GMC Acadia 2007–2016 problems by year and mileage
1st generation · GM Lambda (GMT968)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20263,597 complaints, 2,545 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200778kmedian
- 200882kmedian
- 200975kmedian
- 201075kmedian
- 201169kmedian
- 201275kmedian
- 201383kmedian
- 201460k†median
- 201550k†median
- 201650k†median
The 2007 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 428
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2007
- Transmission and driveline184 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Steering76 reports · median 55,000 mi
- Airbag system64 reports · median 90,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2007: Structure — body; Electrical system; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2008 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 854
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2008
- Transmission and driveline279 reports · median 77,000 mi
- Electrical system153 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Airbag system150 reports · median 83,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2008: Structure — body; Air bags — side/window; Electrical system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2009 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 331
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2009
- Steering112 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline72 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Engine67 reports · median 98,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2009: Structure — body; Seat belts; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2010 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 343
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2010
- Steering148 reports · median 70,000 mi
- Engine74 reports · median 103,000 mi
- Electrical system45 reports · median 68,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2010: Structure — body; Seat belts; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 69,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 269
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2011
- Steering64 reports · median 63,000 mi
- Engine52 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Electrical system47 reports · median 75,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — critical fasteners; Structure — body; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 75,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 296
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2012
- Steering46 reports · median 73,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline43 reports · median 98,000 mi
- Body structure42 reports · median 62,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — critical fasteners; Structure — body; Seat belts. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 83,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 135
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2013
- Electrical system38 reports
- Airbag system29 reports
- Transmission and driveline27 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2013: Air bags — critical fasteners; Seat belts; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 60,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 462
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2014 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2014
- Airbag system246 reports · median 82,000 mi
- Electrical system90 reports · median 72,000 mi
- Engine45 reports · median 65,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2014: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Electrical system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 243
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Airbag system108 reports
- Steering31 reports
- Electrical system28 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2015: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Tires. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 GMC Acadia
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 236
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Airbag system130 reports
- Steering26 reports
- Electrical system25 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2016: Air bags — frontal; Air bags — critical fasteners; Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2013 reports latest and the 2015 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2013 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2007–2016 GMC Acadia reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 75,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 135,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,545
- Recalls
- 20
Most reported
- Airbag system22.5% of complaints · median 85,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline21.0% of complaints · median 79,000 mi
- Steering18.6% of complaints · median 69,000 mi
Documented problems
- Transmission2007–2009
- Engine2007–2012
- Engine2009–2012
- Steering2011–2012
Owners filed 3,597 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2016 GMC Acadia; the airbag system leads with 22.5% of them, and half of the 2,545 that record an odometer reading came by 75,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 49,000 and 102,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2007–2016 GMC Acadia last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2007–2016 GMC Acadia, half of the 2,545 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 75,000 miles and 90% by 135,000 miles.
153 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 21 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Acadia reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · GMC Acadia 2007–2016 · 2,545 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 139 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 21 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,000
- 25%
- 49,000
- Median
- 75,000
- 75%
- 102,230
- 90%
- 135,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 106 | 4.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 50 | 2.0% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 43 | 1.7% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 45 | 1.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 58 | 2.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 43 | 1.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 60 | 2.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 61 | 2.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 90 | 3.5% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 89 | 3.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 123 | 4.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 130 | 5.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 122 | 4.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 114 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 133 | 5.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 123 | 4.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 139 | 5.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 115 | 4.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 116 | 4.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 92 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 89 | 3.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 62 | 2.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 63 | 2.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 61 | 2.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 65 | 2.6% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 41 | 1.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 53 | 2.1% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 46 | 1.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 46 | 1.8% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 26 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 20 | 0.8% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 23 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 14 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 15 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 11 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 21 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Acadia problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · GMC Acadia 2007–2016
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Body structure233 reports65,00040,000–104,000Body structure: 233 reports, median 65,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 104,000 miles.
- Steering670 reports69,00050,000–90,000Steering: 670 reports, median 69,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline754 reports79,00059,000–101,000Transmission and driveline: 754 reports, median 79,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 101,000 miles.
- Electrical system571 reports80,00048,000–110,000Electrical system: 571 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Airbag system810 reports85,00055,000–120,000Airbag system: 810 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise251 reports85,00049,000–115,000Problems owners could not categorise: 251 reports, median 85,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 115,000 miles.
