Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2008 Hummer H2 with NHTSA between 2010 and 2025.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 7
Against the median year of the Hummer H2. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 24
14% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2008 Hummer H2
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
220.0%
Median failure at 56,746 miles
Electrical System
220.0%
Median failure at 72,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
220.0%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Median failure at 118,600 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Median failure at 10 miles
Brakes
110.0%
Airbags
110.0%
Median failure at 114,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
114.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
114.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
228.6%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
342.9%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2010peak 3Mar 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 Hummer H2
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA08010Opened 12 Jun 2008Closed 8 Sep 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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...
PE08010Opened 4 Feb 2008Closed 12 Jun 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
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...
Recalls on the 2008 Hummer H2
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 201018999,000 units in Canada
Accessories
On certain vehicles equipped with a Heated Washer Fluid System (HWFS), a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. A repair was implemented in a recall in 2008, however, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on heated washer fluid system modules after this improvement was installed. This situation may cause some minor distortion, but also could lead to melting of the plastic around the heated washer fluid system, or cause a fire. Correction: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page will be provided and inserted in the Owner Manual to document the removal of the feature.
Recall 200831354,431 units in Canada
Other
On certain vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system, a short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire. This situation may cause other electrical features to malfunction which could cause smoke and in some cases a fire. Correction: Dealer will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse.
Recall 20072714 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles the ABS wheel speed sensor wiring harnesses may be reversed, which may result in vehicle instability and extended stopping distances under certain circumstances. Correction: Dealers will correct the wheel speed sensor wiring and reprogram the brake control module.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Homestead, FL
POWER TRAIN
P code P0872 6L50/6L80/6L90 - Automatic Transmission
NHTSA complaint #11648738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homestead, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
P code P0872 6L50/6L80/6L90 - Automatic Transmission
NHTSA complaint #11648738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homestead, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
P code P0872 6L50/6L80/6L90 - Automatic Transmission
NHTSA complaint #11648738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,000 milesColchester, VT
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2008 Hummer H2. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel at start up. The next day, the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts and the air bag warning light remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was eventually able to start the vehicle and took the vehicle to the dealer. The failure continued while in the possession of the dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was caused by moisture leaking from the windshield into the air bag module. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #11430460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesWinchester, VA
POWER TRAIN
EARLY FAILURE OF 6L80 TRANSMISSION AT 110K MIKES CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED PER MANUAL. VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. 4 PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE WITH NOTHING IN TOW AND NO EXTRA CARGO. IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AFTER STARTING OFF, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. DRIFTED TO SIDE OF ROAD, BUT ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK AND WOULD HAVE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED 1 SECOND EARLIER. GM HAS REDESIGNED THE FAILURE POINTS OF PUMP, TEHCM AND VALVES, FAILURE OCCURS WITH NO WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10943985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,600 milesCypress, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON JANUARY 2015 GENERAL MOTORS PUBLISHED A BULLETIN NO:14515B PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL ABOUT FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL MODULE. MY VEHICLE STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE WITH THIS PART ON APRIL 19, 2016 AND I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I BELIEVED IS UNFAIR THAT THEY ARE NOT COVERING MY VEHICLE UNDER THIS RECALL AND I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR EMAIL [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10860695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H2. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HEATER/VENT/AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON AND FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V421000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,492. UPDATED 2/4/16 UPDATED 4/23/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10783397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesBarstow, CA
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THE GLASS FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR GLASS FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10618609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesBarstow, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HUMMER H2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THE GLASS FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR GLASS FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10618609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesLAS Vegas, NV
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS ON AVERAGE, WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOW...USUALLY 2-3 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR WILL SURGE THE RPMS UP ABOUT 1,500. THIS REQUIRES YOU TO IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKE AGGRESSIVELY. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT.
NHTSA complaint #10312555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.