2012 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Gmc ACADIA has 397 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (12% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 gmc acadia. the contact stated that while traveling 20 mph, the steering wheel detached from the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 300. upd. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 10 crash reports 22 injuries

397

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

46 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 300. UPD
• THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA SLE (LAMBDA PLATFORM SUV). THE STEERING SYSTEM IS HAZARDOUS. IT DEFAULTS INTO STEERING/PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, STEERING THE VEHICLE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE UNSAFE STEERING MULTIPLE (4) TIMES (ONCE KEEPING THE VEHICLE F
• INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. GMC KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2008 - 2011'S BUT, OF COURSE, NOT FOR 2012'S ("LET'S SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN BEFORE WE FIX THE ISSUE."). FORCED TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND ALIGNMENT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 300. UPD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

45 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GM AFTERMARKET AIR DEFLECTOR (PART NUMBER: 1927884) BEING USED ON A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CENTER PLASTIC TIE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DEFLECTOR TO CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE D
• EITHER I GOT A LEMON, WHICH IS DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY, OR THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES W/ GMC AS A MANUFACTURER WHICH IS EVIDENT. THE AMERICAN CAR INDUSTRY JUST WON'T DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY BUT THEN AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO- THEY GET BAILED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT REPEATEDLY. I LEASED THIS VEH
• 2012 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STABILIZER TRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE POWERED DOWN WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO A WARNING TO SERVICE THE STABILIZER TRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. *JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GM AFTERMARKET AIR DEFLECTOR (PART NUMBER: 1927884) BEING USED ON A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CENTER PLASTIC TIE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DEFLECTOR TO CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

43 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRIEFLY WHILE SWITCHING LANES. UPON ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T
• AXLE ROD PULLED OUT OF GEAR BOX CAUSING THE ENTIRE WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY TO FALL DOWN. ACCORDING TO DEALER THE ASSEMBLY HAD NOT BEEN "MACHINED" AT ALL AT THE FACTORY AND COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME. THE RIVETS WERE NOT PULLED OUT IS HOW THIS DETERMINATION WAS MADE. IT HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING AFT
• EITHER I GOT A LEMON, WHICH IS DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY, OR THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES W/ GMC AS A MANUFACTURER WHICH IS EVIDENT. THE AMERICAN CAR INDUSTRY JUST WON'T DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY BUT THEN AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE TO- THEY GET BAILED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT REPEATEDLY. I LEASED THIS VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRIEFLY WHILE SWITCHING LANES. UPON ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

43 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD BEAM ON THE CHROME DASHBOARD, THE REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME WOULD CAUSE A BLUR IN THE CONTACT'S VISION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GM AFTERMARKET AIR DEFLECTOR (PART NUMBER: 1927884) BEING USED ON A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CENTER PLASTIC TIE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DEFLECTOR TO CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE D
• AS POWER LIFTGATE WAS OPENING, I STARTED TO RETRIEVE ITEMS FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS THE LIFTGATE REACHED THE TOP OF IT'S OPENING RANGE, IT IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED DOWN ABOUT 12 INCHES, HITTING ME IN THE HEAD AND CAUSING SEVERE NECK PAIN, AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL DOWN. AT THIS POINT,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD BEAM ON THE CHROME DASHBOARD, THE REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME WOULD CAUSE A BLUR IN THE CONTACT'S VISION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

40 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED AND ADJUSTED ON ITS OWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT SLID AND TILTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED
• I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE FOR A WHILE NOW. THE CAR WILL CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC I HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN THE SEATBELT AS WELL AS TODAY WHILE I AM TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I WAS HITTING THE GAS PEDAL I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO [XXX] O
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED AT 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SEAT MOVED AND ADJUSTED ON ITS OWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT SLID AND TILTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 397 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 300. UPD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A GM AFTERMARKET AIR DEFLECTOR (PART NUMBER: 1927884) BEING USED ON A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CENTER PLASTIC TIE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DEFLECTOR TO CRASH INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRIEFLY WHILE SWITCHING LANES. UPON ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPM READING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD BEAM ON THE CHROME DASHBOARD, THE REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME WOULD CAUSE A BLUR IN THE CONTACT'S VISION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)