- Engine495 reports88,00063,000–117,000Engine: 495 reports, median 88,000 miles, middle half 63,000 to 117,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 810 | 22.5% | 85,000 | 55,000–120,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 754 | 21.0% | 79,000 | 59,000–101,000 |
| Steering | 670 | 18.6% | 69,000 | 50,000–90,000 |
| Electrical system | 571 | 15.9% | 80,000 | 48,000–110,000 |
| Engine | 495 | 13.8% | 88,000 | 63,000–117,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 251 | 7.0% | 85,000 | 49,000–115,000 |
| Body structure | 233 | 6.5% | 65,000 | 40,000–104,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 226 | 6.3% | 69,000 | 48,000–94,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 167 | 4.6% | 80,000 | 55,000–111,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 120 | 3.3% | 70,000 | 47,000–92,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 22.5% of complaints (810 reports, 315 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 120,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 21.0% of complaints (754 reports, 624 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 101,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 18.6% of complaints (670 reports, 577 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 15.9% of complaints (571 reports, 406 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 110,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 13.8% of complaints (495 reports, 385 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 88,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 63,000 and 117,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.0% of complaints (251 reports, 155 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,000 and 115,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2007–2016 Acadia
Transmission 2007–2009
6T70/6T75 3-5-Reverse wave plate fracture. The thin spring-steel wave plate that cushions the 3-5-R clutch apply fatigues and splits, first showing as a flare into 3rd or 5th gear, then loss of reverse and eventually burnt clutch material. GM extended the transmission warranty to 10 years/120,000 miles on affected vehicles.
Engine 2007–2012
3.6L V6 timing chain stretch. The original chain design combined with long oil change intervals lets the chains elongate, setting camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes P0008, P0016, P0017, P0018 and P0019, with a rattle on start-up and under acceleration. GM Special Coverage Adjustment 11340 extended timing chain coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles.
Engine 2009–2012
LLT direct injection brings high-pressure fuel pump failures and intake valve carbon deposits causing rough idle and misfire.
Steering 2011–2012
Power steering pump and pressure hose leaks causing loss of assist and whine.
Before you buy a 2007–2016 Acadia: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,545 mileage-tagged complaints, 20 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 20 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check transmission on 2007–2009 cars. 6T70/6T75 3-5-Reverse wave plate fracture. The thin spring-steel wave plate that cushions the 3-5-R clutch apply fatigues and splits, first showing as a flare into 3rd or 5th gear, then loss of reverse and eventually…
- Check engine on 2007–2012, most reported 2007–2010 cars. 3.6L V6 timing chain stretch. The original chain design combined with long oil change intervals lets the chains elongate, setting camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes P0008, P0016, P0017, P0018 and P0019, with a rattle…
- Check engine on 2009–2012 cars. LLT direct injection brings high-pressure fuel pump failures and intake valve carbon deposits causing rough idle and misfire.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 49,000 and 102,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 79,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Acadia problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi35% below | At 90k mi65% below | At 120k mi84% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 55,000–120,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 59,000–101,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 50,000–90,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 48,000–110,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 63,000–117,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 49,000–115,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 40,000–104,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · GMC Acadia 2007–2016 · 2,545 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 35% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 65% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (21) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2007–2016 GMC Acadia recalls (20)
NHTSA records 20 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), the electrical system (4), visibility equipment (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
May 2023 · 2014–2016 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick…
Apr 2022 · 2015 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the drivers air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300; Chevrolet…
Apr 2021 · 2011–2016 · Air BagsUnsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
What can happen. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick…
Dec 2015 · 2016 · SeatsIf the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds…
What can happen. If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet…
Sep 2015 · 2016 · VisibilityA wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.
