119,100 miles
I am experiencing steer loss when at low speeds which involve turning street corners, pulling and out of parking lot spaces and any other time a 90 degree turn is required (most often in any city travel). The steering becomes so tight in these circumstances that wider turns are required when steering wheel won't engage to assist. At street corners, this means wider turns where attention to oncoming traffic is dangerous. In parking lots, the ability to pull into a space is impossible without 3-4 point turns to move forward and backwards. This too can block oncoming vehicles and most importantly, avoid contact with those parked in the adjacent spaces. The wheel can be impossible to turn and freeze on you when you are not applying the gas and you don't want to apply the gas when your turn is already too wide for a street corner turn and traffic is coming your way or you are trying to avoid parked cars next you when pulling in or out of parking spaces. Both straight on parking and vertical parking is nearly impossible to maneuver in. My vehicle has 119,200 miles. I noticed my steering getting stiffer on rare occasions at 88,000 miles but I was always able to make my turns properly. I do a lot of highway travel now so my miles have added up quickly in the last year and a half. This is not the first major problem with this vehicle. My first was at 67,000 when the entire transmission went out. Prior to that, the entire back axle had to be replaced (under warranty). Since then, the throttle body at 84,000 miles. Recalls of several GM vehicles have been made for the power steering and the rack and pinion but the 2008 Acadia is not listed. These steering issues are not "one-off" situations per vehicle but rather entire populations of owners of this vehicle with a common problem - power steering not working properly at several intervals of mileage on the vehicle!

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #109

May 302017

Acadia

  • 123,000 miles
The steering in my 2008 gms Acadia is severely tightening when I'm at low speed making a turn into parking space or garage for example. Its very hard to turn and is dangerous. We've had the power steering pump replaced one time before but this is the first time we've had this issue. I have 123,000 miles on the vehicle. This issue should be required to be recalled.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #108

Nov 102016

Acadia

  • 116,000 miles
Water pump failed in the freeway prematurely, brake cylinder failed prematurely, steering, rack and pinion and power steering pump failed @116K, transmission failed @ 116.no means of transportation with 3 kids.

- Eastvale, CA, USA

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