Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 GMC Acadia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, a grayish-colored smoke as well as an abnormal sound emit from the engine without warning. The contact pulled over and exited the vehicle as the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames. The contact called the fire department and they extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed(#23-046145) and no injuries were reported. The contact stated that the highway barrier was damaged as a result of the fire. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving approximately 25-30 mph, the vehicle loss motive power without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed and remained at the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,038.
The traction control turns on and then the shifts don't work and I can't drive since there is no speed also the rpm and the gas the speed and the battery gages start flickering up and down then I turn off the truck and it continues to work fine but after 40 miles or so it does it all again
Transmission failed, transmission slipped out of gear, transmission stuck in first gear, GM approved a 2013 safety recall for this vehicle, the transmission failed in 2017, the transmission was repaired and the entire engine has been replaced twice. The transmission is failing again because it is a product defect that is dangerous. GM has refused to repair or replace the vehicle and the autonation has refused to repair or replace the vehicle. GM and autonation have sold a dangerous used car with a fraudulent intent. GM and autonation have ratified the intentional fraud. The car needs to be replaced immediately because it is still dangerous to drive and the transmission is currently failing again.
Approximately 3 weeks ago, my 2008 GMC Acadia was serviced at 140,000 miles for worn out timing chains. Now, I am looking at problems with my transmission. How convenient. Within three weeks this vehicle has failed on me. The timing chains were rattling in turns when it was taken into the dealership and the problem was discovered. I actually visited and left the dealership several times before the problem was diagnosed, so I was riding around with a faulty part in my engine. The transmission went out after I had exited the interstate at which point I could not accelerate more than 10 MPH. Good thing I was not on the interstate when it decided to stall out on me as I can only imagine how disastrous that would have been. The 2007 and 2009 GMC models were recalled for timing chain issues, never the 2008 model. …
Timing chain was replaced about 3,000 miles ago. Check engine light appeared just minutes before exiting onto the highway. I accelerated to a maximum of 45mph before the engine started to "putt" and then I thought the transmission went out on the vehicle, the RPM skyrocketed, I slowed the vehicle down to pull over and it started smoking / steaming and oil and water were spewing out all over the vehicle. I thought it was on fire. Several passers-by noticed and called police reporting that my vehicle was on fire, I called a tow truck. Got a ride to work. Towed to the dealer / service center who replaced timing chain. They said the engine is shot. 2 pistons fell out. Class action lawsuit needs to occur on this vehicle. It is a pile of junk to fix and extremely unsafe. Timing chain and transmission problems. Engine problems. …
When travelling home on the highway after school shopping with my two children my vehicle suddenly reduced power, became uncontrollable and wouldn't allow me to get out of the way of the rapidly approaching vehicles behind me in time. I was able to get to the shoulder, after the reduced engine alert appeared. Stabiltrak was also disabled and one more feature I cannot remember. I had to shut my vehicle down and sit with two children in the car waiting for the car to somehow right itself. After 10 minutes I tried turning it on and the errors were gone and the car drove again, except rough. I took it to the local auto store and the diagnosed it with the code reader as tac. Throttle body. The person at the counter said they see this all the time with this vehicle. In fact, it should be a recall since it's so common and a clear flaw in the design. …
Bought vehicle with only 23K miles on it, transmission started acting up within 6 months of driving it, taken to a dealer, said nothing wrong, another year later got worse, took it in to a different dealer, nothing wrong, 6 months later took it in before going on vacation, nothing wrong, but had problems while on vacation, 6 months later, 1,500 miles away from home on vacation, driving down a 75 mile an hour speed limit divided highway, transmission went out with no warning, no dash warning, took in to a transmission dealer (since we couldn't get into a dealer) and said we wouldn't make it home the way it was. 5 grand later and a mess of a vacation later we were on our way home. Less than 3 months later, tighten gas cap light on dash, check tire pressure light on and check engine light on. …
On 4 separate occasions within a 3 week period the vehicle would accelerate while driving without driver prompts or control (rpms revved from 2000 to over 6000 and speed would increase from 50 MPH to over 85 MPH with accelerator pegged to the floor.) the only way to correct this was to put the vehicle in neutral, coast to the side of the road, stop the vehicle and turn off the engine for 10-15 minutes, then restart it and it would run normally for short periods of time. If I drove the vehicle for more than 30 minutes at a time it would react this way every time and nearly caused me to hit 2 vehicles on the interstate. On one occasion I had to impact a guardrail to slow the vehicle down. I took the vehicle to a certified GMC dealership who stated on both occasions they could not repeat the problem after driving it for 5-10 minutes or less than 15 miles. …
I purchased a 2008 Acadia in November 2016. The seller stated that they had to order a airbag and replace the old one. Alone with the seat belt. I didn't get the car until a month later. When I got the Acadia it was making some whining noise, wouldn't crank back up, rattle and clatter, dragging in the transmission like driving in a certain gears, noisy in neutral. Airbag, seatbelt and stability traction control light continue to come on. Needed a alternator and now the engine gone. I been having problem's with the car since I got it, and it been only 13th months. We were driving twice and the vehicle shut down on us on the in-state. We had to get it pull back home. Several times driving on the main highway and street it wouldn't go in great. I don't photos at this time. I would have to wait until tomorrow, to go outside and take pictures. …
Engine complaints in other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2008 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA has 144 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2008 GMC Acadia, 17% of the model year's 854 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 GMC Acadia engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2008 GMC Acadia, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 GMC Acadia engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 4 fires and 6 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.