What 300 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Acadia Limited

The back seat driver's side door shut with such impact as to amputate the finger from an adult. Vehicle was parked on incline when front driver's side door shut, the back door also shut. There were no safety features to protect fingers from the hinge side of back door. The force of the door slamming and lack of any space between the hinge side of the door and its frame caused my middle finger from the top knuckle up to be cut off completely thus amputated from hand.

NHTSA ODI 11676183

Rear driver side cast aluminum knuckle/hub assembly fractured. The rear wheel partially separated from the suspension with uncontrolled toe, camber, & caster. Wheel impacted suspension linkage causing fracture of rear driver side rotor. Vehicle is available for inspection. Incident caused driver to lose control of vehicle and go into ditch UNKNOWN if problem has been reproduced Vehicle/component has not been inspected No warning symptoms prior to failure

NHTSA ODI 11505287

Unsure of cause, but just lost our 2012 Acadia SLT2 AWD to a FIRE! Driver & passenger jumped out. Fire Dept rolled two trucks to extinguish. Parts melted onto the pavement. No prior warning.

NHTSA ODI 11443750

The power liftgate suddenly collapsed while I was standing underneath it. It dropped on top of my head pretty hard as it was a sudden drop of the liftgate. My safety was/is at risk and has caused injury to my head. Currently experiencing headaches. As condition progresses, I will be seeking medical attention. It is available for inspection. I have recorded a video of the problem. The problem is recurring and reproducing. I have not taken it to a dealer or independent service center today (9/13/2021 date of incident) as the weather is bad in my area (experiencing high rain and winds from a tropical storm). I will have it taken in on 9/14/2021. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning indicators or other symptoms prior to the initial collapse.

NHTSA ODI 11432824

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

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

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

CAR IS IN PARK WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED FOR POWER LIFT GATE. POWER LIFT GATE WILL OPEN, STAYS OPEN BRIEFLY, THEN WILL BEGIN CLOSE. IT 'CATCHES' ITSELF MOMENTARILY BEFORE SLAMMING SHUT. IT HAS SLAMMED SHUT ON ME SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING THE HATCHBACK DOOR TO HIT MY HEADING ONE OCCASION.

NHTSA ODI 11150839

WITH THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, I OPENED THE POWER LIFT GATE, IT OPENED COMPLETELY, AND SUDDENLY FEE FELL ABOUT 1 TO 2 FEET, STIKING ME AND MY 6 MONTH OLD SON IN THE HEAD. I HAVE REPEATED THIS OPERATION MULTIPLE TIMES STANDING CLEAR OF THE LIFT GATE AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING EVERYTIME. IT IS NOT SAFE TO ACCESS THE CARGO AREA OF MY VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS REPAIRED. I CALLED THE GMC DEALER IN BUNKIE, LA TO SEE IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE 2012 GMC ACADIA RECALLS FOR POWER LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONING, AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED. I DISAGREE.

NHTSA ODI 11032825

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). AFTER OPENING THE LIFTGATE, IT FELL WITHOUT WARNING. THE LIFTGATE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND KNOCKED HIM UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 07/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10986009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. *AS

NHTSA ODI 10968620

BACK IN JANUARY 2017 I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE POWER LIFTGATE RECALL WORK DONE AT MY DEALER. ON 3/1/17 IN THE EVENING, WHILE LOADING GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF MY CAR THE POWER LIFTGATE FELL FULL-FORCE RIGHT ONTO MY HEAD AND PUSHED DOWN ONTO MY NECK (AND IT IS A VERY HEAVY LIFTGATE!). THANKFULLY I DID NOT PASS OUT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY SERVICE GUY TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I ALSO BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THE VERY NEXT DAY. AFTER NOT FEELING WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE, I WENT URGENT CARE, WHO IN TURN SENT ME TO THE ER FOR A CT SCAN OF MY HEAD. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTGATE HAS BEEN SOLVED AND THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR SIGNS OF A FAILURE. I CONTACTED GM WHO HAS OPENED A CASE AND SAID THEY WILL BE CONTACTING ME. QUITE FRANKLY I WANT TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. I THINK ALL ACADIA OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW SERIOUS IN FACT THIS ISSUES IS. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE UNTIL I READ ARTICLES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON THE WEB. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING ALL OF MY PAPERWORK TO BE SCANNED AND WILL BE FILING A LAWSUIT IF GM CANNOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH ME. I WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD TO YOU ANY DOCUMENTATION YOU DESIRE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10958877

