Home · 2012 GMC Acadia Denali · Complaints

What 300 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 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 (300)Crash / fire / injury (24)Steering (46)Body & structure (43)Transmission & drivetrain (43)Electrical system (41)Engine (36)Airbags (34)Fuel system (25)Lights (21)Visibility & wipers (12)Speed control (10)

Newest first · 300 complaints · page 3 of 12

Aug 2, 2021

My air conditioning stopped working and the power steering line got so hot that it melted a pinhole in my AC line so all the freon would leak out. the power steering hose is so close that when it gets hot it melts the aluminum air conditioning line. The only way to fix it is to buy a aftermarket line and splice it together with the damaged a/c line. And the safety Hazzard is that if you're in hot car,you'll be more tempted to pull out in front of someone because you need to get some air. If you look at the setup you will see the engineer made a mistake, that's why they changed the design in later years,I think they should be responsible for making such a preventable mistake.

NHTSA ODI 11427485

Jul 16, 2021

When the rear lift gate gets to the full open position, it immediately falls down causing a safety hazzard. Luckily no one was in the way when this happened. I haven't had it inspected yet and there are no warning lights or messages. It is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11425144

Jun 14, 2021Lights

Drl sockets melted safely issue A service bulletin was issued but not a recall , gm will now not fix it unless I pay 2,600 This is a fire hazard

NHTSA ODI 11420837

May 8, 2021Engine

A P0306 CODE APPEARED. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE EXPRESSED THAT MY ENGINE WAS 'POROUS'. WHEN I START MY ENGINE THERE'S A ROUGH START. WHEN IT'S IDLE THE CAR SHAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11415679

Mar 14, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN IT IS PARKED AND IDLING IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL. WHEN I AM DRIVING IT IT SHIFTS HARD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING. I TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID HIS COMPUTER SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1500 TO REPAIR IT INCLUDING LABOR. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS IN STOCK AND THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY OF THEM. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD NOT STOCK A $700 PART IN THAT QUANTITY IF THEY WERE NOT HAVING QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART. OTHER SUV'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND I WAS WONDERING WHY MINE WAS NOT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR ME AND GET BACK TO ME WITH AN EXPLANATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS I MAY BE GETTING STUCK SOMEWHERE WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE CAR..

NHTSA ODI 11402864

Feb 20, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING. ALL GAUGES STOP RESPONDING AND AUTOMATIC CONTROLS BECOME DISABLED. ALL DASHBOARD GAUGES BECOME DISABLED AND UNRESPONSIVE AND LOOSES INFORMATION. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT BRIGHTENS TO DAY MODE. AUTOMATIC LIGHT SYSTEM, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM, BLINKER INDICATOR, RADIO, DVD PLAYER, SEAT BELT SIGNAL, DRIVER DOOR BUTTONS, AND HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY BECOME DISABLED. INFORMATION READS PARK ASSIST OFF, SERVICE AIR BAGS, CHECK GAUGES AND ALL FAULT LIGHTS DISPLAY. ISSUES OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND RELATIVELY. THE ONSET, FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF ISSUES FLUCTUATE AT RANDOM.

NHTSA ODI 11397074

Feb 11, 2021AirbagsBody & structure

DASH CRACKS EVERYWHERE, ALL ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE CRACKING. NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN USING A UN U.V PROTECTED PLASTIC.

NHTSA ODI 11395692

Feb 10, 2021SteeringEngine

I HAVE 2 ONGOING ISSUES, 1ST IS THE CAR WILL BE DRIVING FINE THEN GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HAVE A CODE FOR CYLINDER MISFIRE. CAR WAS AT DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH ISSUE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE WHILE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. MYSTERIOUSLY THE INTAKE HAS TO COME APART AND BE REWORKED SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND STILL HAS SAME ISSUES. THE 2ND AND MORE CONCERNING ISSUE IS THE POWER STEERING. INITIALLY TOOK IN AND TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS CHANGED. STILL HAD SAME ISSUE AND TOLD POWER STEERING NOW NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, SO WE DID. SOUND AND STILL STIFF AFTER 2 RACKS AND 2 PUMPS. MECHANIC REFUSED TO WORK IT AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER YESTERDAY. SAYS NEEDS NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. SO DEALER TOOK FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID IT'S STILL DOING IT AND NEEDS ANOTHER RACK AND PINION. AT WHAT POINT IS GMC THAT HAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH STEERING GOING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THIS THING AND I CAN'T FEEL UNSAFE IN IT. WHAT CAN I DO?

NHTSA ODI 11395603

Feb 5, 2021Engine

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNS OUT TO BE CADILLAC CONVERTER.

NHTSA ODI 11394901

Jan 25, 2021Airbags1 injury

THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED COMING UP MY DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ONLY 8 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE ASKED FOR EXPLANATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON HOW THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IF THEY DID NOT MALFUNCTION. THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OR PROOF MY VEHICLE WAS TESTED.

NHTSA ODI 11389876

Dec 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2012 ACADIA ONLY HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT, AND I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT STARTED AS A VIBRATION (WASHBOARD SOUND) FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS WHEN YOU WERE TRAVELING AT 55 TO 65 MPH. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULAR. AFTER HAVING IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME VIBRATION, I WAS FINALLY TOLD IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS SAD THAT I HAVE SUCH A NICE VEHICLE AND WILL HAVE TO TRADE BECAUSE GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL COST AT LEAST $5,000.00. THIS COULD KEEP ME FROM PURCHASING ANOTHER GMC. THE PROBLEM IS ON GOING UNITL I DECIDE, REPAIR OR TRADE.

NHTSA ODI 11384927

Nov 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FAILING PER DUBLIN GMC. THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE STUTTERING. IN ADDITION, THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS FAILED AND WILL NOT STAY OPEN IN EITHER POWER OR MANUEL MODE. APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE MANUFACTUR DATE IS OUT SIDE THE RECALL MONTHS FOR THIS RECALL (PER DUBLIN GMC AND SELF CHECK ON THIS WEBSITE) RECALL # 5420 AND NHST #15V415000. HOW DO I GET THE MFG TO PAY FOR THIS POTENTIALLY LETHAL FAILURE (IT ALMOST GOT ME WHEN IT FAILED AS I WAS TAKING GROCERIES OUT OF BACK)

NHTSA ODI 11374923

Nov 5, 2020

MY VEHICLES HATCHBACK/ TRUNK LIFTS UP BUT WILL NOT STAY OPEN. AFTER OPENING IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AND FALLS. IT ACTUALLY FELL ON ME.

NHTSA ODI 11373155

Oct 28, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEAR VALVE HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NIELSEN CHEVROLET (1 US-46, DOVER, NJ 07801) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FEE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,750.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11366843

Oct 26, 2020Visibility & wipers

FRONT BLOWER MOTOR FOR DEFROST/HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. SEEMS TO STOP WORKING MORE OFTEN IN RAIN, SNOW, AND COLD. HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK AND WINDSHIELD FOGS UP. VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. BELIEVE THAT SOME OLDER ACADIA MODEL YEARS HAVE A RECALL ON THE BLOWER MOTOR BECAUSE IT GETS WET DURING RAIN AND SNOW AND NO LONGER WORKS. THE 2012 ACADIA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. POTENTIALLY GETTING WET THROUGH A FAULT IN THE SUNROOF?? (08312020REAR BLOWER CONTINUES TO WORK.)

NHTSA ODI 11366455

Oct 26, 2020Airbags

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, SPONTANEOUSLY CAME ON, AND REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES. REPAIR ESTIMATE FROM GMC DEALER: PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG $991.50 R REAR SENSOR $500.85

NHTSA ODI 11366451

Oct 6, 2020AirbagsCrash

THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO THE DITCH. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE BUT ALL THE REAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE BACK BUT NOT IN THE FRONT. THE FRONT SEATBELTS LOCKED BUT NOT THE BACK....

NHTSA ODI 11362989

Sep 25, 2020Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR STARTED TO CHANGE COLOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIRROR WAS DISCOLORED FROM THE BOTTOM TO HALFWAY UP THE MIRROR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GROPPETTI AUTOMOTIVE FAMILY VISALIA BUICK GMC (1313 E. MAIN ST. VISALIA, CA 93292; (866)248-5241) WHO STATED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11361141

Sep 8, 2020Body & structure

THE BACK LIFE GATE DOES NOT STAY OPEN. IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WITH PRESS OF BUTTON: HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT STAY OPEN AND WILL FALL DOWN FAST WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11353728

Sep 7, 2020

TRANSMISSION STUTTER

NHTSA ODI 11353502

Aug 31, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OR SHUDDERING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MOST FREQUENTLY NOTICEABLE AROUND THE SHIFT POINTS BETWEEN 2ND&3RD, OR 3RD & 4TH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS DOWNSHIFTING TO CLIMB A HILL. THERE IS A STRONG VIBRATION AND RPM BOUNCE A BIT BEFORE IT FINALLY ENGAGES AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT ACADIAS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, NOTABLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND WAVE PLATE.

NHTSA ODI 11352304

Aug 17, 2020Body & structure

TAILGATE FALLS DOWN AFTER OPENING. WILL NOT STAY UP WITHOUT HOLDING.

NHTSA ODI 11349848

Jul 21, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE ENGINE MISFIRE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A SECONDARY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11340594

Jul 3, 2020Lights

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY'S ARE MELTED AND HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK. SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GMC HEADLIGHTS IN YEARS PAST THAT THEY CONTINUE TO NOT ADDRESS. I AM FURIOUS THAT DESPITE REPORTS AND RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE FROM MANY YEARS AND MANY MAKES AND MODELS THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED AND CONTINUE TO AVOID RECALLING ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS GARBAGE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THAT CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL AND INCREASES RISK OF CAR FIRE. I WANT THIS REPAIRED BY THIS GARBAGE COMPANY AND SOMETHING DONE TO MAKE THEM STOP UTILIZING THESE UNSAFE AND FAULTY ASSEMBLIES.

NHTSA ODI 11337303

Jun 23, 2020SteeringSuspension

I STARTED HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS WHEN I WOULD SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON A CITY STREET. THE STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT. UNSAFE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD THE POWER STEERING UNIT REPLACED, THEN I WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION HAD METAL IN THEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FLUSH OUT THE METAL. I PICKED UP THE CAR TODAY AFTER A COST OF $2,200. DROVE HOME ON CITY STREETS, SAME PROBLEM ONLY TIGHTER TURNING. CALLED THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD TO RETURN THE CAR. JUST LUCK I HAVE ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330438

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Working with the data? Download all 300 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 2012 GMC Acadia Denali verdict →