What 300 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Acadia Denali

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to release from low gear while at a stop. The transmission was backed up. The engine light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there were no recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 213,766.

NHTSA ODI 11739205

The transmission has all the symptoms of a broken wave plate and/or torque convertor as reported in the first generation T75 transmission service bulletin. This started occurring at 120K. I know the service bulletin was for the 2007-2009 models but the 2012 had the same exact transmission and waveplate. The car feels like it's going to shudder out and die on the highway.

NHTSA ODI 11681462

Ratle sound in the engine thinking it may be the timing chain. Code p0430 came on stating catalytic converter bank 2 needs replaced. We replaced o2 sensor downstream on bank 2 code was cleared by shop. After driving a few miles same check engine light came on and i took it to the shop they hooked it up to run the code and it was the same p0430 again

NHTSA ODI 11668471

Transmission is slipping, shuddering at low speeds making car unsafe to drive

NHTSA ODI 11585144

TRANSMISSION STARTES SLIPPING THEN WENT OUT

NHTSA ODI 11582081

I noticed shuddering while driving my car and when I took it to my mechanic upon test driving and inspecting it he realized the torque converter is not strong enough for the size of the car. He informed me driving it with the improper size will cause it to shudder and accelerate or not accelerate correctly while driving and cause slipping while shifting gears. Those issue have been happening the entire time I've had it and if the car slips and goes too fast or slips and loses power it is a danger to me and the other cars on the road. There were no codes or warning indicators while this is happening.

NHTSA ODI 11568275

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the RPM would rise to 4,000 however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle and became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine block, camshaft, reverse gear, and transmission housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11546058

No warning light when transmission went out. Traction control/stabiltrac service light came on, doors locking and unlocking, not stating what gear acadia was in. Check engine light eventually came on, after it stalled twice on highway. Vehicle is at gmc dealership service department and they are saying its not communicating and are checking wiring harness wires. I have replaced transmission and torque converter and now i dont know what to expect now. Only had it for 3 years so far. I almost got rear ended when it stalled twice before backfiring and a rough swift shift.

NHTSA ODI 11539579

The automatic passenger side window does not work anymore, it went out a couple months after I bought it. I have always done maintenance on my vehicle, oil changes, tires, etc. and the timing chain went out on it for some unknown reason. Very pricey to fix. I would hate to be stranded with my 6 grandchildren with. With all the complaints on the timing chain, this should be a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11526799

We just purchased this 2012 gmc acadia about 30 days ago and every day we drive it we have this issue.. from a complete stop when pressing the gas the truck feels like it has no power starting to go until the rpm’s each maybe 4500 then the truck will jerk and studder through the intersections. i feel like we are going to be in a MAJOR accident while proceeding through intersections. the dealer states there is nothing they can do. there is absolutely something wrong when it jerks and stutters to move

NHTSA ODI 11472074

The contact owns 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for the state-mandated smog test and he was informed that there was an issue with the transmission. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432835

Was waiting on dealership to catch up to bring in for a transmission problem. I know it is transmission related due to not wanting to shift properly and the fact my friend has same make and model only about 100000 more miles than mine does was doing same symptoms and she took to 3 or 4 mechanics and all said nothing wrong..no codes show up...needless to say after about 2 months it stalled out on her on interstate with speed limit 75 and she barely moving. I myself was at a sharp curve in turn lane waiting on traffic and when I braked to stop it made horrible sound and felt like brake was pushed through floorboard. When I was clear to go i push accelerator down to the floor and am barely inching along and am now stuck in the road in a 90 curve where its hard to see traffic coming. This was very scary and traumatic having this happen. I'm just glad it was only myself and the other drivers were being observant and paying attention to the road. This has happened a lot compared to research on blogs car complaints websites. The common problem is it doesn't give a code when diagnostic checked. 99% of cases show they best guess or find something else wrong and you pay 3 or 4 charges until you finally convince them its the transmission and then you're out 5000. Not counting the average 4500 you've already pd due to not listening to the driver of their vehicle and causing unnecessary charges and leaving you without a vehicle too long that isn't necessary.

NHTSA ODI 11431779

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNDER ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE SHUTTERS BETWEEN 1100-2300 RPM THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL OF THESE VEHICLES THIS MAJOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED AS THIS IS A WAVE PLATE ISSUE IN THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE TRANSMISSION MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT 86,000 MILES AND IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND MUST ME ADDRESSED IF NOT THIS CAN RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THIS RECALL WAS EXECUTED ON THE 2007-10 ACADIA, TRAVERSE, OUTLOOK. NUMBER 10126145.

NHTSA ODI 11223063

CAR MAKE SOME VIBRATION AND LOSS POWER AT BETWEEN 2000 AND 2700 RPM, WHEN I MAKE SOME ACELETION ON LOW RPM, AND MAKE SOME NOISE WHEN TRANSMITION NEED CHANGE GEAR, UP O DOWN, ON LOW RPM, DEALER IN FIRST TIME, SAY THE PROBLEM WAS A THROTTLE BODY, AND I FIXED, BUT A PROBLEM KEEP GOING, WENT I RETURNER TO DEALER SHOP, NOW THEY SAY IT'S A TRAMITION PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11208312

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LAST WEEK MY 2012 AWD ACADIA HAVING A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. 1. WHILE DRIVING, DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE/DISENGAGE 2. TRANS APPEARS TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL (HIGH REV/ NO POWER) 3. ON THE DASHBOARD DIGITAL READOUT THE TRANSMISSION "BLINKED" INTO P FROM D (WHILE DRIVING) 4. TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES/DISENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND HARD STOPS 5. TRANS ENTERS SOME SORT OF LIMP HOME MODE WHERE IT ALLOWS ME TO DRIVE ONLY UP TO 60MPH, @4000 RPM (LIKE 3RD GEAR) THIS PROCESS REPEATED CONTINUALLY FOR OVER AN HOUR DRIVE TO THE DEALER, NORMAL OPERATION APPEARED TO OCCUR AT SPEEDS BELOW 45MPH, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY AND THE ISSUE CONTINUED AGAIN AT THE LOWER SPEEDS. I CALL ONSTAR AND THEY PULL CODES FOR ME WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DEALER: ECM CODE =U0101 TCM CODE= NONE (FAILED TO PROBE MODULE) ABS CODE= U0101 ABS CODE= C0561 (ISSUE WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM)- "SERVICE WITHIN 7 DAYS" A QUICK SEARCH IN AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS REVEALS SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALMOST THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WITH NO SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11194750