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A POWER LIFT GATE IN 2012. IT HAS ALWAYS WORKED FINE UNTIL ONE DAY RECENTLY I WAS HOLDING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PUTTING A PACKAGE IN THE TRUNK WHEN IT SUDDENLY REVERSED ITS MOTION JUST AS IT WAS ALMOST FULLY OPEN AND CAME SLAMMING DOWN ON BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I HITTING ME, THANKFULLY NOT MY DAUGHTER RIGHT IN THE HEAD. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS DOOR-THE SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WOULD MAKE IT GO BACK UP IF SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY WAS DEFECTIVE AT THIS POINT AND NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO BELIEVE THE DOOR WAS BEGINNING TO BREAK. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT AS WELL WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND IT CONTINUED TO TAKE PLACE AND FORCEFULLY SLAMMED THE DOOR DOWN. WE IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE POWER LIFT GATE; HOWEVER, IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL TO OPERATE THE DOOR MANUALLY BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY UP ON IT'S OWN AND HAD TO BE HELD OPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND HAVE A OPENED UP A CLAIM WITH THEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT REPORTED THAT THERE ARE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON THIS CAR PART. WE ARE VERY UPSET AND THANKFUL THAT MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT WORSE ( I DID SUFFER A HEADACHE FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY). I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS DOOR FORCEFULLY AND ERRATICALLY BEING BROUGHT DOWN ON MY HEAD. WE HAVE PAID SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THIS POINT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND FIX THE LIFT GATE. I HAVE SAVED MY RECEIPTS. THE PICTURE BELOW IS OF THE PART THAT BROKE.

NHTSA ODI 10938822

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION NEAR AN INTERSECTION AND APPROACHING THE LIGHT TO TURN. ( NEAR AIRPORT IN RALEIGH NC) THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTAL LOSS AND MINE HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS TOTAL LOSS. THERE ARE PERSONAL INJURIES. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT REPORT.

NHTSA ODI 10925628

MY WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS, AGES 11, 9, AND 6, WERE INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CRASH. AN ELDERLY MALE TRAVELED THRU A STEADY RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND STRUCK THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY WIFE'S VEHICLE AS SHE WAS CROSSING THE INTERSECTION WITH A GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AFTER IMPACT, THEY WERE PUSHED HEAD ON INTO A TRAFFIC STANDARD (WHICH WAS TAKEN OUT COMPLETELY) AND THEN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, ALSO HEAD ON. NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSEDLY EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS. IN MARCH OF 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL CONCERNING THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THESE VEHICLES (# 14V118000). I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND DID RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY OF 2014 FOR THE RECALL SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 10882239

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE SECURE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO RELEASE HITTING THE CONTACTS HEAD. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10825766

6/18/15 LIFTGATE CAME CRASHING DOWN ON MY HEAD SO THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP FOR 116.72 PLUS TAX. THERE IS A RECALL #15240 FOR THIS REPAIR. BUT MY CAR WAS BUILT ON 3/8/2012 WHICH IS 9 DAYS AFTER THE RECALL DATES YOU SUBMITTED. THIS DATE NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. MORE INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO THIS AND OBVIOUSLY MY CAR IN WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THIS RECALL. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET HIT SO HARD IN THE HEAD AND BE KILLED. I WOULD HOPE NOT. ON DEC 12, 2014 SECONDLY THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT AT 46000 MILES THE STEERING PUMP WENT OUT DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO KEEP THE RECEIPT THAT THEY ARE SEEING MORE OF THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. THIS REPAIR COST ME 2000.00. CAN THIS BE LOOKED INTO ALSO. NO STEERING PUMP SHOULD GO OUT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WHILE STEERING YOU COULD HEAR A WHINING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 10788706

ACADIA WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN HEARD/FELT A POP/BUMP. STEERING WHEEL STARTED SPINNING TO LEFT THEN RIGHT. STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHTENED OUT. WHILE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL FACING STRAIGHT, THE CAR STARTED VEERING SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE ACADIA HIT A CULVER THEN FLIPPED 4 TIMES, COMING TO A STOP OVER 160 FEET FROM WHERE IT LEFT THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI 10767269

I PRESSED THE POWER LIFT GATE BUTTON IT OPENED & I WAS PLACING A BAG IN BACK OF CAR WHEN THE LIFT GATE WENT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING & HIT ME IN THE HEAD. CAUSING A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION 2 HEAD LACERATIONS THAT REQUIRED 7 STAPLES

