Problems with 2008 GMC Acadia AIR BAGS

Air bag lights on dash came on saying "service airbag", took to my mechanic and he read the codes which came back as 20 & 81 for the main passenger side airbag. he said it means it's not getting a reading and possible solutions were either the sensor or module for the airbag needing replacement. he advised me it was very dangerous because the airbag is essentially not working and if an accident were to occur that it would probably not deploy. he also stated only a certified dealership could fix it and they want $150 just to diagnose the problem even though i've already had it diagnosed. i feel anything having to do with airbags on a vehicle should be taken care of by the manufacturer whether or not the vehicle is under warranty, especially since no one will repair them besides a dealership and that is a huge safety issue. people can die!

My wife fell asleep ran off the road struck a utility pole and a large dirt embankment. the air bags did not deploy nor did the belt tensioners,she hit the steering column so hard she it broke the column and broke her sternum. our granddaughter was in the front passenger seat the air bag nor the tennsioners deployed resulting her back being broken in two places and also her foot was broken. i contacted general motors and they sent a man to download the computer information they sent me a copy of the info and later contacted me saying the info showed everything was working properly. pryor to the accident i had the auto in for the recall on this problem. i also had it in for another recall for the headlights and they had to remove a large part of the front to do the repair and done a poor job of putting it back together i returned it and they finally got it right,in the mean time the service air bag light came on and they repaired that.later after the accident i went back to the dealer and questioned the body shop manager about putting it back together properly and then told him about the accident then he had nothing else to say. the auto was a total loss after a length of time wife and granddaughter got out of hospital. this car was recalled for this very reason. my insurance company paid my granddaughter $95,000 for her injuries and commented that they would probably sue gm to get that back.

Car would not start and had to jump off. when i did this i went to turn off and had the key out and the car kept running for around a minute before finally stalling. did this several times with the same result. i then took it to dealership. after a day they called and informed me that the windshield was allowing water in at the passenger side and fuse panel under glove box was full of water and corroded. they advised a new windshield as mine had a small star crack in it and needed to be resealed. that along with recommending a new fuse panel. they checked all drain lines for sunroof and said they were fine. paid the bill for this at $799.58 with assurance that water issue was fixed. well one week later and the first rain since after sitting in light rain for 2 hours and driving 20 minutes i noticed water dripping into both floorboards from a post. i will be taking back to dealership tomorrow with them still not aknowledging anything about water problems.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the vehicle of the contact's sister was rear ended by a drunk driver at a traffic light. the contact discovered that the driver seat was fractured and the seat detached from its springs and hinges. the air bags failed to deploy. the contact sustained lower back and face injuries that required medical attention. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to a towing company and the insurance company had possession of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 83,000.

There are many recalls on this vehicle. did dealership says that they fix them and yet they're still not resolved. these issues include the electrical system, the airbag system, the stabilitrak system, issues with water leaking through the sunroof, l]]as well as water leaking into the interior lights. there are also issues with liftgate working correctly. all of these are issues with my acadia. i need to know what to do to handle this properly. this car has turned into a death trap. i have been trying for years to get these things resolved. i have got to run around the entire time.

I purchased this vehicle, and was told there were no active recalls and nothing wrong with vehicle, the dealership supposedly had took it through a hundred point inspection, immediately, the air bag light came on, it started losing anti-freeze and the check engine light came on , after several trips to the service dept at this toyota dealership, i am still having issues, they fixed the small things like the water pump, the rear wiper blade, electrical but the engine light still comes on and i had it checked out and it is the transmission, it is going out, and the air bag (service air bag soon) is still on, but was supposedly fixed by a recall in 2011, either it was a bad part, or it was not serviced at all. i have been driving for 40 years and i have always been a loyal gm owner, especially the buick lasabre which i drove for 15 years, but i am not happy with the quality of this vehicle and the dealership that i purchased it at, and they are rated by the bbb as a. i also do not like the fact that on gm commercials it states non gm owners,like come on in, we will take care of non gm owners but not the loyal ones. i think it very important to stick with american brands and love gm, just very dissatisfied with this one. i think gm should fix this car, the air bag and especially the transmission!!!!updated 11/10/15 *bf

