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 4 of 12

Jun 1, 2020

A/C SYSTEM - ON OUR DUAL CONTROL TEMPERATURE SETTING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONSTANTLY BLOWS HEAT NO MATER HOW COOL THE SETTING MAY BE. THE PASSENGER SIDE COOLING WORKS PROPERLY BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS ALWAYS HOT.

NHTSA ODI 11326810

May 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINDLE AUTO PLAZA FORD (523 STONE HARBOR BLVD, CAPE MAY COURT, (609) 465-5000), WHERE THE STARTER, THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO THE SAME DEALER, WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE SENSOR FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11323914

Apr 9, 2020Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GOLD STAR BUICK GMC (1980 N DAVIS RD, SALINAS, CA 93907) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11320670

Mar 24, 2020Engine

BOUGHT THIS GMC USED WITH 32000 MILES. PERFORMED REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE CAR JUST HIT 102,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. I WAS DRIVING IT HOME AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST DIED. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY. THERE WAS NO WARNING AS I HEARD NO NOISE, DID NOT SEE ANY BUILD-UP OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP AND A 2ND MECHANIC BOTH VERIFIED THE ENGINE ISSUE. IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND THAT A VEHICLE THAT JUST HIT 100,000 MILES WOULD HAVE AN ENGINE DO THIS. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT $8,000-$9,000.

NHTSA ODI 11319166

Feb 28, 2020Electrical systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON 2/6/20 AFTER GETTING INTO MY VEHICLE AND TURNING ON THE IGNITION VEHICLE WOULDN'T START SO THE SAME DAY I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A CERTIFIED DEALER IN UNION. AT THE DEALER THEY FIRST STATED THE GROUND WIRE TO STARTER WAS CHEWED UP SO THEY REPLACED THE STARTER AND THEN A FEW HOURS LATER THEY STATED NO COMUNICATION WITH ECM & BCM. THEY THEN STATED THEYFOUND WATER INTRUSION ON PASSAGE SIDE FUSE BLOCK THAT SHORTED OUT THE ECM AND BCM. AT DEALER THEY REPLACED FUSE BLOCK, ECM AND BCM. WELL AFTER $2027.05 LATER THEY WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE RUNNING AGAIN BUT NOW THE CAR RADIO AND MY ONSTAR IN VEHICLE DON'T WORK, ALSO TRACTION CONTROL,,STABILITRAK , ABS & AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHTS ARE ON. TWO WEEKS LATER MY CAR BATTERY DIED SO I REPLACED DEAD BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE. MY THING IS THIS IF ALL THESE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ALL OVER ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT I TRULY THINK ALL THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED A.S.A.P. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. BY THE WAY I JUST BROUGHT 2012 GMC ARCADIA ON NOV.27,2019 AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE GOING OUT OF MY POCKET TRYING TO GET ALL THESE ISSUES FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11312016

Feb 26, 2020Suspension

REPLACED HEADLIGHTS - DROVE DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE STARTED BOUNCING MECHANIC TOOK IT BACK IN THE STRUTS FAILED WHEN THE TIRES WERE REMOVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UP

NHTSA ODI 11311558

Feb 6, 2020

I'VE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLES LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WILL SHUDDER WHILE GOING UP HILL OR DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE. I HAD THE PCV REPLACED SPARK PLUGS. NO CODES, FLUID IS GOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11307602

Jan 11, 2020Body & structure

OUR 2012 ACADIA LIFTGATE SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED WHEN MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE LIFTGATE, COMING DOWN TOWARDS HIS HEAD WITH SPEED AND FORCE. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET HIS HANDS UP BEFORE IT CRASHED DOWN ON HIS HEAD. HAD THIS BEEN A CHILD, SOMEONE WITH SLOWER REFLEXES, OR HAD HIS REFLEXES FAILED HIM HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE BEEN AN RN FOR 15 YEARS, 6 OF WHICH I SPENT ON A TRAUMA UNIT CARING FOR PROBLEM WITH CLOSED HEAD INJURIES AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS FIRST HAND. THE PHYSICS TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE ARE ELEMENTARY. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO DEALERSHIP THE DAY WE TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD BASIC WEAR AND TEAR. NO NOT A SPONTANEOUS ISSUE LIKE THIS THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR DEATH. I OPENED A CASE WITH GMC AND THROUGH GMC FACEBOOK MESSENGER ONLY TO BE CONTINUOUSLY CORRALLED BACK TO THE DEALER. GMC MUST DO BETTER FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. DATE OF ISSUE WAS FALL OF 2019. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK WITH GMC TO NO AVAIL AND NOW BELIEVE I MUST TAKE THIS ISSUE FURTHER AS I DO NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE'S INJURY ON MY CONSCIOUS AND GMC CLEARLY HAS NO CONCERN FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11298605

Dec 25, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING MY GMC ACADIA THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER, IT THEN GAVE A MESSAGE THAT SAID TRACTION CONTROL OFF/ON IT ALSO HAD STABILITY TRACK MESSAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11291202

Dec 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WELL GM STRIKES AGAIN. I JUST SUBMITTED A TRANSMISSON WITH MY 2014 SILVERADO BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MY 12 ACADIA HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE. WE BOUGHT THIS ACADIA USED AND WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED TODAY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED SIGNIFICANTLY ENOUGH THAT THE CAR WOULDNT GO. I AM EXTREMELY ANNOYED. I THINK ITS TIME WE GO TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER...THE 35R CLUTCH WAVE PLATE IS JUNK AND SENDS METAL THROUGHOUT TRANS AND DESTROYS IT.

NHTSA ODI 11290988

Dec 18, 2019Electrical system

WATER COLLECTS INSIDE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE DOORS AND BODY. EVENTUALLY CAUSES NO SOUND FROM ALL SPEAKERS EXCEPT THE SMALL TWEETERS ON THE A PILLARS. THEN THE WARNING BEEPING FROM BACKUP SENSOR CANNOT BE HEARD. THIS PUTS PEDESTRIANS IN DANGER ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENS AND DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM YET. THEY ARE EXPECTING IT TO BEEP IF SOMEONE LIKE A CHILD SUDDENLY CROSSES BEHIND THE VECHILE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL GM LAMBDA MODELS SINCE 2008. HERE ARE LINKS TO FORUM DISCUSSIONS FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS. HTTPS://WWW.ACADIAFORUM.NET/THREADS/2008-ACADIA-BACK-UP-SENSORS-NOT-WORKING.10541/#POST-191925 HTTPS://WWW.TRAVERSEFORUM.COM/THREADS/2009-TRAVERSE-NO-SOUND-FROM-SPEAKERS.3662/ HTTPS://WWW.TRAVERSEFORUM.COM/THREADS/MULTIPLE-ELECTRICAL-ISSUES-WITH-2009-TRAVERSE.5015/ HTTPS://WWW.ACADIAFORUM.NET/THREADS/WATER-IN-THE-DOOR-HARNESS-CONNECTORS.13448/HTTPS://WWW.ACADIAFORUM.NET/THREADS/LEFT-SIDE-SPEAKERS-NOT-WORKING.8902/#POST-163142

NHTSA ODI 11289961

Dec 4, 2019Electrical systemLights

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACED, MELTING/SHATTERING/CRACKING ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES (BOTH) MOST LIKELY ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING IT TO HEAT UP

NHTSA ODI 11286874

Dec 1, 2019Engine

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MADE MY VEHICLE MADE A WEIRD NOISE AND LOST ALL POWER. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. I SPENT 10K ON A NEWER VEHICLE AND THIS HAPPENS. DEALERSHIP IT GONNA BE ANYWHERE FROM $5,500-7,000 TO FIX IT. I CAM'T AFFORD TO FIX THAT. HOW IS GM STILL MAKING THIS MOTOR WITH A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND HOW IS THIS YEAR NOT ON RECALL FOR THIS THE YEARS BEFORE WERE ON RECALL FOR IT. MY VEHICLE JUSTS SITS ON TRAILER. JAS BEEN THERE FOR 2 MONTHES. NOTHING LIKE PAYIN ON A DEAD HORSE

NHTSA ODI 11283148

Nov 14, 2019

REAR LIFT GATE SLAMS DOWN WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN IT. STARTED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO 11/01/2019. MY PREGNANT GRAND DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. WE HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM SHOPPING WHEN WE OPENED THE LIFT GATE TO REMOVE PACKAGES WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11279971

Oct 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR SPUTTERS AND HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS. I TOOK IT TO A GMC DEALER AND FOUND OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION WERE BAD. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE GMC ACADIA. I RECEIVED A PRICE OF APPROXIMATELY $4500 TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I DID CONTACT GMC AND WAS TOLD NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED.

