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Exterior lightingPart report

2008 GMC Acadia Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
47about this part
Share
6%of 854 total for the year
Median mileage
87,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 GMC Acadia, 6% of the 854 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,000 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Known issue with daytime running lights on Gmc Acadia, but we were not notified. Assembly can cause melting of housing and has done so to our left headlight assembly. If headlight were to burnout, we'd have to replace the entire assembly (we were quoted $1700 to do so). We cannot financially afford to do this and are concerned that this could cause a fire or melting of other parts.”

NHTSA complaint #10954821, filed 2017-02, 160,000 miles

“The running lights burn out frequently. Not at the same time. Each one we've replaced at least 4 times, which is way too much. We are using good quality bulbs too. Now the inside of the headlight assembly is melted where the bulb socket itself snaps in so we can't keep the socket and bulb in its place. The replacement headlight assembly is not cheap for this vehicle”

NHTSA complaint #10853331, filed 2016-04, 83,440 miles

“Headlamp wiring melted the headlamp module and bulb receptacle there was no fire but there could have been I was informed there was a service directive on this that expired on 12/31 but I still had to pay $240 to have it repaired when I googled the problem I found multiple complaints about this defect. I feel it is something you should look into.”

NHTSA complaint #10588582, filed 2014-05, 88,000 miles

“I was driving my 2008 Gmc Acadia slt in the evening, and when I switched from high beams to low beams, everything went black. I thought maybe my bulbs had burnt out, so took it to the dealership the next day. To my surprise, they discovered that the bulbs had melted the connectors, as well as the wiring harness, and everything has to be replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10390580, filed 2011-03, 44,300 miles

“While it was raining outside, I was sitting in the back seat and happened to look up and saw water/ rain trickling out from around the rear interior overhead light, it was also coming in around the sensor in the overhead. The trickle eventually slowed down to a drip. In my opinion, water and electricity don't mix.”

NHTSA complaint #10473302, filed 2012-09, 68,662 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202557%
2024610%
202312%
202212%
202111%
202011%
2019103%
201821%
2017254%
201631%
2015104%
2014204%
2013107%
2012217%
20113814%
2010247%
20093811%
2008476%
2007154%

Other parts of the 2008 GMC Acadia

Transmission and drivetrain
279 complaints
Electrical system
153 complaints
Air bags
150 complaints
Steering
133 complaints
Engine
124 complaints
Body and structure
87 complaints
Other or unknown
66 complaints
Electronic stability control
57 complaints
Vehicle speed control
36 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
34 complaints
Brakes
31 complaints
Engine cooling
20 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 GMC Acadia

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology