2014 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Gmc ACADIA has 603 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: i was hit by a ford f-150 that was going approx. 55 mph. it hit me on my rear driver's side directly by the back door and gas tank. i was the only passenger in the vehicle. none of the airbags deployed even though my acadia was spun and the driver's side door was impacted by the passenger's side doo. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 15 crash reports 19 injuries

603

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

245 complaints

41%

• I WAS HIT BY A FORD F-150 THAT WAS GOING APPROX. 55 MPH. IT HIT ME ON MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DIRECTLY BY THE BACK DOOR AND GAS TANK. I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH MY ACADIA WAS SPUN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS IMPACTED BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,400. THE VIN
• VEHICLE SLID ON ICE OFF THE ROAD AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED (15-20 MPH). THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. BECAUSE THERE WAS MINIMAL IF ANY IMPACT; THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE EVEN A SCRATCH ON THE EXTERIOR. HOWEVER ALL THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THIS INCLUDES THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE P

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“I WAS HIT BY A FORD F-150 THAT WAS GOING APPROX. 55 MPH. IT HIT ME ON MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DIRECTLY BY THE BACK DOOR AND GAS TANK. I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH MY ACADIA WAS SPUN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS IMPACTED BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

90 complaints

15%

• MY ACADIA HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING AT ANY SPEED OR UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. I HAD A GMC TERRAIN WITH THE SAME SYSTEM AND IT OPERATED AS DEFINED IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. THE ACADIA ,COULD LITERALLY BE DRIVEN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED WITH
• SINCE THE DAY I DROVE MY ACADIA OFF THE LOT THERE HAS BEEN A "CLICK" THAT OCCURS WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT CAN BE FELT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, BUT ONLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND NEVER AGAIN WHEN SWITCHING BETWEE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V614000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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

“MY ACADIA HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING AT ANY SPEED OR UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. I HAD A GMC TERRAIN WITH THE SAME SYSTEM AND IT OPERATED AS DEFINED IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. THE ACADIA ,COULD LITERALLY BE DRIVEN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED WITH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

47 complaints

• WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN TRAFFIC, THE GREEN CAR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SLOWED DOWN MY SPEED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I PULLED OVER AND ALLOWED CARS TO GO AROUND ME AS I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, 3 TIMES, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED ONSTAR TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO A CAR CHECK AND TOLD M
• I WAS RETURNING FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AND STOPPED TO PICK UP MY SON'S PRESCRIPTION. I TURNED TO CHECK ON MY SON, WHO JUST TURNED ONE ON SUNDAY, AND SAW HIS FACE WAS EXTREMELY RED. I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE HE WAS SO WARM AND I HAD THE A/C ON BLAST. APPARENTLY THE BACK OF MY NEW DENALI ACADIA 2014
• SINCE THE DAY I DROVE MY ACADIA OFF THE LOT THERE HAS BEEN A "CLICK" THAT OCCURS WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT CAN BE FELT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, BUT ONLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND NEVER AGAIN WHEN SWITCHING BETWEE

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

“WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN TRAFFIC, THE GREEN CAR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SLOWED DOWN MY SPEED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I PULLED OVER AND ALLOWED CARS TO GO AROUND ME AS I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, 3 TIMES, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED ONSTAR TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO A CAR CHECK AND TOLD M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

34 complaints

• VEHICLE JERKS AND LURCHES WHEN SLOWING TO TURN A CORNER, THEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, BUT PAUSES, THEN JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN UPSHIFTING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER (APPROX. 10-15 MPH), THE
• I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASING FROM 35 MPH TO 55 MPH. I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SIGNALED TO TURN. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND SLOWED DOWN UNTIL THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME COMPLETED THEIR TURN. WHEN I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND ATT
• WAS GOING TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS IN REVERSE, IT SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR ON ITS OWN INTO DRIVE AND IT WENT FORWARD SLAMMING FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE INTO A REFRIGERATOR. CAUSING THE REFRIGERATOR TO BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE FRONT END OF TH

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

“VEHICLE JERKS AND LURCHES WHEN SLOWING TO TURN A CORNER, THEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, BUT PAUSES, THEN JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN UPSHIFTING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER (APPROX. 10-15 MPH), THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

32 complaints

• FIRST INCIDENT: VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF(STALLED)WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. CAR LOST ALL POWER: BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE SECOND INCIDENT: ONE WEEK LATER, SAME INCIDENT: VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF(STALLED): CAR LOST ALL POWER, BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE, THIS TIME ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP MOVING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED AFTER THE SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE SPEED DECREASING WHILE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 GMC ACADIA. UPON ENTERING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE SYSTEM TO BE LOW ON FREON AND THE VEHICLE HA

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

“FIRST INCIDENT: VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF(STALLED)WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT. CAR LOST ALL POWER: BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE SECOND INCIDENT: ONE WEEK LATER, SAME INCIDENT: VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF(STALLED): CAR LOST ALL POWER, BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE, THIS TIME ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP MOVING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 603 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS HIT BY A FORD F-150 THAT WAS GOING APPROX. 55 MPH. IT HIT ME ON MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DIRECTLY BY THE BACK DOOR AND GAS TANK. I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH MY ACADIA WAS SPUN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS IMPACTED BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY ACADIA HAS FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND HAS NOT EVER WORKED TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING AT ANY SPEED OR UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. I HAD A GMC TERRAIN WITH THE SAME SYSTEM AND IT OPERATED AS DEFINED IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. THE ACADIA ,COULD LITERALLY BE DRIVEN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED WITH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN TRAFFIC, THE GREEN CAR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SLOWED DOWN MY SPEED TO A COMPLETE STOP. I PULLED OVER AND ALLOWED CARS TO GO AROUND ME AS I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, 3 TIMES, AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED ONSTAR TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO A CAR CHECK AND TOLD M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE JERKS AND LURCHES WHEN SLOWING TO TURN A CORNER, THEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT, BUT PAUSES, THEN JERKS INTO GEAR WHEN UPSHIFTING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER (APPROX. 10-15 MPH), THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)