
2020 Gmc ACADIA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2020 Gmc ACADIA has 152 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: two days after purchasing a new 2020 gmc acadia i get an error on the display "sd card removed" along with various other error messages. dealer talks to gmc tech line and they advise to replace radio. radio was replaced and errors began same day i picked it up. dealer is replacing radio again, bu.
152
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
26 complaints- • TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2020 GMC ACADIA I GET AN ERROR ON THE DISPLAY "SD CARD REMOVED" ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER ERROR MESSAGES. DEALER TALKS TO GMC TECH LINE AND THEY ADVISE TO REPLACE RADIO. RADIO WAS REPLACED AND ERRORS BEGAN SAME DAY I PICKED IT UP. DEALER IS REPLACING RADIO AGAIN, BU
- • WHILE IN MOTION- BLIND SPOT SENSORS TURN ON WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT AND VICE VERSA. TRACTION CONTROL HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. PREDICTIVE BRAKING HAS ACTIVATED IMPROPERLY MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. CAMERAS WENT OUT AND THEN BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. WAS TOLD FIXING BATTERY WOULD FIX VE
- • BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR
“TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2020 GMC ACADIA I GET AN ERROR ON THE DISPLAY "SD CARD REMOVED" ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER ERROR MESSAGES. DEALER TALKS TO GMC TECH LINE AND THEY ADVISE TO REPLACE RADIO. RADIO WAS REPLACED AND ERRORS BEGAN SAME DAY I PICKED IT UP. DEALER IS REPLACING RADIO AGAIN, BU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
24 complaints- • I noticed for months it was downshifting hard but transmission department was backed up I scheduled in September for an appointment October 26 and that morning I received a call to reschedule because they were still behind and had another appointment for November 10th. The morning of the incident 1s
- • AUTO STOP enabled while stopped at a stop sign on an uphill incline, there is enough of a delay on restart that it lurches and jerks upon restart, cant be good for transmission and passengers. very much a nusiance.
- • The contact owns a 2020 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; howe
“I noticed for months it was downshifting hard but transmission department was backed up I scheduled in September for an appointment October 26 and that morning I received a call to reschedule because they were still behind and had another appointment for November 10th. The morning of the incident 1s”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
20 complaints- • WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN MOTION, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE AND I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS BACK TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND ONTO A
- • 2020 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER AT LOW SPEEDS AND JERKING WITH BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *LD *JS
- • AUTO STOP enabled while stopped at a stop sign on an uphill incline, there is enough of a delay on restart that it lurches and jerks upon restart, cant be good for transmission and passengers. very much a nusiance.
“WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN MOTION, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE AND I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS BACK TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND ONTO A ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
16 complaints- • BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR
- • BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR
- • The vehicle was purchased brand new from Serra GMC in Washington Michigan in April 2020. It has been back to the dealer 5 times for the same issue, with another 4 times that it was not taken into dealer! Reoccurring issue involves the instrument cluster, All gages and visual indicators go to zero (
“BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
15 complaints- • While driving, the power steering went out and a service power steering message appeared. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few minutes and when the car was turned on it went away and the power steering came back.
- • My steering assist is reduced drive with care message is on. The AC is no longer working and the fan is constantly running and sounds horrible. The temperature gauge has not come off of cold. After researching this issue online-it looks like this is a constant problem with Acadias from 2017-current.
- • When it rains(or car wash) my power locks don't work. I get locked out of my car. My car reset itself in the middle of an intersection(like I turned it off and back on again). One of my gauges is always not working. The sunroof doesn't work right. Water is getting in the electrical area somehow. I'v
“While driving, the power steering went out and a service power steering message appeared. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few minutes and when the car was turned on it went away and the power steering came back.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 152 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2020 GMC ACADIA I GET AN ERROR ON THE DISPLAY "SD CARD REMOVED" ALONG WITH VARIOUS OTHER ERROR MESSAGES. DEALER TALKS TO GMC TECH LINE AND THEY ADVISE TO REPLACE RADIO. RADIO WAS REPLACED AND ERRORS BEGAN SAME DAY I PICKED IT UP. DEALER IS REPLACING RADIO AGAIN, BU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: I noticed for months it was downshifting hard but transmission department was backed up I scheduled in September for an appointment October 26 and that morning I received a call to reschedule because they were still behind and had another appointment for November 10th. The morning of the incident 1s
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN MOTION, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE AND I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS BACK TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND ONTO A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Gmc ACADIA — Year Comparison
How does 2020 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 152
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2020 Gmc ACADIA