My boyfriend was driving our vehicle i was sitting in the passenger seat with the seatbelt on. i turned around to help my daughter and the airbag light turned off. contacted the dealer where i bought it 2/13/15 and they told me since they already did fixes on it they will not be fixing this. contacted gmc and they off assistance to fix the sensor. total cost to get fixed 810 dollars. pretty pissed off. haven't even had the vehicle a month yet. *tr

2008 gmc acadia. consumer requests repairs for his airbag light and the steering. *ta the consumer stated the power steering would go in and out, and the vehicle became difficult to steer. the consumer was informed the air bag recall, did not include his vehicle. *jb

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 gmc acadia. while driving approximately 35 mph, there was a deer in the road and the contact swerved to avoid a crash. as a result, the steering wheel seized and the contact crashed into a tree. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed. the contact sustained a sprained neck and knee injury that required medical attention. the vehicle was destroyed. the approximate failure mileage was 159,000.

Safety recall notice received may 2014 for the air bags. took car in to crest chevrolet o 10/27/14 to fix air bags. the service air bag light stayed on after i got the car back. a month later, i received a letter from crest stating that some wiring was not done right and i was asked to bring the car back. i took the car in 11/14 to have the wiring fixed. i took the car in on 12/11/14 to fix the air bags because the service air bag light was on and to get the car smogged. when i got the car back, the service air bag light stayed on and now the check engine symbol was on. i took the car back in on 1/6/15 and was told that the air bag sensor on the passenger side was not working and it would cost approximately $800 to fix it!! i was also told that the check engine symbol was on because of a intake manifold tuning valve was the problem and "it didn't have anything to do with being smogged". funny, the obd symbol wasn't on when i took the car in to be smogged. *tr

It had rained the night before and i came out to start my car and noticed that my driver side airbag was leaking water and there was a puddle of water on the floor board and water was dripping from my emergency brake. it has done this several times since then and i'm afraid my airbag won't work properly if i was ever in a wreck. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated the air bag warning light illuminated. the contact stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v118000 (air bags). the vehicle was taken to a dealer and was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 85,000.

My vehicle was recalled in 2010 and the connector under the seat was checked. now there is a new recall to remove the connector. dealer states since i had the 2010 recall i must pay to have the 2014 recall done. the check air bag light has come on. *tr

The passenger sensing system is not working properly. sometimes it will indicate that it is on and other times it will indicate that it is off even when someone who weighs over 140 pounds sits on the passenger seat. it won't indicate that the person doesn't have their seatbelt on. even if driving and person has been sitting, it won't turn on. if an accident occurs the airbags will not go off because it doesn't sense correctly. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that the vehicle was serviced for nhtsa campaign number: 14v118000 (air bags) but the air bag warning light remained illuminated. the dealer discovered that the passenger presence sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

Started car air bag light on now it won't go off. gmc said my 2008 is not on the recall list. rt rear spring also broke tire pressure light also stays on. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under recall nhtsa campaign number: 14v118000 (air bags). the vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileage was 84,000. updated 08/19/14*lj updated 08/23/2017*ct

for several months, the front passenger air bag warning light would illuminate, and the message center would display 'check air bag'. two weeks ago, it became not intermittent, but constant. i took the car to my gmc dealer and was told $735 repair - air bag passenger pressure module needs replacing. there are hundreds (if not thousands) of the same problem reported on various internet site, blogs etc. gm has a supplier problem with this part, and it needs to be investigated. i purchased this vehicle new and have countless problems with this vehicle. *tr

Gmc stated my vehicle vin is not part of the recent recall on the harness for the airbag and safety restraint system. my 2008 gmc acadia began showing symptoms of the system. the passenger airbag light would go off intermittently when an adult was seated. i took the vehicle in and was told gm was recalling the vehicles for the issue. i took it to the gmc dealership in october to have the work done and was told that it was not my vin was not in the recall. i told the dealership to fix the problem and tell me what was done to correct the issue. they stated that the recall was done and it fixed. i spoke with gmc for reimbursement and they said the vehicle is not subject. my concern is that they have not identified the vehicles that have the problem completely and they are not willing to take any action to identify the extent of this previously identified problem. *tr

My passenger side airbag only shows that it is "on" about half the time that someone is sitting in the passenger seat. it seems like it works for someone over 200 lbs., but hardly ever works for someone less than 150 lbs. most of the time when my 150 lb. 14-yr-old is seated in the passenger seat, the passenger side airbag displays, "off." this occurs while driving or stationary. i have called gm and they won't pay for fixing it, but highly recommend that i pay to have it fixed.

