Home · 2011 GMC Acadia Denali · Complaints

What 280 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (280)Crash / fire / injury (23)Steering (64)Engine (52)Electrical system (47)Lights (38)Transmission & drivetrain (33)Airbags (24)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (16)Speed control (13)Brakes (10)Fuel system (10)

Newest first · 280 complaints · page 7 of 12

Mar 17, 2016Lights

THE DAYTIME LIGHTS, THE BULB HAS MELTED ITSELF INTO THE SOCKET. YOU CANNOT JUST REPLACE THE BULB, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE SOCKET ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BULBS BEING TOO HOT UNTIL I WAS GOING TO REPLACE A BURNED OUT BULB. THE I REALIZED THE BULB HAD MELTED INTO THE SOCKET. THIS TENDS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE GMC ACADIA AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10850176

Feb 28, 2016Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAN STARTED TO SMOKE. PANEL STATED REDUCE ENGINE. COULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH. CAR BROKE DOWN WITH TWO KIDS IN CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10838862

Feb 27, 2016Lights

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE ON MARCH 11, 2015. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP TWICE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE ONCE. I TOO HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES. THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS REQUIRED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SO THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE BY GM. I WOULD INVITE ANY OF THE CUSTOMER CARE MANAGERS AT GM TO CONTACT ME.

NHTSA ODI 10838748

Feb 9, 2016Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING THIS MORNING I HAD A SERIES OF MESSAGES APPEAR : "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" , THEN "SERVICE STABILITRAK" AND THEN VERY SOON AFTER "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". THE CAR WOULD STILL RUN, BUT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 20MPH AND STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN SPEED. AT ONE POINT HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN ENGINE OFF TO ALMOST "RESET" CAR TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO DESTINATION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE TO THE SHOP. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT ARE TYPICALLY IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND AM CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY IF THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 10825048

Feb 2, 2016Visibility & wipersFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE RUNNING LIGHT STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO UPON CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB, NOTICED THAT THE RECEPTACLE HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN MAY OF 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,747.

NHTSA ODI 10823840

Jan 29, 2016Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10823087

Jan 26, 2016Electrical systemLights

THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT HAS FAILED AND MELTED THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING.

NHTSA ODI 10822429

Jan 20, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING THIS MORNING THIS MESSAGE APPEARED : "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" , THEN "SERVICE STABILITRAK". VERY SOON AFTER MESSAGE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 2K RPM'S OR 15MPH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE TO SHOP AND HAVE THROTLE BODY INSPECTED AND RECALIBRATED. THIS IS MY WIFES CAR AND I HAVE A SMALL CHILD THAT WAS IN CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED IN AN AREA THAT IS HEAVILY TRAVELED TO INCLUDE SCHOOL BUSES.

NHTSA ODI 10821191

Jan 18, 2016Electrical system

THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS GO HAYWIRE ON OCCASION. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING, OR STATIONARY. HAPPENS IN ALL CONDITIONS. SOMETIMES I CAN'T MOVE MY SEAT, ROLL THE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN, OR UNLOCK THE DOORS USING THE DRIVERS SIDE CONTROLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN A MAJORITY OF THE TIME. THE RADIO ALSO, SWITCHES ITSELF FROM RADIO TO SAYING THERE IS AN AC ADAPTER PLUGGED IN SO IT WONT PLAY MUSIC, WHEN THERE IS NO ADAPTER TO INPUT MUSIC PLUGGED IN. THE GUARD OVER THE SEAT CONTROLS CAME UNHOOKED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING IT. I HAVE REATTACHED IT BACK INTO PLACE NUMEROUS TIMES, IT DOESN'T STAY. I CALLED DEALER AND HE WAS CONFIDENT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL SOON TO COVER IT. HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 YEARS AND MY WARRANTY HAS ALREADY BEEN UP, AND THE RECALL THAT WAS "SURE TO COVER IT" HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

NHTSA ODI 10820789

Jan 13, 2016Steering

STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP DURING A TURN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THEN LAST WEEK I COULDN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO GET OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. 1500.00 LATER I HAVE NEW SHIFTER AND SOME SORT OF NEW GEARS IN STEERING WHEEL. LOOKED IT UP AND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, YET STILL NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 48000 MILES ON IT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WEREN'T SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA ODI 10820080

Jan 11, 2016Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING A MESSAGE APPEARED : "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" , THEN "SERVICE STABILITRAK". VERY SOON AFTER (A MINUTE OR TWO LATER) - A MESSAGE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 2K RPM'S. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A SLOW ROAD, SO WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF AND THERE WERE NO HIGH SPEED CARS BEHIND US. SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, WAITING A FEW MINUTES THEN TURNING IT BACK ON APPEARED TO CLEAR THE ISSUE. THE TRACTION CONTROL SHOWED AS OFF WHEN IT FIRST STATED UP, BUT THEN IT SHOWED 'TRACTION CONTROL ON" AS IT STRATED TO DRIVE. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET.

NHTSA ODI 10819258

Jan 5, 2016Lights

WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2014. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE TIRE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND THE WHEEL WELL COVER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE LIGHT, WE HAVE TO PAY $80 EACH TIME WE CHANGE THE BULB. 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING OVERHEATING BULBS, SO I WILL HAVE THAT LOOKED AT NEXT.

