What 280 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the steering wheel would shake uncontrollably without warning while driving at various speeds. She also stated that the steering wheel would lock in the middle of turning the steering wheel in either direction without warning. After taking the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance, several warning lights appeared on the instrument panel. The contact called that dealer and was informed that the vehicle would reset itself upon restart; however, the failure persisted. A few days later, the Push to Start button failed to operate after multiple attempts and the key was used to start the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the dealer and she was informed that the purge valve was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle and referred her to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11439190

I was driving on a busy freeway, my car lost power and became very slow at only 20mph. Almost got rear ended, luckily I was able to pull over. Then check engine light came on. My engine failed and had to tow it. Mechanic said faulty timing chains destroyed my engine. Bought a used engine and is costing me over $4,000. I was lucky not to get killed. GM knows there’s a timing chains issues with these engines. People have complained about this costly and dangerous problem. They should recall and pay for the repairs. There was no warning for me until it was too late.

NHTSA ODI 11437809

Vehicle stopped turning, steering to turn and driver ran off the road.

NHTSA ODI 11434617

On July 27 at 400 pm I arrived home and my daughter went to take out the trash and I heard her scream daddy the car is on fire. I rushed outside and flames were 6 ft tall I called 911. After putting the fire out he stated th car was running doors locked so they couldn’t open the hood

NHTSA ODI 11426851

Accordingly, the said vehicle first manifested a dangerous defect issue on July 14, 2021, while traveling out of town. A significant and abrupt reduction of power completely disabled the vehicle while parking in a parking space .Despite several attempts, the vehicle still fail to start. Only to notice the engine light illuminating and flashing repeatedly. At the same time the dashboard indicated a faulty reading of fuel and oil. This is a very serious and frightened situation because I received absolutely no warning before the vehicle shut down. Without reason of doubt, I do believe it is unsafe, extremely dangerous and is potentially a hazardous situation that should be investigated. Fortunately, I was in a parking lot went the problem occurred. Whereas, if the vehicle engine stopped abruptly in the mist of traffic it could have resulted with a different outcome. On July 16th the vehicle was towed to a certified GMC dealership for further inspection. Hours later, I received the service contract and a follow up call from the dealership given that the diagnostic is the Engine Control Module (ECM) and needs to be replaced. Surprisingly, to my dismay I was advised that General Motors no longer make the part and the Service Center is not sure when and if the part will be available. As of today, July 26th, no one has taken the necessary steps to remediate my situation. I have already attempted to resolve this problem by contacting the Manufacturer directly. Yet, no information on when a resolution will be made. I have been a loyal customer for several years and currently seeking answers.

NHTSA ODI 11426538

Had to replace transmission. I waa sowing down to come to a stop and the car shuts off in the road while I am turning into a drive way. After getting a new gmc transmission,My speedometer is moving back and forth again. The vehicle shutters while in park. These are some of the same signs from last time.

NHTSA ODI 11419742

I HAVE HAD THIS 2011 ARCADIA FOR LESS THEN A MONTH. THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM ASSURED ME THAT THE ONLY ISSUE IT HAD WAS IT NEEDED A NEW A/C CONDENSER. ( PERMANENT CODES, P0008, P0332, P0017 ) (PENDING CODES P0161, P0332, P0017 ) ( STORED CODES, P0332, P0008 ) SEVERE URGENCY REPLACE TIMING CHAINS AND RELATED COMPONENTS, T CHAIN X1 T CHAIN X1 T CHAIN X2 TIMING TENSIONER X1 X1 X1 X1. I HAVENT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT AND THE SOLD ME THE CAR ON FALSE PRETENSES. THEY WONT HELP ME WITH FIXING IT, THEY WONT EVEN FIX THE A/C CONDENSER. IM GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE AND I PUT THE ONLY MONEY I HAD INTO THIS CAR. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ODI 11377030