Received 'service air bag' warning from the dashboard driver information center. passenger air bag indicator on center console indicates 'off' when 160 lb person is seated in the passenger seat. *tr

I bought my 2008 acadia in october 2013. in february, the check airbag light came on the dash. i took the acadia to glynn smith, and they told me that i had a faulty driver side airbag and airbag switch. i paid $717.70 for the new airbag and new airbag switch. soon after, gmc started doing the recalls on the airbags. my acadia is not one of the listed recalled vehicles. i do not understand this. it is now the end of july, and the check airbag light is on again. i have been back to glynn smith and it is the same code this time. i have another faulty driver side airbag and airbag switch. gmc needs to recall every 2008 acadia. i have also been dealing with problems with the power steering. one day driving, i started to make a turn, and the power steering went out. it was like turning a really old model car that had no power steering. this problem continues today. gmc tells me that there is nothing wrong with the power steering. they cannot find the problem, yet i know for sure something is wrong. the 2008 gmc acadia is not a safe car. i have small children, and i do not feel safe driving with them and the check airbag light still on. my family is very upset with gmc as a company!! safety should be the main concern before selling any vehicle. i see that many other people have had the same problems with their acadia. i think that gmc should do the right thing, the most ethical thing, and recall the entire line of the 2008 gmc acadia. the 2008 acadia is a piece of crap!!!!!! *js

The service passenger airbag light comes on and off during driving. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated intermittently. the dealer stated that the passenger presence module needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 46,927.

Airbag seat connectors and airbag replaced after service airbag light came on. this should have been included in the 2008 gmc acadia recall #102606/gm #14030 and for some reason this particular vehicle was not. this recall needs to be expanded to all 2008 gmc acadias!! *js

Approximately the first of november 2013, i had picked up my mom to go shopping with me and i very seldom have a passenger with me and happen to look up and notice the light on the airbag light that says on or off was off !!! she weighs about 135# and so i noticed we went into the store and came out and it then registered on!!! so i watched this for the next few weeks and it continued!! sometimes on and sometimes off! so when i went in for an oil change at bergstroms i had them check it out and they said it could be corrosion on the plugs under the seat but that wasn't the problem! so they said with a big man in it registered like an infant sitting there! said it would cost $800 to replace it!!! this car is in like new condition and i do not have a daily passenger! i'm thinking that may have been defective since day one!!! thank god i didn't get in a collision and lose a loved one ! this would be a huge lawsuit!!!! i am gonna see if gmc will pay for this fix! any other questions call me at[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

While driving the car, i felt water drip from overhead and heard sloshing noises. shortly thereafter, water began leaking from airbag indicia. though the vehicle was turned off and key removed, the engine continued to run. imagine how unsafe to turn off a vehicle, remove the key and the engine to remain running. before i could get to service, the temperature plummeted to below zero, and i could not get the defroster to work. i scraped the interior of the windows, but without heat, fogged again. zero visibility. the dealer said there were multiple points where water was seeping into the car, wreaking havoc with the electrical system, including hvac, defroster. service tech said there was "blower mower" failure. after some research, i discovered my vehicle had same problems as gmc acadia campaign 08207, with failure of sunroof part 25930220, which affected limited vin numbers. we also discovered the airbags are not working from the water damage to the electrical system. the current status of this getting repaired is unknown -- obvious safety concerns! in addition, i had noticed floor mats being damp, but assumed a consequence of the snow and rain. i am convinced that the leak/damp floor mats is reason for the mildew/mold smell. each of these problems are well documented in their tsbs. i was also shocked to find so many similar complaints! please, please review the correlation between tsbs electrical system failures and repairs to the leaking hose. of course, gmc denies this is their problem, and says repairs will all be at my expense. finally, i am not the first person to have this problem! surely, the fact that i (and many, many others) are having the exact leak problems as referenced in gmc campaign 08207 indicates that problem went beyond those vin#s. they are hiding a big problem. help!! *tr

