2010 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Gmc ACADIA has 436 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2010 gmc acadia. while driving approximately 60 mph the steering wheel locked and the would not turn to the left or right. the contact applied excessive force to the steering wheel in order to maneuver the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians repl. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 4 crash reports 11 injuries

436

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

148 complaints

34%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPL
• 2010 ACADIA TRANSMISSION AND TRACTION CONTROL SAFETY PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ALARM CAME ON IN ADDITION TO A FLASHING STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR CAUSING TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA 2WD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STEER PROPERLY WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

84 complaints

19%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GASOLINE AND THEN IT STALLED. THERE WAS GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR EXHAUST TAIL PIPE FOR 35-40 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE APP
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HER D

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GASOLINE AND THEN IT STALLED. THERE WAS GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

45 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE PARKED THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND ENGAGE THE IGNITION KEY RELEASE CONTROL BUTTON WHICH RELEASED THE IGNITION KEY. THE FAILURE OCCUR
• THE BATTERY ON MY GMC ACADIA DIED ON THE 15TH FEBRUARY AND THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD THE SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT AND THE PARTS WERE ORDERED. THE FRIDAY OF 2/26 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS O
• ON 9/23/10 MY WIFE EXITED OUR 2010 GMC ACADIA LEAVING THE KEYS PARTIALLY INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. TODAY 9/24/10 SHE HEARD A NOISE IN THE GARAGE. WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR SHE FOUND THE VEHICLE TRYING TO START BY ITSELF. WE DO NOT HAVE A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED. SHE REMOVED THE KEYS AND TOOK THEM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE PARKED THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND ENGAGE THE IGNITION KEY RELEASE CONTROL BUTTON WHICH RELEASED THE IGNITION KEY. THE FAILURE OCCUR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

43 complaints

10%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHENEVER A RIGHT TURN WAS ATTEMPTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS
• 2010 ACADIA FRONT WHEEL DRIVE , WHEN IN DRIVE OR IN PARK ON INCLINE THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARD OR FORWARD DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY THE INCLINE IS. IT DOES NOT HOLD WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN YOU ARE PARKING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUM
• MY 2010 GMC ACADIA ROLLS BACKWARDS ON INCLINES EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE. I HAVE DRIVEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR YEARS AND IN MY EXPERIENCE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN DRIVE. IF ANYONE IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS THEY COULD VERY EASILY BE CRUSHED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHENEVER A RIGHT TURN WAS ATTEMPTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

24 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 GMC ACADIA THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM WENT OUT. UPON OPENING THE HOOD WHEN I STOPPED I NOTICED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF BURNT PLASTIC. UPON FURTHER EVALUATION WHILE REMOVING THE BULB I OBSERVED THAT THE INSULATION FOR THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED OFF AND SHORTED AT THE INTERFACE BETWE
• 2008 GMC ACADIA SL RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) LOW BEAM CONNECTOR AND BULB BURN'T AND WIRES HAVE BEEN MELTED . *TR
• MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO BULB LIFE. WHEN I CHANGED THE BULB I FOUND THAT THE HARNESS SOCKET WHERE THE BULB PLUGS INTO WAS BURNT/MELTED. I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE BULB ANYWAY TO SEE THE RESULT. 5 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT BULB BURNT OUT AGAIN. THIS LOOKS TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 GMC ACADIA THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM WENT OUT. UPON OPENING THE HOOD WHEN I STOPPED I NOTICED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF BURNT PLASTIC. UPON FURTHER EVALUATION WHILE REMOVING THE BULB I OBSERVED THAT THE INSULATION FOR THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED OFF AND SHORTED AT THE INTERFACE BETWE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 436 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GASOLINE AND THEN IT STALLED. THERE WAS GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE PARKED THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND ENGAGE THE IGNITION KEY RELEASE CONTROL BUTTON WHICH RELEASED THE IGNITION KEY. THE FAILURE OCCUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHENEVER A RIGHT TURN WAS ATTEMPTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)