THE CAR IT'S EQUIPPED WITH A POWER LIFTGATE AND GAS STRUTS THAT HOLD THE POWER LIFT GATE WHEN THE REAR TRUNK GATE IS OPENED, IN MY CAR THE STRUTS CLOSE PREMATURELY AN THE OPEN LIFTGATE SUDDENLY CLOSES AND CAUSING INJURY

NHTSA ODI 11373692

WAS DRIVING MY CAR. GOT OFF I-79 TO GET GAS. GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. HAD TO GET A JUMP. IT STARTED. STARTED DRIVING (ABOUT 4 MILES) ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED MAKING A NOISE FROM THE MOTOR. IT NEVER GAVE ME A WARNING, NO NOISE OR ANYTHING BEFORE THIS. IT RAN PERFECTLY. I'M SO DISGUSTED. THEY'RE SAYING ALMOST $5000.00 WITH PARTS AND LABOR WITH A USED MOTOR. THE BEARING SPUN, THE ROLLER ROCKER BROKE OFF TIMING CHAIN, AND SOMETHING ELSE. HMM A USED MOTOR. YOU DO KNOW A USED MOTOR WILL FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY AGAIN!! I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHERE IT STILL SITS. I UPKEPT THE OIL BEFORE IT WAS DUE. IT HAS 138,706 MILES I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AT ALL . GM I HOPE YOU DO US RIGHT BECAUSE WE STOOD BY YOU AND TRUSTED YOU!

NHTSA ODI 11364739

TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE. GOT IT BACK AND FRONT STRUTS WERE STUCK EXTENDED. TOOK BACK NEXT DAY SAID THEY WERE BAD. WE' REPLACED ON 2/02/2018 WITH 72945 MILES WITH GM REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER 22902412. COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL. HAD TO LOWER TIRE PRESSURES TO GET BACK TO DEALER. REPLACED AGAIN ON 10/1/2020. WHAT KEEPS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

NHTSA ODI 11362374

THIS ALL BEGAN AT ABOUT 75000 MILES. IT FIRST STARTED WITH THE STABILIZATION/TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ONCE THIS HAPPENED YOU COULD NOT ACCELERATE THE CAR. I ONCE WAS ON A HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD TO TRY TO GET OVER TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEN TURNED INTO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY WOULD START TO DIE WITH NO WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN NOT JUMP THE CAR YOU HAVE TO BRING THE BATTERY TO BE CHARGED ON A CHARGER. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WON'T START THE OTHER THINGS LIKE LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC WILL STILL WORK. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT ONCE THE WEATHER WAS WARM IT RAN PERFECT FOR 4 MONTHS. THE FIRST DAY IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD THE BATTERY DIED WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO HAD A HEADLIGHT GO OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER IT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO SEVERAL PLACES BUT NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T KEEP SPENDING MONEY TO GET IT DIAGNOSED WITH NO RESULTS. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE ACADIA.

NHTSA ODI 11361429

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO WATER LEAKING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD OR THE FIREWALL FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE ONTO THE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE FUSE BOX. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE KEYFOB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED CARL BLACK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (11500 E. COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32817), AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A FEE WOULD BE ASSESSED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11360615

IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES POWER, MAX SPEED 20MPH. WON'T START.

NHTSA ODI 11353930

AT 89,000 THE "SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE" LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES ON DASH. MECHANIC STATES THAT "REAR DIFFERENTIAL DRUM" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE'S ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 11351179

AT 86,000 MILES, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DESPITE OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD TICKING SOUND. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE NEAREST AUTO SHOP. WE HAD TWO MECHANICS (HAD CAR TOWED FOR SECOND OPINION) SAY THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11351176

MY CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING OFTEN SOMETIT TAKES ALMOST AN HOUR TO GET IT STARTED JUMP STARTING IT DOES NOTHING BATTERY TESTED GOOD ONLY A CLICK AS IF BATTERY IS DEAD BUT STILL NOTHING

NHTSA ODI 11348851

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE) AT ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET #1 BUICK GMC CADILLAC (3731 SW TOPEKA BLVD, TOPEKA, KS 66609) IN 2016. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECENTLY THE BOLT THAT CONNECTED THE TRUNK SHOCK TO THE LIFTGATE FRACTURED AND DETACHED UPON OPENING THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER TO RETRIEVE A REPLACEMENT BOLT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,321.

