What 280 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

The relay for the fan at the top of the fuse/relay box on the right side when facing the front of the vehicle. (under the hood) Gets hot and blows the relay and melts the spot where the relay prongs plug in. Causing the need for a new fuse box and circuit problems within the fuse box connectors. The fans, specifically the a/c fan does not kick on when turning on the a/c and the low speed fan does not kick on at all until the secondary temp fan kicks on after the temperature raises past the normal operating range. Which an overheating engine is bad for all parts of the engine which can and sooner or later will lead to a catastrophic failure putting the operator and other motorists life's at risk.This time it created a small fire that was extinguished only because the fuse box cover was off and I was looking at it as it happened, putting the cover back on extinguished the fire. This is the third time it has happened with the exact same problem. You tube is full of videos with the exact same problem.

NHTSA ODI 11736860

2011 gmc Acadia slt gear shift does not lock causing it to slip into neutral with slightest bump of shifter or sudden hard breaking Also passenger seat belt does not.lock at all when breaking and driver side seat belt never unlocks there are safty recalls on these issues for this model but.says mine has zero unfixed recall also defrosting and mirror defrost does not work properly causing me to have very bad visibility I had a close call when driving in Houston a week ago when I had to slam breaks due to a crazy driver who did not see me.and cut me off the lane my gear shifted into neutral causing me to not be able to accelerate after breaking to avoid the next speeding car fortunately I was lucky and was able to quickly shift back into drive and go there are electrical issues as well and there has only been one other owner and well maintained so I don't know what to do next my passenger nearly hit dash during this that's when I realized passenger seat belt does not lock

NHTSA ODI 11517785

DRLs melted into the housing, seems like this is possibly caused by cowls that are not properly sealed allowing moisture into headlight assembly. This is obviously a fire hazard and will be a costly repair. I am not sure if vehicle insurance covers this but I doubt it.

NHTSA ODI 11515296

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE COOLANT SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN MECHANICS BUT NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ODI 11319208

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT TO ZERO AND THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO LOCATED EIGHTEEN DIFFERENT ERROR CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MOORE BUICK GMC (2445 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546), BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUSES BLEW OUT EVERY TIME THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS STILL AT THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255018

IGNITION WHEN SHUT OFF ENGINE REMAINS RUNNING.TO GET ENGINE TO SHUT OFF IGNITION FUSE AND RELAY HAVE TO BE REMOVED. BEEN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MONTHS. GMC DEALERSHIP CAN'T IDENTIFY WHAT IS CAUSING

NHTSA ODI 11234491

2011 ACADIA DENALI, HAS HID HEADLIGHTS FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING, AND TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT LIGHTS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL). I NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DRL BULB WAS BURNED OUT APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO (SO ~5/12/2019), WHEN I WHEN TO REMOVE IT TO SEE WHAT SIZE BULB WAS NEEDED PART OF THE PROJECTOR HOUSING BROKE OFF WITH THE BULB. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE BULB SOCKET WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, AND THE DUST SEAL AROUND THE BULB IS ALSO PARTIALLY MELTED (BROWN AND STARTING TO MELT). I ALSO LOOKED AT THE PASSENGERS SIDE AND, WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULB, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROJECTOR HOUSING ON THAT SIDE IS ALSO STARTING TO BUBBLE/MELT. THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB IS MELTED ENOUGH THAT I CANNOT REMOVE THE ENTIRE BULB FROM THE SOCKET, ONLY THE GLASS WANTS TO PULL FREE. I FEEL LUCKY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11208527

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO PASS A SEMI WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT, AS IF I TURNED OFF THE KEY, NO POWER STEERING...NOTHING. I NOTICE THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT COME ON FOR A SECOND. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD JUST FLASH YET THE ENGINE WAS NOT TURNING OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GMC DEALER AND PRELIMINARY REPORTS (INCOMPLETE) WAS IT WAS COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL RELATED. I ALSO NOTICED THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN (ALTHOUGH THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE TWO YEARS AGO AND GMC DEALER FOUND "FRETTING AT THE LGCM TERMINALS." POSSIBILITY RELATED, MY WIFE TOLD ME ONLY THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW WOULD ROLL DOWN A FEW DAYS BEFORE BUT ONLY HAPPENED ONE TIME. SHE SAID SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER ALL WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN FINE...JUST ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS BEEN HAVING RADIO ISSUES FOR YEARS. 1/2 OF THE RADIO SCREEN RANDOMLY DISAPPEARS (LEFT). TAPPING IT SOMETIMES HELPS AND SOMETIMES IS FLICKERS WILDLY ON AND OFF. GMC DEALER TOLD US THE RADIO NEEDS REPLACING...LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11187350

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN HWY 281 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCKS STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE CRAZY, TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY TRACK, ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THANK GOODNESS MY FIANC WAS WITH HIM AND THEY MANAGED TO GET HOME SAFELY. THE NEXT DAY ALL THE SAME THINGS ABOVE PLUS BACKUP CAMERA NOT WORKING AND WHEN IT PARK, THE BOX AROUND P KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF. NOW CAR WON'T ACCEL HARDLY AT ALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOUR OUT ON ROADS. THERE'S NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND GMC NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL POSTS WITH THE SAME ISSUES SO WHAT IS TAKING GMC SO LONG TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS ON VECHICLES?

NHTSA ODI 11141947

WIFE COMPLAINED THE A/C SUDDENLY STOPPED FLOWING FROM THE DASHBOARD VENTS WHILE RETURNING FROM A SHOPPING TRIP. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND WAS SWITCHING THE AIR FLOW DIRECTION FROM FLOOR TO DASH WHEN I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX AREA. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE A/C OFF, REMOVED THE GLOVE BOX, TURNED THE A/C BACK ON AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AN ONE OF THE A/C "ACTUATORS" UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX AREA. REMOVED ACTUATOR, WAS WARM TO THE TOUCH. WAITING FOR NEW REPLACEMENT PART T3983001.

NHTSA ODI 11130257

UNDER 100K MILES AND ENGINE JUST BLEW UP WITH OUT WARNING ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YRS PRIOR WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT WE HAD ISSUES WITH THE DVD CD PLAYER HAD TO REPLACE IT AND AFTER 1 YR IT WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD ISSUES WITH HEADLIGHT BULB BEING REPLACED THEN BLOWING OUT. THE BIG PROBLEM NOW IS THE ENGINE AND THE CAR NOT RUNNING

NHTSA ODI 11122883

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR EVERY TIME THAT I PUT GAS. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER BUT REFUSED TO GIVE ME A CARFAX REPORT. THEY STATED THAT THEY DID A FULL VEHICLE INSPECTION, AND STATED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS, BUT NO INSPECTION REPORT WAS IN THE CAR WHAT SO EVER. I AM READY TO FILE AN ARBITRATION COMPLAINT IF THIS SITUATION DOESN'T GET RESOLVED BECAUSE I AM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THE LOAN.

NHTSA ODI 11119291

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE IGNITION KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO KEEP RUNNING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER (BILL CRISPIN CHEVROLET, 7112 E MICHIGAN AVE, SALINE, MI) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,197.

NHTSA ODI 11118121

I HAVE A 2011 GMC ACADIA SLT. MY CAR IS EQUIPPED XENON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID TVD) LOW BEAMS LAMPS. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT SOCKETS HAVE MELTED INSIDE EACH HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE LOW BEAM LAMP CONNECTORS AND PORTIONS OF EACH WIRING HARNESS HAVE MELTED FROM THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE HID LAMP. I CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO SEE IF A RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. NO RECALL. I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MY LOCAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER. I WAS ENCOURAGED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SO MY LIGHT ISSUE COULD BE LOOKED INTO BY A GMC MAINTENANCE TEAM. I WAS ENCOURAGED TO RESOLVE MY LIGHTING ISSUE WITH MY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER.

NHTSA ODI 11113363

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 GMC ACADIA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH GMC MODELS, ESPECIALLY THE ACADIA MODEL. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT THE REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $7500. GIVEN THAT THIS IS WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ACADIA MODEL, I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI 11030021

VEHICLES AIRBAG WAS ACTIVATED, BROUGHT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE INVOLVING PASSENGER SIDE. WAS TOLD THERE WAS. O WARRANTY OR RECALLS TO COVER PROBLEM AND WOULD REQUIRE COMPLETE REWIRE OF HARNESS AS THEY WERE UNSURE WHICH WIRE WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE ($2,000). THROUGH RESEARCH FOUND THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR 2008-2011 ACADIA'S BUT OUR VIN WASN'T DESIGNATED AS BEING INVOLVED IN RECALL. HOW GM CAN CLAIM THAT A VEHICLE WXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL IS RIDICULOUS. THIS APPEARS TO ONCE AGAIN BE GM DISREGARDING SAFETY CAUSED BY THEIR FAILURES IN PRODUCTION SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY.

NHTSA ODI 10983128

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 10979440