NHTSA ODI 10818010

Dec 28, 2015Body & structure

WANTED TAILGATE NOISE FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTEE, BUT WAS PUT OFF BY DEALER TO WAIT FOR RECALL FIX. RECALL FIX DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM OF LOUD NOISES WHEN USING POWER TAILGATE. AFTER ABOUT 2 YEARS I RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM GM AND DEALER DID RECALL WORK. HOWEVER , THE NOISE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND DEALER TELLS ME I WILL NEED TO PAY $725 TO FIX PART # 23142258 BECAUSE IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER LONG AWAITED RECALL REPAIR. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY CANNOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR EITHER. I BELEIVE THE RECALL MODULE BY NOT WORKING CORRECTLY CAUSED THE GEAR FAILURE. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE GM SHOULD FIX THE TAILGATE. ALL THIS HAPPENED OVER A 2 YEAR PERIOD. WHILE CAR WAS IN WARRENTY AND NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. SINCE GM HAD TO FIX ALL 2011 ACADIA'S THE PROCESS TOOK TOO LONG AND DAMAGED THE VEHICLE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER IN NOVEMBER 2015 , YEARS AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE.

NHTSA ODI 10816617

Dec 3, 2015Steering

STERRING WHEEL LOCKED DURING TURN

NHTSA ODI 10808318

Nov 23, 2015Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10806154

Nov 19, 2015Steering

RACK & PINION WAS LEAKING. WAS REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO REPLACED. GMC DID NOT MAKE THIS PUBLIC THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH PUMP. REPLACED PUMP FLUID WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE THAN WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. MANY GMC VEH. HAVE THIS PROB. THE FACT THAT GMC CHANGED FLUIDS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ORIGINAL TO FAIL. GMC WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. PLEASE CHECK WITH GMC AMD GET THE TRUTH.

NHTSA ODI 10794885

Nov 18, 2015Steering

HAD A LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE GMC DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS THE STEERING GEAR - REPLACEMENT COST ME $1840.28.

NHTSA ODI 10794562

Nov 16, 2015Steering

I HAVE A 2011 GMC ACADIA AT 43,000 MILES IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WITH A STEERING NOISE, WHICH I WAS HEARING WHEN MAKING TURNS IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS LEAKING FROM THE STEERING RACK AND THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,179 FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ACADIA'S.

NHTSA ODI 10790653

Nov 10, 2015Electrical system

MY 2011 GMC ACADIA SUDDENLY DRAINED THE BATTERY, I TRIED TO START IT AND DIDN'T WORK, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE, THE NEXT DAY THE NEW BATTERY WAS DRAINED LIKE THE OLD ONE, SO I TOOK THE BATTERY BACK TO AUTOZONE, THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, THEY ALSO CHECKED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND THE DIAGNOSTIC DIDN'T SHOW ANY PROBLEMS, SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AGAIN WITH A NEW ONE,... SO I HAD THE NEW BATTERY INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AND WENT HOME, THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND FORUMS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AND SHE GOT VERY DISSAPOINTED FOR HAVING THIS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE PURCHASED A GMC, WE HAD ALWAYS BOUGHT FORD VEHICLES, I CALLED GMC AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY REPORTS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF COMMENTS ON INTERNET FROM PEOPLE SUFFERING THE SAME SITUATION, .....I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND CAN'T KEEP CHANGING THE BATTERY EVERYDAY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10789611

Nov 1, 2015LightsFire

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BULB MELTING, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE, RESULTING IN BURNING OF HEADLIGHT HOUSING. BULB CAN NO LONGER BE HELD IN PLACE BECAUSE MOUNTING FIXTURE IS MELTED AWAY. THE EXISTING BULBS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. I BELIEVE THE FILAMENT IS OVERHEATING THE PLASTIC BULB AND CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 10787536

Oct 27, 2015Engine

THE CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. I WAS DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROAD (PENDLETON PIKE) IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. AFTER PASSING SUNNYSIDE ROAD, IT WENT FROM 40 MPH TO 25 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT IT WOULD NOT SPEED UP. I TURNED MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. I PANICKED! I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL INTO A STARBUCKS PARKING LOT AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I WAITED TEN SECONDS EXACTLY, AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT PROCEDURE.

NHTSA ODI 10786295

Oct 9, 2015Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS OPEN THE DOOR SUDDENLY CLOSED ONTO THE CONTACT BACK. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V415000 (STRUCTURE) WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 10781129

Sep 20, 2015SteeringBrakesEngine

WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, ALL SYSTEMS FAILED -- STEERING, BRAKING, ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE."

NHTSA ODI 10766282

Aug 10, 2015Airbags

A CLOGGED AC EVAPORATOR DRAIN TUBE CAUSED WATER TO POOL INSIDE MY CAR AND SHORTED OUT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I READ ONLINE THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I WAS THE 7TH ONE THIS MONTH (ALL ACADIAS) THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX BUT MORE CONCERNING; I HAVE NO AIRBAGS NOW!

NHTSA ODI 10747699

Jul 30, 2015Steering

AFTER A SHORT BUT HEAVY DOWN POUR, I TRAVELED THROUGH A PUDDLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND LOST POWER STEERING FOR 1-2 SECONDS. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NEEDED TO BRAKE TO AVOID GOING OFF THE ROAD. FOR THE NEXT 2 MILES THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A SLOWER SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH) AS I TRIED TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN ON TO MY STREET. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN THE POWER STEERING KICKED IN AGAIN. CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVE HOME AND LEFT VOICE MAIL (THEY CLOSED AT 5PM). CALLED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO KNOW ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10745113

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Working with the data? Download all 280 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 GMC Acadia Denali verdict →