RoadVitals

2008 Hummer H3 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest May 29, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 113 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Hummer H3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed May 29, 2024

The last dealership I went to they advised to come th the dealership but when I got there nobody wasn’t trying to work there instead the said that it was going to be hard to work on it cause nobody work on those cars anymore and then they said they were going to order the part but never call me back for it. Call them but gave me the runaround basically.

NHTSA ID
11591369
Incident
May 29, 2024
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 4, 2024

Engine was replaced at 163,000 miles now at 168,000 miles the frame is rusted beyond repair and is about to give at any moment nothing really left near rear axels. This could have definitely caused a horrible accident to myself or others having a big car just give way and collapse. Took it to mechanic who warned me first then next day took it to body shop that said nothing could be done. Basically both said get rid of it for parts as fast as you can and don’t look back. After the body shop guy actually showed me the rusted out areas i was scared to even drive it like the 10miles back to my house. It sucks after spending all that money on an engine and now having this issue and now having to buy a new car.

NHTSA ID
11569854
Incident
Dec 29, 2023
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2024

exhaust leaking in cab of the car .Exhaust bolts broke or manifold cracked problem i heard about on line .on a long trip could make you passout with the fumes .please check it out .on most inline 5 cyclinder engines GM makes .Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11566001
Incident
Dec 15, 2023
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start up without warning. The contact stated that after waiting ten minutes the vehicle started. The contact stated that recently the failure had become more frequent. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

NHTSA ID
11508611
Incident
Oct 31, 2008
Mileage
1,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Hummer H3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal knocking sound was coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure worsened while driving at highway speeds. The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and notified them about the failure. The contact was informed by both that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11490662
Incident
Aug 1, 2022
EngineFuel system
Filed May 9, 2021

THE ANTILOCK SAFETY IS PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING MY VEHICLE. WHEN IT DOES START, AND I GO TO AN INTERSECTION TO TURN THE TRUCK WILL THEN STALL OUT. IT CAN CAUSE A WRECK. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, TIME CONSUMING, AND MONEY CONSUMING WHEN I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES TO TRY TO START MY TRUCK, OR IT DOESN'T START, I HAVE TO REPLACE IT FOR $450+ WHICH I DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF IT DOES LET IT START I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT WILL STALL OUT ON ANY GIVEN SECOND CAUSING A CATASTROPHE!!! THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON THEIR VEHICLES. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11415729
Incident
May 9, 2021
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 12, 2020

RADIATOR HAS A 8 INCH HORIZONTAL HAIR LINE CRACK THAT LETS THE COOLANT LEAK. THE CRACK IS ON TOP RIGHT CORNER( DRIVERS SIDE). THE RADIATOR TOP IS MADE FROM PLASTIC THAT IS PRONE TO CRACKING DUE TO FRAMEWORK BUMPING INTO IT CAUSING STRAIN ON RADIATOR TOP WHICH AFTER TIME CAUSES THE TOP RIGHT CORNER TO ESTABLISH A HAIRLINE CRACK AND CAUSE THE COOLANT TO LEAK. MANY HUMMER H3 VEHICLES OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF HAVING HAIRLINE CRACKS IN TOP RIGHT CORNER. HUMMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL HUMMER OWNERS RADIATORS AT NO COST, DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE TOP RIGHT RADIATOR BUMPS INTO THE FRAMEWORK CAUSING STRESS ON IT AND CRACKING. GM HAS UPDATED THE RADIATOR TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT SHOWED INTEREST IN SAYING THAT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE. WHY WOULD THEY ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO THOUSANDS OF HUMMER H3 OWNERS IF THEY KNOW THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH THEY ARE AWARE OF. MY HUMMER H3 ONLY HAS 24,400 MILES IN IT AND STREET DRIVEN ONLY HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO SOON.I HAD IT CHECKED BY MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND TO CONTACT GM REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11374347
Incident
Nov 9, 2020
Mileage
24,400 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 29, 2018

THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. LUCKILY, EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO ERROR LIGHTS THAT CAME UP ON BOTH OCCASIONS OF THIS HAPPENING. THE BATTERY CONTINUE TO DIE, EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 6 MONTHS!

NHTSA ID
11098497
Incident
May 21, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 29, 2017

CYLINDER 5 HEAD IS BAD

NHTSA ID
10969429
Incident
Mar 24, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 3, 2016

THE SECURITY LOCK SYSTEM ON MY HUMMER H3 INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES DURING START CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT CRANK. NORMALLY I HAVE TO WAIT 10 TO 20 MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM TO RESET ITSELF AND SHE STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT TODAY IT'S BEEN 8 HOURS. FINALLY I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TO THE GM DEALERSHIP. WE GOT LUCKY TODAY. AT 10AM MY WIFE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING INTO LABOR, WE GET TO THE TRUCK AND NO START. JUST A FLASHING SECURITY LOCK SYMBOL FLASHING AT ME. ENDED UP USING HER CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN, WHAT IF HER WATER HAD BROKE OR MY SON WAS NEEDING MEDICAL ATTENTION. I KNOW GM KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM ONLINE. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS MADE TO.