Contacted local gmc dealership today (10/27/14) asking about recent airbag recall and why we haven't received a recall letter. i need to get this fixed as: passenger airbag light goes on/off intermittently while adult male (180 lb)/adult female (140 lb)/teenage boy (120 lb) are sitting in the passenger seat. now a service airbag message is also displayed. the gmc dealership stated my vin is not part of the recent airbag safety recall, yet the symptoms my vehicle exhibit are the same as other vehicles covered within the scope of the recall. after research, it is evident that all 2008 gmc acadias should be covered by the airbag system recall(s). *tr

Intermittent "service airbag" light. started coming on in late october of 2013. i purchased the vehicle used on october 17, 2013. for the last several months, the indicator light has been on every time i start the vehicle. *tr

Had a difficult time getting appt. to fix airbag which was recalled. when they fixed it, the airbag light was still on, so they said that i have to pay the $600.00 to repair the side airbag. i have read online about innumerable problems with the acadia 2008 airbags, just like mine. you go in to have the recall fixed and there are problems with the other airbags. i am going to consult an attorney about a class action suit since there are so many of us with this exact problem. it's ridiculous to pay for something that is supposed to keep you safe but in actuality may harm you if it is not taken care of. *tr

While sitting in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag light will come on, noting that the airbag is no longer activated. a message will also come up on the driver's messaging screen stating to service airbag. when the vehicle was brought in, i was told that i needed a new software module for my vehicle. i was told that there is a chance that if we were in an accident the passenger airbags would not deploy. i find it hard to believe that a 5-6 year old vehicle should already need its airbag module replaced.

Airbag passenger presence sensor failed despite limited seat use. repair cost almost $800.

Started the vehicle and immediately there was an air bag message warning message on the dash. there have already been many complaints regarding air bags on the nhtsa website with the same or similar issues. hopefully you can issue a recall to force gm to make it right since they will not take responsibility. there is also is an active recall on 2007 models so i believe it is a known issue and there should be a recall on 2008 models as well. this being a safety issue that many acadia owners are experiencing it definitely should be a recall. water also leaks from the roof. it comes in contact with electrical systems including wiring components for the air bag. i wonder if that has something to do with the airbag warning message. a lot of people also mentioned how the power steering makes a loud whining noise. i have that problem as well. you can even feel it in the steering wheel because the noise is so loud it creates a vibration. i believe like there is a lack of responsibility on gm's part for not correcting known issues. *tr

Passenger air bag sensor in passenger seat non-functional. intermittently, passenger air bag system will deactivate with adult passenger on seat. by 2013 was nearly continuously not functioning. less than 50k miles. recall was performed (wires soldered). no change after recall. dealer states that sensor module defective ($800 repair). currently in shop waiting for parts. *tr

Problem #1 of 3: during heavy rains, water would leak in through the sun visors on both sides. took it to the dealership several times. they said the drain tubes from the sunroof were clogged, they blew it out, when that didn't work, they charged me to put it longer tubes, when that didn't work, they said it was because they only replaced the front tubes, not the back. problem #2 of 3: when driving through water puddles at low speed i lose power steering for a brief time (which is troublesome when turning). problem #3 of 3: two warning lights for airbags come on everytime i start the vehicle. i can push a button each time to make the written warning go away, but the red light with a picture stays on. not sure if the airbags would deploy or not. *tr

I had my vehicle checked for the airbag light that was consistently on in the 2008 gmc acadia. it was found to defective and out of warranty. my concern is that the vehicle hasn't even been used for more than five years and the part is no longer effective. shouldn't the part last longer than five years? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the airbag warning light illuminated. the failure occurred on multiple occasions. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the airbag sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

1. transmission going out at 67k miles and appears to be very prevalent with this make and model of vehicle. very dangerous as the car will not go into gear at any given time and basically leaves you stuck in neutral in the middle of a busy highway. 2. service air bag light stays on after dealership claims to have fixed the problem. if in a crash, have no idea if we will be protected. not a comfortable feeling. *tr

Had to wait to give my daughter a ride. sat in the pouring rain for about 40 minutes. put the car in drive and began to pull forward and water poured down the windshield from the inside. water also came in from the front left curtain airbag and the visor arm. engine began to idle rough. anti-lock brakes grab on low speed slow down. our area of texas is drought prone so no more significant rain until july 14-16. water pours in the front windshield, both driver and passenger side. water from curtain airbags and under the dash. standing water in the floor board. obd light is on and my parking break warning light turns on and off. park assist goes on and off. the warning chime comes on while driving and won't turn off. no telling how much damage all of this will cause. i have one more payment until the thing is mine free and clear. no warranty and no recourse. it figures. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph, another vehicle traveling 40 mph crashed into the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the manufacturer was notified but they offered no assistance. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 92,532.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle was involved in a front end crash in which no air bags deployed. a police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 132,653.

Tl*the contact owns a a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the service air bag warning light illuminated and was also displayed across the message board. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the technician diagnosed that the air bag sensor underneath the front passenger seat needed to be repaired. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 100,000.

My wife was driving the vehicle and approached a stop sign. once she tried going again the car would not accelerate and we had to tow it to the dealer. they said the transmission went out @ 68,000 miles? also the waterpump, powersteering pump. master cylinder, as well as something with an air bag connector. the air bag connector has been going on and off for the last two years since we bought it two years ago as a gm certified pre-owned vehicle. i am not sure how this vehicle has not been recalled. *tr

My service air bag light came on & has remained on. we took the car to our local dealership & paid to have it diagnosed. we were told that it is out or warranty & we would have to pay for it ourselves. the passenger presence module needed to be replaced. they also said that due to this, none of our airbags would deploy in the case of an accident. we spoke to the dealership and have written gmc in hopes that we would not have to pay close to $900 to fix this safety problem. no luck! have read many blogs with others having the same problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that when attempting to complete a sharp turn at low speeds, the power steering assist failed. the failure recurred frequently. the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated intermittenlty. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing and the dealer stated that the power steering pump was failing. there was also a defect found in the air bag but the exact part was unknown. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and they advised the contact that they would assist with partial repair costs. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 65,000. the current mileage was 75,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the instrument panel and the air bag warning light would shut off independently. also, the contact mentioned that the vehicle would provide false readings like door ajar when all doors were closed. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

While driving with a passenger in the front seat the airbag light would say that it was on. then after a few months it would go on and off as long as there was a passenger with me. now, for about 8 months the airbag light is off completely. i had the issue supposedly fixed in 2011 under a recall, but now it is malfunctioning again. when i took it in to the dealership, i had to pay for a diagnostic test and then they said that it was the side airbags. got it fixed for about $300.00. when i took it back and paid for another diagonstic test at the dealership, they told me that the issue was the passenger seat cushion which needs to be replace for a cost of $1,035.00. gmc please help. *js

The sunroof drainage tubes get clogged and leaked water which caused the fuse box in the dash to be filled with water. also flooding all the floors and the battery compartment inside the car. which in return causes the car to not shut off when you turn the key off and take it out. it also causes all kinds of sensors and check engine lights to come on on the dash like service airbag service stable track causes the traction control to turn off falsely tells you that engine oil needs changed also causes the battery to go dead for no reason also displays ac off engine hot

The passenger air bag sensor/light and warning light on the dash began to intermittently flash on and off at about 60k miles. depending on how your sitting in the front passenger seat, the passenger air bag light will flash on and off. we took the vehicle to the dealer where we purchased at about 71k miles. the service rep stated the problem was with the passenger presence sensor module and that it would need to be replaced. the cost to replace would be around $900. a quick online search noted multiple accounts of faulty passenger air bag sensors in these cars, not to mention that there is an active recall on the 2007 models for the air bag control module. we feel this is a safety issue that gm should have to address. *tr

Pps module bad. we got a letter from gmc that the airbag wires/connector terminal pins may be corroded. soon after we got the notice, the air bag warning light started coming on intermittently. we took the acadia in to dealership. they said the connectors are ok but now the passenger presence module needs replaced. of course not under warranty. when we left the dealership now the light is on full time and won't turn off. when i asked why the light is on full time they said now that they scanned the codes it may have caused it to stay on. *tr