2021 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Gmc ACADIA has 211 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: car steers to left,volume does not work after a connected call while driving,screen blacks out and noise coming out of left driver door panel while car is off,also message that sd card was removed no apps working.

9 crash reports 3 injuries

211

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

37 complaints

18%

• CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING
• VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW MID-MARCH 2021 AND IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED.
• On at least 3 occasions, my vehicle’s locks have malfunctioned and I’ve been locked out of my car with one incident being locked out in the rain. Upon approaching my vehicle and using the unlock button on the outside of my door, I was unable to access my vehicle. Then trying my key fob and app to un

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

“CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

32 complaints

15%

• The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while stopped at a stop light and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up with the RPM’s increasing up to 15,000. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and vibrated as the transmission did a hard
• I got into an accident because my back up crap camera did not warn me that a car had turned behind me. Also when and backing up and a car is coming it doesn’t indicate the car is coming until it’s behind me. I’ve taken it to the dealer and they say there’s nothing wrong with it. Also there is no bre
• car had only 5000 MILES . We live in denver took it to mountains for first time. we are both in our late 70 s . going down mouintains vail pass car engine EXPLODED CAR WENT INTO COMPLETE stop at highway speed. LUCKY WE DID NOT DIE as car went off to berm on i 70 west. milemarker 180 OR SO

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

“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while stopped at a stop light and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up with the RPM’s increasing up to 15,000. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and vibrated as the transmission did a hard”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

26 complaints

12%

• Brand new vehicle purchased from dealer, at 8900 miles transmission slipped. Dealer has for 2 hours and couldn’t find problem, but replaced transmission fluid it was dark. At 9000 it happened again, they have vehicle and said the new transmission fluid is dark and muddy. Only 100 miles, so they dete
• WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE ENGINE DEAD STOPPED WITH OUT WARNING. COULD NOT GET STARTED AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER TO TOW TO GMC DEALERSHIP. WERE TOLD IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS. THEY HAD A PART IN STOCK TO REPAIR IT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE “DRIVERS FUEL PUMP MODULE” .WAS SURPRISE
• Was driving when the vehicle engine completely lost power. Very dangerous situation in heavy traffic. Had difficulty pulling to the side of the road and ended up blocking traffic. Vehicle needed to be towed and is less than 2 years old with less than 10k miles. Diagnosis is failure of fuel pump

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

“Brand new vehicle purchased from dealer, at 8900 miles transmission slipped. Dealer has for 2 hours and couldn’t find problem, but replaced transmission fluid it was dark. At 9000 it happened again, they have vehicle and said the new transmission fluid is dark and muddy. Only 100 miles, so they dete”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

22 complaints

10%

• CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING
• As I was driving down Interstate 65 in south Alabama on a drizzling rainy day, the sunroof made a very loud popping noise and then exploded, with shattered glass falling into my SUV. Luckily, I was able to keep my vehicle on the road without swerving and losing control. I closed the sunshade on th
• On at least 3 occasions, my vehicle’s locks have malfunctioned and I’ve been locked out of my car with one incident being locked out in the rain. Upon approaching my vehicle and using the unlock button on the outside of my door, I was unable to access my vehicle. Then trying my key fob and app to un

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

20 complaints

• VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW MID-MARCH 2021 AND IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED.
• Was on the interstate driving when the emergency brake engaged causing the car skid the tires and almost completely coming to a stop in heavy traffic. Shortly after this the transmission had issues which caused the car to be undrivable and had to be towed. The dealership had the car for over a mon
• Since purchase of this vehicle in Dec 2020, the rear camera vision has been intermittent. I originally thought it to be driver problem however I am now told that there is a module that needs to be replaced and it is not available and possibly not being manufactured at the present time. As a result t

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

“VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW MID-MARCH 2021 AND IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 211 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while stopped at a stop light and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up with the RPM’s increasing up to 15,000. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and vibrated as the transmission did a hard
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: Brand new vehicle purchased from dealer, at 8900 miles transmission slipped. Dealer has for 2 hours and couldn’t find problem, but replaced transmission fluid it was dark. At 9000 it happened again, they have vehicle and said the new transmission fluid is dark and muddy. Only 100 miles, so they dete
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)