What 134 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali

After having for just under a year the transmission seems to be acting up when going from 2nd to 3rd gear around 30mph to 40mph. After reading several forms it seems this is a common occurrence in these vehicles.. not sure if it’s been reported but all the forms are showing people had to spend a good amount to determine what the issue is and seems that everyone had to replace the transmissions for the problem to go away. I’m not sure how everything works but feel it should be looked at maybe.

NHTSA ODI 11454610

On 02/10/2022 my side warning detection monitors are both activated/lit up intrmittently while parked or driving indicating faulty operation and therefore replacement. The vehicle has around 120K miles so out of any warranty. But this will be the third or fourth time ( not original ow er so dealer has records) that this has happened. Last time in December 2020 I had an extended warranty that covered the passenger module but was not the "improved" module with some type of casing to address the corrosion causing the failures as they wanted an extra $3-400 for that part. Why they still manufacture the bad part is interesting since they have recognized they have a pro lem with the older part. Have seen other complaints that not fixing these can result in other electrical failures that can be dangerous even an electrical fire was reported from this. Obviously I feel the issue is widespread enough for a blanket recall beyond the one issued for 6 y3ears or 80K miles.

NHTSA ODI 11453076

Started having issues with transmission stuttering during gear shifts. Very slow shifts at time and difficulty keeps RPM up when climbing hills. Took it to a shop that identified an issue and was advised the transmission would need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11417386

WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE GOES COMPLETELY DEAD. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART AT EACH STOP. WHEN IT DOES START, IT IS NOT A SMOOTH TAKE OFF, IT IS EXTREMELY ROUGH, ALMOST LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THE WRONG GEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. AND IT IS GETTING WORST EVERY DAY. I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR US. I STILL HAVE A YEAR TO PAY FOR IT AND I AM HEARING MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT, BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT IS WRONG, OR IF THEY CAN REPAIR IT. FRANKLY, THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS MANY CARS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11415192

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CEASED ON THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WHITESIDE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (50714 NATIONAL RD E, ST CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH PRODUCT LIABILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. *DT THE CONTACT HAS FILED A SAFETY REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI 11406500

BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE AC DOESN'T WORK SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11406326

WON'T TAKE FUEL JUST JUMPS AT ONE POINT THEN EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH FUEL IT WILL JUST SET AND GRIND I HAVE TO KEEP PUMPING THE GAS FOR IT TO FINALLY START THEN IT STARTS JUMPING FOR AWHILE BETWEEN FILL UPS AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL DIE WHEN I GO TO PULL ON THE ROAD IT'S THAT BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11398876

THE SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM HAS APPEARED IN THE DIC DUE TO WATER INTRUSION IN THE SENSORS. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED PER THE TSB16-NA-178 IN APRIL OF 2019. THE ISSUE HAS SINCE RE-OCCURRED 2/18/21 WHILE DRIVING, WHICH JEOPARDIZES MY SAFETY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ENTER LIMP MODE.

NHTSA ODI 11398958

2013 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE 35R DRUM AND SNAP RINGS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11398376

I WAS MADE AWARE THE AIR BAGS ARE THE ONES THAT CAN IF THE EXPAND INJURE THE PERSON SETTING IN FRONT OF THE AIR BAG OR IT CAN BE FATAL.

NHTSA ODI 11396671

DRIVER SIDE DETECTION BLIND ZONE, INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON, THEN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS JUST STOPPED WORKING, I REPLACE THE BLIND ZONE MODULE LOCATED UNDER REAR BUMPER, IT WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK AND THEN SHOWS SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, AND BOTH SIDES BLIND LIGHTS ON MIRRORS DON'T WORK, ALL THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING

NHTSA ODI 11396535

MY CAR KEEPS POPPING UP THE 'SERVICE AIR BAG' LIGHT. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE CLEANED. THEY HAVE BEEN CLEANED BUT IT KEEPS COMING ON. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODELS BUT MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS CURRENTLY. IT WILL COME ON WHILE SITTING IDLE, DRIVING, PARKER, DOESN'T MATTER. HELP!

NHTSA ODI 11388886

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT AND MSG IS DISPLAYING. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN CHECKED EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY.

NHTSA ODI 11387128

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. TRANSMITION ISSUES AS PER A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL OF THESE ISSUES BOTH WHEN RUNNING PARKED AND WHILE IN MOTION ON ALL TYPES OF ROADWAYS

NHTSA ODI 11383162

DASH IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. MAIN CONCERN IS AROUND AIRBAGS. I HAVE USED WINDSHIELD COVER TO PROTECT FROM AN DAMAGE SINCE IT WAS NEW.