NHTSA ODI 10748097

AUTOMATIC TAILGATE WAS ACTIVATED AND IT PRECEEDED TO THE TOP AND STOPPED. I LEANED INTO THE BACK TO GET SOMETHING OUT AND THE TAILGATE CAME CRASHING DOWN WITH NO WARNING, HITTING MY BACK AND DID NOT REBOUND. IF MY CHILD HAD BEEN STANDING THERE NEXT TO ME HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE FORCE FROM THE SUPPORTS GIVING OUT DROPPED THE DOOR WITH FULL FORCE. I AM JUST THANKFUL IT DIDN'T HIT MY NECK OR HEAD. THERE SHOULD BE A SECONDARY CATCH FOR THE DOOR TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. SOMEONE COULD EASILY BE KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 10724850

ON 03/07/15 AT APPROXIMATELY 1715 AT TYLER STATE PARK OUR VEHICLE WAS BACKED INTO THE PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AT CABIN ONE. OUR 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN OUR 2012 GMC ACADIA IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND OUR FRIEND'S 9 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT; WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE IGNITION TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS IN MY HUSBAND POCKET. OUR 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD DOWN THE INCLINE, ACROSS THE STREET AND HITTING TWO TREES. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER AND RIGHT QUARTER PANEL CAUSING THE PASSENGER DOOR TO CATCH ON THE METAL FRAME WHEN OPENING THE DOOR AND THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVEN BETWEEN 65MPH-70 MPH. BOTH CHILDREN WERE OK WITH JUST BUMPS ON THEIR HEADS. I CALLED THE GM DEALER IN TYLER, TX AND WAS ADVISED BY [XXX] TO CONTACT A GM DEALER WHEN I RETURNED HOME SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AND WE WERE ON VACATION. ON MONDAY MARCH 16, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 0715 I CALLED TEXAN GMC AND SPOKE WITH [XXX] AND ADVISED HIM OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE ON VACATION. [XXX] ADVISED ME I COULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED BUT I WOULD NEED TO CALL GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 800-222-1020 AND GET AND INCIDENT REPORT STARTED WITH THEM AND SEE WHEN THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. I CALLED GMC SPOKE WITH [XXX] AND SHE GAVE ME A CLAIM #[XXX] I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DONE ON MONDAY 03/16015 AND WAS CALLED ON MONDAY 03//23/2015 ADVISING ME THAT THERE WERE NO FINDING OF A MALFUNCTION WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT GM WILL NOT BE FIXING ANY DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE THAT WAS A RESULT TO THIS INCIDENT. NO MATTER THEIR FINDINGS THERE IS A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE AND I FEEL THAT GM DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO THERE BEING A MALFUNCTION. I JUST WANT THE ISSUE FIXED SO THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701556

I OPENED THE REAR TAILGATE AND WHILE TAKING AN OBJECT OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THE TAILGATE CAME CRASHING DOWN ON MY HEAD WITH GREAT FORCE. AFTER PHYSICALLY RECOVERING, I TESTED THE TAILGATE AND THE ISSUE REPEATED ITSELF. I CALLED KITAHARA GMC IN FRESNO, CA AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. KITAHARA REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A WEAR PART AND THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RECALLS THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO GUARANTEE THAT THE ISSUE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY OFFERED $100 TOWARD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND CLAIMED THAT THEY DO NOT ISSUE RECALLS. I AM REPORTING THIS ISSUE TO THE NHTSA, BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THIS DEFAULT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION AT THE TIME OF MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678349

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN REPLACING THE LIGHT BULB, THE BASE OF THE BULB AND THE PLASTIC HARNESS WAS BURNT AND MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WERE REPLACED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10667686

AS POWER LIFTGATE WAS OPENING, I STARTED TO RETRIEVE ITEMS FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS THE LIFTGATE REACHED THE TOP OF IT'S OPENING RANGE, IT IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED DOWN ABOUT 12 INCHES, HITTING ME IN THE HEAD AND CAUSING SEVERE NECK PAIN, AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL DOWN. AT THIS POINT, I AM UNSURE WHAT THE ACTUAL DEFECT IS AS I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GM YET TO BE DIAGNOSED. IN GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I CAME ACROSS ANOTHER PERSON THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. "I MADE A REPORT TO THE NHTSA. THE NUMBER IS 10464171" *TR

NHTSA ODI 10641583