NHTSA ODI 11340633

THE LIFTGATE UNEXPECTEDLY FALLS. WHEN IT OPENS, IT OPENS ALL THE WAY, THEN IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY FALL AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11339988

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTED AND INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STARLING CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1001 E IRLO BRONSON MEMORIAL HWY, ST CLOUD, FL 34769) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INFORMED ON THE FIRST VISIT THAT A BRACKET NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGES TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE BRACKET WAS INSTALLED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,572.

NHTSA ODI 11339505

WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, MY ENGINE TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. UP UNTIL THAT POINT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. HOWEVER, HAD THIS HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLIER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ATOP A VERY HIGH BRIDGE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHICH IS THE POSTED SPEED FOR I-295. HAD THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING ON THIS BRIDGE I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE GONE OVER THE RAILING AND PLUNGED 300+ FEET DOWN INTO THE RIVER. OR POSSIBLY OTHER VEHICLE TRAFFIC COULD HAVE CRASHED INTO ME CAUSING UNTOLD DAMAGE AND INJURY OR POSSIBLY SOMEONE'S DEATH. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN A SAFER AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE REPAIRED AT MY DEALER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. ENGINES SHOULD NOT SIMPLY TURN OFF AND STOP RUNNING BECAUSE OF SOME ELECTRONIC CONTROL PART. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND I'M SURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY EXPERIENCING SIMILAR SITUATIONS. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE, BUT ALL NEWER AND LATE MODEL VEHICLES. IT IS DANGEROUS TO THINK THAT THE AUTO INDUSTRY HAS EMPLOYED SUCH A DANGEROUS ENGINEERING AND DEVICE THAT COULD CAUSE THE DEATH OF SOMEONE. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP REVIEWING THIS SITUATION FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.

NHTSA ODI 11338765

STEERING BINDS UP AND BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN ON LOW RPM OR SITTING STATIONARY. IT FEELS AS IF NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM HAS FAILED TO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331136

IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHEN I GO ABOVE 65 MILES PH. THE GMC STARTS TO HEAT UP AND SENDS A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY SAYING TRANSMISSION IS HOT A LOT OF SMOKE COMES OUT AND THE SPEED DECREASES COMPLETELY I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PARK IN THE STREET UNTIL IT COOLS OFF WHAT IS DANGEROUS IS THAT IT HAS HAPPEN WHEN I'M IN THE HIGH WAY PUTTING ME AT RISK TO CRASH I MADE SOME FIXES ONE TIME THE MECHANIC CHARGED ME ABOUT $500 DOLLARS TO FIX IT NOW IS DOING IT AGAIN AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ABOUT A $1000 DOLLARS MORE I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE GMC SINCE I GOT IT AND I ONLY HAVE LIKE BETWEEN 9 TO 11 MONTHS WITH THE GMC HOPEFULLY I COULD GET HELP SO THEY COULD FIX IT BY THE COMPANY AT NO EXTRA CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327044

THE DASH BOARD CRACKED. IT WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY TO A BRAND NEW ONE BY GM AND IT CRACKED WORST. THE AIRBAG AND A SPEAKER ARE THERE AND IT'S CONCERNING WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327166

IN MY 2011 GMC ACADIA SLT1 THE HEADLIGHTS SPECIFICALLY THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM REGARDLESS OF THE BULB BECAUSE I HAVE TRIED ALL FROM THE LOWEST PRICED TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE. WHILE USING THE HIGH BEAMS THERE APPEARS TO BE A SHADOW IN THE SHAPE OF MICKEY MOUSE'S HEAD IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF VISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323810

MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS EITHER FLICKER OR DON'T COME ON AT ALL THERE ARE 3 SETS AND NONE OF THE WORK PROPERLY AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323811