NHTSA ODI 11271771

Sep 22, 2019Airbags

SERVICE AIRBAG DISPLAY ON DASH

NHTSA ODI 11257237

Sep 20, 2019AirbagsSeats

WARNING "SERVICE AIR BAGS" POPS UP; DEALER SAYS NEEDS PASSENGER PRESENCE ASSEMBLY $200 AND LABOR $500. SAYS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. ALSO HAPPENED 1 YR AGO BUT MESSAGE WENT AWAY UNTIL RECENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11256939

Sep 13, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGED THE AMPLIFIER THAT CONTROLLED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE RADIO OCCASIONALLY MADE POPPING NOISES. THE CONTACT CALLED BALISE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC AT 413-233-4668 (LOCATED AT 440 HALL OF FAME AVE, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01105) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255368

Sep 9, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I BOUGHT MY CAR AT THE END OF APRIL. JUNE 27. 2019 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAD THE STABILITRAK ISSUE. AT 102206 MILES, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RR AND RF SPEED SENSORS AND RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARINGS. TODAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 AND AT 103003 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING BOTH TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES THE BRAKES GRIND AND I COULD FEEL LOOSENESS IN THE GAS PETAL AND IT SQUEAKS LIKE AN OLD SPRING BED. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN AND I ONLY USE THE CAR TO GET TO VA APPTS, GROCERY STORE AND GENERAL ERRANDS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND ANOTHER $1,200 TO GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE READ ONLINE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS STABILITRAK SYSTEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE I CONTACT A LEMON LAW LAWYER.

NHTSA ODI 11254231

Aug 31, 2019Airbags

SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE IS ON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER YEAR MODELS THAT CAUSED THIS LIGHT TO COME ON AND I WONDERED IF THIS WAS THE SAME CONNECTOR DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11252543

Aug 28, 2019Engine

CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY. IT WAS LOUD UPON STARTING. THE CAR WOULD MAKE ESPECIALLY LOUD NOISES WHEN ON CURVES. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. WAS TOLD THE TIMING CHAIN IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACED. THIS MECHANIC TOLD ME HE SEES THIS PROBLEM A LOT & IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED BY A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP'S COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS $4400. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. UPON CALLING MECHANICS ALL OVER TOWN, THEY ALL SAY IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM'S TIMING CHAINS.

NHTSA ODI 11251965

Aug 25, 2019EngineFuel system

TAMARA RECALL I HAVE REPLACED TWO HARD FUEL LINES IN THE LAST MONTH FROM THEM CRACKING OR THE WELD FAILURE AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE ONE OF THEM AGAIN. WHEN THESE LINES FAIL THEY SPRAY FUEL ON THE HOT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11246300

Aug 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AND HOLDING THE SPEED AT 50-60MPH THE RPM BEGIN TO FLUCTUATE AND THE CAR SHUDDERS. ALSO WHEN GOING UP HILLS IT DOES THEM SAME THING AND AND FEELS AS IF IT HAS A HARDER TIME SHIFTING.MY CAR ONLY HAS 97944 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11246118

Aug 14, 2019Steering

WHILE GOING UNDER 10MPH ON A ROADWAY, (3) DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, MY STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I BRAKED AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT RESUMED STEERING. GOT HOME AND MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, ALL FULL. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE BUT MANY SURROUNDING YEARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11243898

Aug 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

THE RPM GAUGE IS FLUCTUATING UP AN DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HIGHWAY, CITY ROADS IT IS HAPPENING WHEN COLD OR WARM AND IT DON'T MATTER IF IT'S FLAT ROADS OR A INCLINE. IT BEEN HAPPENING MORE AN MORE NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11241331

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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 →