This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 GMC Acadia body problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 16 body complaints filed for the 2007 GMC Acadia, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a power lift-gate that is inoperative from all the switches and the keyless entry transmitter only with the ignition in the off position. Technician will need to check for battery voltage on circuit 5985 going to the Engine Control Module and to the Transmission Control Module.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty bulletin provides labor operation numbers for customer concerns that cant be duplicated.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician to replace the right hand lift-gate strut on 2007-2016 GMC Acadia and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook if a clunk or pop is heard. If the vehicle is an 2008-2016 Buick Enclave and 2009-2016 Chevrolet Traverse and If the struts are not weak and can hold the lift-gate open, the struts should NOT be replaced and this noise should be considered a normal condition. With the new strut installed the lift-gate noise should mimic levels currently heard on the 2009-2016 Traverse and 2008-2016 Enclave as some noise is still considered normal. Low ambient temperatures will still contribute to making this condition worse and the amount of noise ma
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water leaks plague this model from year one. Owners describe water pouring into the cabin through sunroof seals, roof drain systems, door seals, and pillars—soaking floorboards on both sides, pooling three inches deep, saturating carpets, and creating mildew that spreads throughout the interior. A few owners report water dripping directly from airbag housings and seatbelt areas, raising safety concerns. Dealers have attempted fixes dozens of times: resealing sunroofs, replacing drain tubes, sealing drain holes per service bulletins, even removing and resealing headliners. None stick. Water returns within weeks or months, even after rain-triggered water tests show "no problems." One owner had four separate repair attempts in eight months; another moved overseas and can't get the vehicle fixed. Electrical damage compounds the issue—batteries killed, doors opening on their own, warning lights, engine shutdowns, headlights failing. A recall addressed roof drain tubes, and GMC issued a technical service bulletin, but owners feel the root design flaw remains unresolved. Owners report dealers blaming incline parking or refusing warranty coverage once it expires. One liftgate failure injured an owner; the gate closes unexpectedly or fails to open even after a recall software update.
Same GMC Acadia body reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof and roof drain water leaks
Water enters the cabin through failed sunroof seals and roof drain system, pooling on floorboards, soaking carpets, and penetrating the dash. Owners report water coming from sunroof area, front and rear roof sections, windshield column on passenger side, and overhead light fixtures. Multiple repair attempts with resealing, drain hose replacement, and drain hole sealing fail to resolve the issue permanently; water returns within weeks or months of repair.
When: Occurs within first year of ownership and recurs for years; typically triggered by heavy rain or car wash; one owner reported it at 9,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water pooling on driver and passenger side floorboards; Water dripping from overhead lights and DVD player area; Water soaking through carpet and causing mildew odor; Water penetrating through windshield column; Water seeping into rear overhead light fixtures; Dash soaking wet; Interior mildew and mold smell
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repairs include resealing sunroof, replacing roof drain tubes, sealing drain holes per bulletin, removing and resealing headliner and sunroof frame, blowing out drain hoses, and applying gasket material. One owner paid $100 for drain tube fix. Repairs provide temporary relief only; leaks resume.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for bad roof drain tubes (owner #1 received recall notice, Feb 2009). Technical Service Bulletin issued for drain system (owner #2 mentions TSB issued but states GMC won't address actual problem). Warranty denial common after coverage expires. Some owners report dealership blamed incline parking or parking on slope despite water being observed leaking during vehicle washing.
Water intrusion through door seals and pillars
Water leaks into the cabin through door seals and A-pillar/C-pillar areas on both driver and passenger sides, saturating floorboards, seatbelt mechanisms, and creating pooled water with mildew formation. Occurs with light to severe rain and appears related to poor weatherstripping design.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership; one owner reported issue at 96,000 miles after regular maintenance inspection revealed three inches of standing water
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking from seatbelt area on passenger side; Water accumulating on driver and passenger side floorboards; Three inches of water pooling on floorboard per inspection; Water penetrating from interior pillars; Mildew and mold growth on carpet and interior
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had seals and gasket material applied by dealer; repair worked temporarily then failed. Another owner paid $100 for repair. Owner #5 reports carpet removal was necessary to inspect floorboard; vehicle was not repaired under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle at 96,000 miles not covered under any recall per owner #5 report; manufacturer offered no assistance. Owner #6 notes reading of multiple complaints with no manufacturer action.
Electrical system damage from water intrusion
Water penetrating the cabin and contacting electrical components, including seatbelt tensioners, airbag systems, battery, DVD systems, and light fixtures, causing electrical malfunction and safety concerns. Owner #2 specifically worried about airbag functionality when water leaks directly from airbag housing.
When: Develops as water leaks progress; one owner reports battery killed by water damage
Symptoms owners cite: Battery killed; Rear door opening on its own; Heat system not responding to front controls; Warning lights coming on; Headlights blowing constantly; Engine shutting off while driving; DVD system failure; Water leaking from airbag squares; Water leaking from emergency brake area
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repairs mentioned; owner #2 concerned this electrical damage could cause fire hazard.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #4 states if water gets into electrical system, it could cause potential electrical fire, injuries, traffic collisions, or death. Owner #2 notes GMC issued only TSB, not actual fix.
Rear liftgate inadvertent closure and failure to open
Electronic rear liftgate closes on its own after opening, or fails to open when activated. One owner sustained arm injury when liftgate closed unexpectedly. Issue persists even after recall repair in at least one case.
When: Unknown mileage for most; one owner at 70,652 miles, another at 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate closes automatically after being opened; Liftgate fails to open when activated; Problem worse in cooler weather (per owner #14); Recurring failure after repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #10 had door actuator software updated under recall but problem persisted. Owner #7 reports part for recall repair was unavailable and manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframe. Owner #14 paid $145 diagnostic fee; dealer refuses further service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V415000 (STRUCTURE) issued for liftgate; recall applied to these vehicles. Owner #7 received recall notification but part unavailable. Owner #10 had actuator software updated per campaign but failure recurred. Owner #14 had previous recall repair but problem returned.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 GMC acadia. The contact stated that water penetrated the driver side floor of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have an inspection performed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.
The vehicle leaks water on both the right and left floor boards and appears to be also coming down the back of the front dash. This occurs in light rain up to severe rain. It has been dealer repaired (sealed and gasket material applied) and that seamed to work the first time for a while and now it is leaking in the same place again. *tr
Had body trouble with your 2007 GMC Acadia?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2007 GMC Acadia?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 38,501 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 70,652. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,501; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/GMC/Acadia.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.