What can happen. A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been…
Jun 2015 · 2007–2012 · StructureIf the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles…
What can happen. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The…
Jan 2015 · 2015 · TiresIf the tire treads crack, a loss of tire pressure and possible tire failure may result, increasing the risk…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 14, 2015, 2015 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured December 9, 2014, to January 20, 2015, and 2015 GMC Acadia vehicles…
What can happen. If the tire treads crack, a loss of tire pressure and possible tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires that were manufactured within a specific date range, free of charge. The rec all began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer…
Oct 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemIf the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and…
What can happen. If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick)…
May 2014 · 2009–2014 · Seat BeltsIf the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant…
The defect. General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008…
What can happen. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be…
Apr 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemAn inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured March 26, 2013, through August 15, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) software may cause the fuel…
What can happen. An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM to correct the fuel gauge reading, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300…
Mar 2014 · 2008–2013 · Air BagsFailure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side…
What can happen. Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner…
Feb 2014 · 2014 · Power TrainIf a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the…
What can happen. If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the…
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may…
Apr 2012 · 2011–2012 · VisibilityIf this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet traverse, Buick enclave, and GMC Acadia vehicles currently registered in alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan…
What can happen. If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Gm will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 20, 2012.
Aug 2010 · 2009–2010 · Seat BeltsThe safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to…
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet traverse, Buick enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles. The second row seat side trim shield restricts the upward rotation of the safety belt buckle when the seat back is returned to…
What can happen. The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The free fix. Dealers will modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers will replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2010. Owners may contact…
Jun 2010 · 2007–2009 · Electrical SystemIt is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
The free 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…
Mar 2009 · 2009 · Power TrainThe driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited…
The defect. General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet cobalt, HHR, malibu, traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac g5, g6 and Saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102…
What can happen. The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is…
Nov 2008 · 2009 · Seat BeltsIn a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the…
The defect. Gm is recalling 16,667 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet traverse, GMC Acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles for failing to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, 'Seat belt assemblies.' These vehicles may have been built…
What can happen. In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the safety belt buckles in the second and third rows, and replace them if necessary. The recall began on november 26, 2008. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Chevrolet…
Aug 2008 · 2007–2008 · Electrical SystemThis may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
The free 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…
Aug 2008 · 2007–2008 · VisibilityIf this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Gm is recalling 88,809 my 2008 Buick enclave, and my 2007-2008 GMC Acadia and Saturn outlook vehicles currently or previously registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland…
What can happen. If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Dealers will install a new wiper crank arm, driver's side link, and a crank arm nut. The recall began o october 13, 2008. Owners may contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, Saturn at…
Feb 2007 · 2007 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, this condition could increase the risk of injury to occupants in the front seat.
The defect. On certain vehicles, the sensing and diagnostic module (sdm), which controls the function of front air bags, may not operate properly. As a result, the front air bags may fail to deploy in a frontal crash. Also, the air bag warning lamp on the instrument…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, this condition could increase the risk of injury to occupants in the front seat.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the sdm computer module. This recall began on february 22, 2007. Owners may contact GMC at 1-866-966-9463 or Saturn at 1-800-972-8876.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 3,597 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 97 (2.7%)
- Fires
- 69
- Injury reports
- 108
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Acadia problems by model year
The 2008 drew the most complaints of this generation, 854, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2013 the fewest, 135. A typical year drew about 314.
That makes the 2008 stand out at roughly 2.7 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 428 | 372 | 78,000 | Transmission and driveline (184) | 5 |
| 2008 | 854 | 703 | 82,000 | Transmission and driveline (279) | 5 |
| 2009 | 331 | 281 | 75,000 | Steering (112) | 7 |
| 2010 | 343 | 293 | 75,000 | Steering (148) | 4 |
| 2011 | 269 | 210 | 69,000 | Steering (64) | 5 |
| 2012 | 296 | 220 | 75,000 | Steering (46) | 5 |
| 2013 | 135 | 91 | 83,000 | Electrical system (38) | 3 |
| 2014 | 462 | 206 | 60,000† | Airbag system (246) | 6 |
| 2015 | 243 | 106 | 50,000† | Airbag system (108) | 4 |
| 2016 | 236 | 63 | 50,000† | Airbag system (130) | 4 |
What Acadia owners reported
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control, Stabili-Trak, and the air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the failure was associated with a recent air bag…
2014 · 178,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, after pressing the liftgate button the liftgate raised and crashed down independently after several seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was…
2012 · 189,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side air bags deployed; however, the vehicle was not involved in a crash. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle and the starter was inoperable. No…
2008 · 200,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver’s side and passenger’s side exterior mirrors moved out of place and failed to remain in a set position. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated…
2009 · 54,000 miles · Visibility equipment
Built from 2,545 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Acadia generations
- Acadia 2017–2023 711 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline