Home · 2011 GMC Acadia Limited · Complaints

What 280 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia Limited

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)

16 of 280 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters

Sep 27, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

Sep 9, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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

NHTSA ODI 11353930

Jun 3, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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

Mar 29, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

STABILITRAK ALWAYS REPORTS OFF AND BRAKE WARNING ALWAYS DISPLAYS ON DASHBOARD, WHILE ON OR RUNNING. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY 4 MECHANICS. BREAKS ARE FINE. ENGINE WONT START AFTER EVERYTIME I PUMP GAS. I HAVE TO PUMP ACCELERATOR SEVRAL TIMES FOR ENGINE TO START. HAD IT LOOKED AT AGAIN. PROBLEM IS ONGOING. ALSO, SLOWED DOWN ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY. HAD TO PULL OVER SINCE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION. AFTER 30MINS OR SO. WAS ABLE TO RESTART.

NHTSA ODI 11319664

Jun 12, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TAKATA RECALL UPON SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR SHIFTS BUT READ PARTIALLY IN PARK WHICH MAKES VEHICLE STALL IN DRIVE! COMPUTER STATES TRACTION IS OFF! BUTTON FOR TRAN TOON DOES NOTHING! WARNING SERVICE STABILITYTRAK! CAR WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT NEXT DAY UPON GETTING READY TO LEAVE I EXPERIENCED THE ABOVE!

NHTSA ODI 11219605

Nov 20, 2018WheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

AS I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, I PRESSED ON MY BREAKS AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MUCH, I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND THEN THE GAS AND STARTED TO MOVE. AS I WAS DRIVING I FELT THE CAR PULLING. I NOTICED THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL OFF, ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF, AND STABILITRACK LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. I CALLED THE LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. NOW JUST WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11152808

Oct 22, 2018Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

Feb 16, 2017SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

MY POWER STEERING HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY LOUD AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS SIMILAR PROBLEMS OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ACADIA. RECENTLY, APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AGO, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY "STABILITRACK" IS OFF AND MY VEHICLE TELLS ME TO "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" AND IS NOT BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STOP AND SHAKES QUITE A BIT WHEN DOING SO. I TRAVEL FROM HOME TO TOWN AND OFTEN HAVE TO TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MULTIPLE CARS TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS MYSELF IN CLOSE VICINITY. THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS ROUGHLY $1300 TO FIX AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS ROUGHLY $800 TO FIX. WHY ARE THERE NOT RECALLS ON THESE PROBLEMS IF IT IS SO COMMON? GMC NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING POORLY MADE VEHICLES THAT COST A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ONLY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON TO FIX AND MY MILEAGE IS ONLY 72,000 MILES...THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, LIVES LOST, AND GMC SUED.

NHTSA ODI 10955050

Jan 10, 2017Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED WITH NO WARNING. VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE REDUCED SPEED WARNING INDICATOR AS THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED TO LESS THAN 15 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,675.

NHTSA ODI 10944104

Aug 31, 2016Electronic Stability Control (esc)

STABILITY CONTROL OF LIGHT ON

NHTSA ODI 10899706

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 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

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 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

Jun 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I SAW AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", THEN IT READ "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT READ WAS "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". THAT'S WHEN MY CAR DROPPED FROM GOING 55 MPH TO 20 MPH AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD A FEW MINUTES THEN BACK ONTO ROAD BUT HAD NO POWER. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP.THEY REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. COST ME $259.84. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607099

Feb 27, 2014Engine & coolingElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 17W GOING TO DEPOSIT, NY, I SUDDENLY SAW AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", THEN IT READ "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT READ WAS "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". THAT'S WHEN MY CAR DROPPED FROM GOING 60 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL TO 20 MPH AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THANKFULLY, I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. AT THAT POINT, I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED, THINKING THAT THE ERROR MESSAGE WOULD GO AWAY AND IT'S JUST A COMPUTER GLITCH, AS THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT HAD FULL POWER BUT THE ERROR MESSAGE TO "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" WAS STILL ON AND ALTERNATING BETWEEN THAT MESSAGE AND "TRACTION CONTROL OFF". THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE SEPARATE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY ALONG THE SAME HIGHWAY AND AT ONE OF THE TIMES, THERE WAS A LARGE VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND THANKFULLY, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY MOVE TO THE NEXT LANE BECAUSE I THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON EACH TIME IT HAPPENED. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD MANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS FIRST LEASED IN 2011. I THINK THAT ALL THE GMC ACADIAS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT POSES SUCH A TREMENDOUS DANGER TO MOTORISTS.

NHTSA ODI 10567199

Working with the data? Download all 280 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 Limited verdict →