NHTSA ODI 11376802

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CREWS CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 8199 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11373008

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAY AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE TO THE FULL LEVEL, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT THEN REFUELED THE VEHICLE AGAIN HOWEVER THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATED HALF WHEN IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO THEN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO FRESNO BUICK GMC (5515 N BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE WARNING LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE MECHANIC THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP IN HOPES THAT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE; HOWEVER, DESPITE THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11351434

SUBJECT: N172097060 - SPECIAL COVERAGE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT MODULE WATER INTRUSION I AM RECEIVING SERVICE SIDE DETECTION ERROR AND MY BLIND SPOT INDICATORS NO LONGER FUNCTION. N172097060 - SPECIAL COVERAGE APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN BUT I AM BEYOND THE ADJUSTMENT COVERAGE PERIOD. I HAVE CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER. BOTH SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. AS THE BULLETIN STATES THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BLIND SPOT INDICATORS DO NOT FUNCTION AND THE ISSUE MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF OTHER DRIVER INTERFACE FUNCTIONS. MY ISSUE IS THE RESULT OF THE SAME CAUSE, WATER AND CORROSION, NOT BECAUSE I HAVE MORE MILES. IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE IS LIMITED TO MILES, WHEN CAUSED BY THE SAME CONDITIONS. CAN THIS COVERAGE BE EXTENDED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE?

NHTSA ODI 11350485

MY 2013 GMC ARCARDIA SLT MODEL BURST INTO FLAMES ON ITS OWN ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JULY 17TH. I CAME HOME AROUND 9:45PM AND PARKED MY SUV IN THE BACKYARD. THE NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS AT MY DOOR WAKING ME UP TO THE SUV ABLAZE. THE ONLY WORK THAT WAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE WAS TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGE THAT THURSDAY MORNING. AT WHICH TIME THE TECH SAID HE SAW SMOKE AND SMELLED GAS. HE DIDN'T INDICATE THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM AND ZI SHOULD GET IT CHECKED. I TOOK SUV AND RAN MY ERRANDS AND RETURNED HOME. THE SUV WAS PARKED FROM 9:45PM UNTIL SAID FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11350088

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FOR SERVICE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE ODOR OF SMOKE AND FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE HAD STARTED FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STEP ON GMC (5651 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY WHO WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11350108

GM IS IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS DCS5011 ...D&S MOTORS RUGBY ND [A GM DEALER] STATES THEY CAN NOT GET THE KIT-ACADIA MY 2013-14 PART NO. 84651473 ---- MY VEHICLE REQUIRED REPAIR WITHIN THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY TIME FROM. I AM NOW ON MY 3RD FAILED BECAUSE OF WATER INTRUSION , THE NEW WIRING HARNSS IS SUPPOSE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND SUPPOSE TO HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THEY FIGURE THEY JUST CAN NOT GET IT AND THAT'S IT, THEY ARE DONE WITH ME! THEY STATE EVEN TODAY THEY CAN NOT GET THE KIT--THEY HAVE THEM FOR OTHER VEHICLES, BUT NOT MINE--I KNOW I WILL HAVE ANOTHER FAILER DOWN THE ROAD--YOUR PAPER SAYS IT IS URGENT --YES, IT ISW AS A LOT OF THINGS GO WACKY WHEN IT GOES! GM PAPER SAYS SPECIALCOVERAGE ADJUSTMENT N172097060 SIDE BLIND ZONE? HELP?

NHTSA ODI 11344077

SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM PROBLEM BULLETIN NO. 16-NA-178 --- AS DESCRIBED GM HAS A MOISTURE PROBLEM GETTING IN TO THE SENSORS-- HOW EVER THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR MINE COMPLETELY, IN FACT CAN NOT GET A WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM RE-OCCURING. SOME SONG AND DANCE ABOUT MY VEN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS--HOW EVER I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED MULTABLE TIMES?? HELP? A CAR BESIDE YOU AND DETECTION DOES NOT ALERT YOU- THAT IS WHY YOU PURCHASED IT!

NHTSA ODI 11343494

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. IT SHOWS A "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE. THIS WAS COVERED BY A RECALL. GM SAYS THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE. BUT GM ALSO ISSUED A SB INDICATING SOME RECALL REPAIRS MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. I BELIEVE THIS WAS FAULTY IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE. A GMC DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND INDICATED THAT THE WORK WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. GMC IS REFUSING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11337837

THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN FOLLOWING THE REQUIRED SERVICE UNDER GM BULLETIN NO.: 14030 WHICH WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MY LOCAL DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED BY ANOTHER DEALER, HOWEVER IT LOOKED AS IF AN AMATEUR HAS DONE IT. THEY FELT THAT THEY COULD ASK GM TO COVER A REPAIR AGAIN, HOWEVER GM DENIED IT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING AS IT SHOULD FOLLOWING RECALL SERVICE, AND ONE OF GMS OWN DEALERS HAS STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS REPAIR IS NOT SATISFACTORY. RECALLS REPAIRS THAT FAIL SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE FIXED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325168

SHUDDER IN TRANSMISSION. HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOUND OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND ALMOST SHATTERED. OVER $5000 FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11320731