KnownCarProblems2008 GMC Sierra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Sierra, most often about the air bags (43% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is 8th of 18 Sierra model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2008 GMC Sierra problems
Air bags
29 complaints · 43%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. Upon impact, the air bag did not deploy contributing to the injury of the contact. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 69,000.
My Sierra has the same problem that many other gm vehicles have. The dash is cracking, creating loose pieces. It is cracked at the airbag. This sharp edges could impair the proper function of the airbag. In the event of an accident, I am afraid the loose dash pieces could post a danger to the vehicles occupants.
Electrical
15 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles.
While driving pulling a boat trailer truck lost all power doors started locking and unlocking continually,all gauges and warning lights come on truck lost power and cuts off loosing breaking and steering, radio resets , speakers not working. Service traction control warning comes up service stabilatrac comes up …
All 4 door locks do not lock/unlock unless done manually. Big safety issue!!! Notice a lot of complaints on this maybe it is time for a recall.
Body and structure
12 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
My 2008 GMC dash is cracked in two places above the passenger side air bag. After searching on the internet this crack(s) are a chronic defect in the 07/08 general motors trucks and SUV's. No reason for these cracks, no impact, etc... There is a common concern the owners share that this defect could impact the…
The safety during a collision or airbag deployment from sharp plastic exposed due to the cracks in the dash cutting the airbag or shards of plastic becoming projectiles potentially causing injury to occupants. I just had a phone conversation with someone over at gm and they are going to contact the dealership…
Doors and locks
11 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
All of my power door locks are not working. This is a very dangerous situation when you have children in the back seat and they try to open the door while in transit. I have had the locks repaired once already while the truck was under warranty and now they are faulty again. This is not what I paid for when I chose to…
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while parked the contact noticed the door locks would not lock. When the doors were locked manually they would not open. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the door lock actuator needed to be replaced. The…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 4%Dashboard is cracking, part of this is around the airbag and I think it could be dangerous if the already defective air deploys it could send shards of broken dashboard into my or a passengers face, this is common in 2007-present trucks made by gm, they are aware of the problem but do not do anything about it even…
Crack dashboard there are so many of US facing the same problem dealers saying I have to pay which one cost to me around $800.00 when same problem with hundreds or thousands have the same problem
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 GMC Sierra recalls
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on june 11, 2010. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet traverse vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (hwfs). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the hwfs fluid chamb
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1-866-996-9436; or hummer at 1-800-732-5493; or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Non-crash engine compartment fires
Summary
In a letter dated august 27, 2008, general motors corp. (gm) notified NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall number 08v-441) to address a safety relateddefect that can result in engine compartment fire in approximately 850,000 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield washer fluid option.the subject vehicles of this investigation comprise over three-quarters of the recall population. According to gm, a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the windshield washer fluid heater module may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor or cause smoke and in rare cases it may cause a fire.as a remedy, gm
Non-crash engine compartment fires
Summary
In response to an information request letter sent by the office of defects investigation(odi) during preliminary evaluation pe08-010, gm provided odi with 41 allegations of non-crash engine compartment fires including 16 allegations of fires originating with the ignition in the off position.one of the fires was determined to be caused by an arson event.odi has also received 5 reports, 4 of which are of duplicative of reports provided by gm, alleging non-crash engine compartment fires in the subject vehicles.in total, odi is aware of 41 non-crashengine compartment fires in the subject vehicles that are unrelated to arson.eight of the 41 fire allegations also allege property damage as a result
Questions about the 2008 GMC Sierra
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Sierra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (29 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); electrical (15 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles); body and structure (12 complaints, typically around 59,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 GMC Sierra have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 4, 2010 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the GMC Sierra?
- It is 8th of 18 Sierra model years by number of complaints, with 68 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.