2008 GMC Acadia: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Oct 26, 2018 · Airbags, Steering · 113,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Apr 5, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · PA

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!

Filed May 17, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 69,000 miles · MI

We bought our 2008 gmc acadia in january 2008. The battery died in july 2008 while vacationing in canada leaving us stranded. After it went dead several more times the dealership replaced it. The air conditioning went out several times in 2010 and we had to pay to have the AC recharged twice since. In july 2013 we had to have the transmission replaced when it stopped shifting into gear. Our warranty had expired in january of that year. The dealership did get gm to pay half but it still cost us almost $2,000.00. Now it is at the dealership again and we have to replace the entire steering column as it lost power steering at low speeds. We are having it repaired at an estimate of nearly $1,800.00 more. This vehicle cost about $36,000.00 in 2008. Since then we have paid thousands of dollars just to keep it on the road and safe. This is a lemon and I would like to see a recall for both the transmission and loss of steering at low speeds. I see that both of these are common problems with this vehicle. I would like to be reimbursed for our expenses.

Filed Dec 30, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 125,503 miles · GA

I have experienced multiple issues with my 2008 gmc acadia my first problem was with the transmission having to be replaced. Which just barely was covered under the warranty I had after buying the vehicle used since that first incident I have had continual problems. My engine will stay running after the key is turned to the off position and the key is removed from the ignition the car continues to stay running the engine does that is all other lights go off no radio or AC stay on. I have had it in the shop different times no one can correctly diagnose and fix the issue. I am now watching the tow truck hook my car up to be taken to the gmc dealer which is going to cost more than I am sure I can afford to pay as a single mother trying to make ends meet. So besides the engine running with no key in it. It also kills the battery drains it when it sits. I have also had issues with the wiring harnesses to the head lights melting to the back if the bulbs having to be replaced costing over $200. There has to be some kind of electrical issue with this car there seem to be many people on here with similar issues with transmission and odd issues. Please help I can't afford this car and the continual issues.

Filed Feb 29, 2012 · Body, Electrical · OR

Bought our gmc acadia dec. 2011 had no issues till jan 2012. Since then it has been back to the dealership repeatedly for seemingly linked problems. Started with just a dead battery upon further investigation found that the wiring harness was submerged in water, causing battery to short out, replaced the battery and fixed the apparent point of entry. Not two weeks later back in the shop, water pouring from the head liner (around the interior lights, sunroof moldings, and seat belt joints). Our acadia remained at the dealership for three days with no luck of finding a leak (checked all drain lines and ran the vehicle through the water machine). Here we are again vehicle has been at the shop for a week with no luck of finding the point of intrusion; this time the water leak shorted out the entire fuse panel. After trying to find the leak for over a week, sending the vehicle to another shop to "get a fresh set of eyes on it", and contacting gm for advise (which was no help) the dealership still has been unsuccessful in locating the water leak. Not sure what to do next. All I know is we bought a $30,000.00 car so we wouldn't have problems and here we are with problems, expensive problems.

Filed Jul 18, 2011 · Electrical · 27,000 miles · NM

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shut off once the key was turned to the off position. The contact could remove the key from the ignition, but the vehicle continued to run until the battery died. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the engine continued to run due to an electrical shortage caused by a water leak. The dealer replaced the molding around the sun roof where the water was leaking in from. The failure continued, as water continued to leak into the vehicle and the engine continued to run when the key was removed from the ignition. The contact also stated the headlights were malfunctioning as well. The failure mileage was 27,000.

Filed Jan 7, 2008 · Electrical · 5,876 miles · TX

My complaint concerns my 2008 acadia delivered sept.2007. Currently with less than 5,900 miles on it. It is now in the shop for failure to start for the third time. The battery is somehow being dischanged. Other than replacing the original battery, on the first occurance, the dealer service can not seem to track down the source of the problem. They say that the charging system checks out ok. It does seem to start fine for a while, several weeks, then all of a sudden it will have a dead battery over night. Nothing is ever left on. I check that each time the garage door is closed. The headlights always go out in one minute, if on. While driving I do notice the voltmeter on numerous occassions well stay at about +15 volt charging rate. I know that it should be no higher than about +13.5 volts, and sometimes it does, but most times, not. I am concerned about a possible fire danger and being stranded somwhere. I am an aircraft a&p. My trouble shooting thoughts point to a starter shorting. I could be wrong but I would start there and prove that not to be the problem. Easiest fix first, the air force way.