NHTSA ID
10872435
Incident
Jun 3, 2016
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V421000 (VISIBILITY), THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT TWO BOLTS LOCATED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WERE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, CARBON MONOXIDE WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10865560
Incident
May 14, 2016
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2015

UPPER RAIL RUBBED AGAINST THE PLASTIC TANK ON THE RADIATOR, CREATING A CREASE THAT FRACTURED, SPRAYING RADIATOR FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. TECH ADVISED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FAULTY BECAUSE THE RAIL WAS INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE RADIATOR. HE SHIMMED IT TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10732959
Incident
Feb 12, 2014
Mileage
77,079 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE WAS VERY HIGH. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POURED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 08/10/15*BF

NHTSA ID
10727057
Incident
Jun 21, 2015
Mileage
74,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2015

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED HEAVY SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE.. I TOOK TO LOCAL SHOP AND WE NOTICED ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER ENGINE. RADIATOR HAD CRACK ON TOP. AFTER RESEARCH I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH OTHER HUMMER OWNERS SAME ISSUE. HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR. MECHANIC SAID THER RADIATOR RUBS AND BOUNCES AGAINST THE FRAME CAUSING CRACK.

NHTSA ID
10726316
Incident
Apr 24, 2015
Mileage
68,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2014

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND STALL OUT AFTER STARTING FROM A GREEN LIGHT. IT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. AFTER THIS, THE ENGINE QUIT MISFIRING AND BEGAN TO HAVE AN AUDIBLE WHINE COME FROM UNDER THE GEAR SHIFTER. THIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AS AN INTERMITTENT MISFIRE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. AFTER EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC, IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ENGINE A BOLT HOLDING IN PLACE ONE OF THE BALANCERS WORKED ITSELF FREE. THE ENTIRE BOLT WAS DISPLACED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION AND THE THREADS WERE PROTRUDING OUT OF THE PLATE BEHIND THE FLYWHEEL IN THE AREA OF THE REAR MAIN SEAL CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN OIL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED, MULTIPLE COMPONENTS APPEARED DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE BOLT GETTING STUCK IN ONE OF THE INTERNAL CHAINS. THE WHINING NOISE WAS A RESULT OF THE CHAIN RUBBING AGAINST THE REMAINS OF THE BOLT THAT WAS LODGED AND PARTIALLY EXPELLED FROM THE LOWER REAR OF THE MOTOR. FINALLY, TO BE CLEAR, THIS INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A BOLT BEING IMPROPERLY TORQUED, MACHINED OR THE BALANCER BEING IMPROPERLY MACHINED AND MATCHED FOR THE BOLT. AGAIN, THE ENTIRE BOLT (INCLUDING THREADS) WAS FREE FROM THE COMPONENT IT WAS INSTALLED IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10655114
Incident
Nov 7, 2014
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 21, 2013

MY RADIATOR CRACKED AND I WAS TOLD AND HAVE READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE H3 HUMMERS AND CHEVY COLORADO . *TR

NHTSA ID
10553231
Incident
Oct 21, 2013
Mileage
76,212 mi
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Apr 8, 2013

RADIATOR END TANK RUPTURED RELEASING COOLANT ON EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD AND GETTING ON THE WINDSHIELD. RESEARCH OF THIS FINDS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FACTORY RADIATOR WHICH GM REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION ON. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507498
Incident
Apr 5, 2013
Mileage
62,200 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2013

THE RADIATOR HAD A CRACK IN IT WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HH3,IN 6-2011 WHICH WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW FACTORY RADIATOR. IT IS NOW MARCH 0F 2013 AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CRACK IN THE RADIATOR. WE CONTACTED" SAVVY" GOODYEAR IN LONG BEACH ,NEW YORK WHO REPLACED THE FIRST ONE AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED. REALLY DOES A RADIATOR ONLY LAST 2 YEARS. THEY INDICATED THAT GMC WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT. I SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL VEHICLES SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID
10503801
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2013

I BOUGHT A 2008 HUMMER H3 FOUR MONTHS AGO AT 49,956 MILES, WHEN LAST WEEK I NOTICED I HAD A BAD COOLANT LEAK CAUSING THE FLUIDS TO REMAIN ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, THE FAN SHROUD, ETC. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM BECAUSE ITS A 48 MILES DRIVE AND DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF ANYTHING OVERHEATING. TOOK IT IN ON FRIDAY MORNING GOT IT BACK MONDAY AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS TOLD THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE WHEN THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED IT ON FRIDAY WAS 52,547. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503728
Incident
Mar 15, 2013
Mileage
52,547 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2012

CRACK IN THE RADIATOR, HAD IT REPLACED AT A INDEPENDENT SHOP NOT KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODAL HUMMER. DEFINATLY A FLAW SOMEWHERE ON GMS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481194
Incident
Mar 22, 2012
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2012

RADIATOR HAS CRACKED DUE TO MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10480917
Incident
Oct 10, 2012
Mileage
65,355 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 25, 2012

I HAVE A 08 HUMMER H3 AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE A CRACKED RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52,891 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ALOT TO THE 07 AND 08 HUMMER H3. I THINK WE NEED A RECALL ON THIS. ALL OF THE FORUMS I HAVE SEEN HAVE HAD THEIRS CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE. ALL ON TOP OF THE RADIATORS. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO. I KNOW PERSONALLY I AM TIRED OF SOMETHING GOING WRONG ON THIS. FIRST WAS THE RACK AND PINION WITH ONLY 50,844 MILES AND NOW THIS. COME ON ITS TIME FOR A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10476991
Incident
Sep 24, 2012
Mileage
52,891 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .