What 134 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Acadia Denali

HAVE VIBRATION WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP DUE TO DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER WITH ONLY 95500 MILES ON VEHICLE HAD TO REPLACE AND REBUILD TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI 11173501

HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2015. MOST RECENTLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. FUSES WE CHECKED. PRIOR TO THE LAST HEADLIGHT CHANGE, THE LAMPS VERY VERY DIM AND AS SUCH VISIBILITY WAS POOR, SO MUCH SO THAT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11171408

PISTON CONNECTOR ROD PUT A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE AT ONLY 62700 (2700 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE THAT WAS ALWAYS CHANGED AFTER OIL CHANGE LIGHT CAME ON AROUND EVERY 4500 TO 5000 MILES)MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY STOP RESPONDING AND WOULD NOT START IN AN AREA THAT ONLY HAD HALF OF EMERGENCY LANE(SO THE CAR WAS TAKING PART OF TRAVEL LANES) .THIS WAS DECEMBER 27,2018 AT 11:30 PM WITH ME, MY WIFE, OUR 2 KIDS, OUR NEPHEW AND THEIR FRIEND (8, 12,13 AND 14 YEARS OLD) WE WERE COMING BACK FROM A SKI TRIP 1 AND HALF HOUR FROM HOME, IT HAPPENED ABOUT 40 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME .WE COULD NOT COME OUT THE CAR, IT WAS NOT SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE CAR. STATE POLICE DROVE BY AND DID NOT STOP, I CALLED THEN TO SEND SOMEONE UNTIL TOW TRUCK COME.TOW TRUCK CAME FIRST AFTER AROUND 45 MINUTES.CAR COMPUTER CLUSTER START TO SHOW BATTERY WAS DYING, IT WAS PIT BLACK WITH 18 WHEELER AND CARS FLYING BY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - DRIVERS WITH FAMILIES SHOULD BE MADE AWARE.I WENT TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALER TO ASK WHY IT HAPPENED SINCE CAR HAS 62700 MILES AND THEY ASK ME IF MY WIFE DOES OFF ROAD I SAID NO.BUT I ASKED MY WIFE TO MAKE SURE SHE SAID NO.BUT TO MAKE DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SURE I ASKED MY 8 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER AND MY 12 YEARS OLD IF THEIR MOTHER DRIVES ON MUD, WATER,BUMP HILLS, WET LAND, SHAKING PLACES AND POT HOLES. THEY SAID NO BUT THAT WOULD BE FUN (LOL). THANK YOU GMC FOR A NICE HOLIDAY GIFT.

NHTSA ODI 11166589

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE ENGAGED. THE DEALER (MOORE GMC TRUCK, 84 HIGH ST, DANVERS, MA 01923, (978) 774-0040) STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACING THE WIPER MOTOR SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT CLAIMED TO HAVE NOTICED THE FAILURE BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED A $100 CREDIT TOWARD THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 11165966

AFTER THE "SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM" ANNOUNCEMENT, MY HUSBAND WENT ONLINE TO FIND I PROBABLY NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. I DROVE A FEW BLOCKS AND HAD THE BATTERY/ALTERNATOR TESTED (THEY WERE FINE). WHEN DRIVING HOME THE VEHICLE ENTERED LOW POWER MODE. MANY SYSTEMS STARTED TURNING OFF: RADIO, HEATER, STABILITY, TRACTION, ABS, SPEEDOMETER, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED CHUGGING. BY NOW I WAS ON A PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY THAT WAS RURAL AND TRYING TO MAKE IT TO CLOSEST MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE CAR LOST POWER/TURNED OFF. WITH THIS WAS LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND I LET IT COAST TO THE FURTHEST/SAFEST SPOT. I'VE READ OTHERS LOST POWER BRAKING, BUT I LET IT COAST SO FAR THAT I WOULDN'T KNOW. THE CAR LOST POWER TO THE POINT MY 4-WAY FLASHERS WOULDN'T WORK. I'VE PAID A TOW BILL AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED. PLEASE KNOW ONE HOUR ELAPSED BETWEEN MY BATTERY/ALTERNATOR BEING TESTED AND THE CAR DYING ON THE HIGHWAY (I STOPPED QUICK FOR GROCERIES).

NHTSA ODI 11165055

THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR MALFUNCTIONED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NO LONGER WORKS. IT WILL NOT TURN IN AND IS STUCK OUTWARD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WORKS AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11163958

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND DRAGGED THE CONTACT AS SHE WAS EXITING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CONTACT'S LEFT LEG AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,500.

NHTSA ODI 11161376

THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT BAD WITHIN 5 YEARS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN STOPPED AND SHUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING. THE REPAIRS COST ME $1500

NHTSA ODI 11157029

MY CAR WILL FLASH ENGINE WARNING SIGNS THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL IS OFF. THE CAR THEN LOOSES POWER AND MUST BE SHUT OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (25 MPG, 65 MPG) AND WHILE STOPPED. LIGHTS SAY SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED.

NHTSA ODI 11157043

MY POWER STEERING PUMP IS FAILING AND MY CAR IS JOLTING FORWARD WHEN MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE POWER STEERING IS WHINING AND HAS BEEN FOR 6 MONTHS. THE TECHNICIAN AT MY CAR DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON IT? I TRAVEL HIGHWAY A LOT AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN.

NHTSA ODI 11150140

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA DENALI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "CHECK AIR BAG, SERVICE AIR BAG SOON" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. BOB ROSS BUICK GMC (85 LOOP ROAD, DAYTON, OHIO 45459, (937) 356-3845) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11149952

THESE SYMPTOMS STARTED OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND IS VERY INTERMITTENT. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF HIGH GEAR. THE DECREASE IN SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT ON NOW 3 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS AND MESSAGES OCCUR: - "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" - "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" - "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" - "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" - "SERVICE STABILITRAK" ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS: - LOSS OF POWER STEERING - LOSS OF POWER BRAKES ONCE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND SITS FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WILL START AND ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS ABOVE WILL GO AWAY WITH THE EXCEPTION SOMETIMES OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS INDICATOR GOES OFF AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. NOTE THIS OCCURS VERY INFREQUENTLY...SOMETIMES MONTHS IN BETWEEN. AUGUST 2018, DEALERSHIP (CHEV AUTOMATION NORTH, DENVER, CO) DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. PAID $5800 FOR REPLACEMENT. OCTOBER 22, 2018, ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CRASHING THE VEHICLE. WIFE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT MUST OCCUR BEFORE ANY REAL ATTENTION IS MADE TO FIXING A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE WITH GM VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11142454

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY ACADIA 2 YEARS AGO MY POWER STEERING PUMP STARTED WHINING. WHEN THE BELT OR PUMP GETS WET THE POWER STEERING ITSELF GOES OUT UNEXPECTEDLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM FLUSHED THINKING MAYBE JUST AIR BUBBLES... IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR 2-3 DAYS AND RIGHT BACK TO ITS SAME ROUTINE AGAIN! ITS IRRITATING READING EVERYONE ELSE COMPLAINTS WITH THEIR 13' ACADIA POWER STEERING ISSUES AND GM HAS STILL NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11139379

PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11139227

MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP SINCE 50,000 MILES A/C ACTING UP SINCE 70,000 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR WARRANTY WORK ONE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO WORK ON MY CAR

NHTSA ODI 11139242

PISTON PUT A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE AT ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE DRIVING AT 70MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - DRIVERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE.

NHTSA ODI 11129912

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11124260

I PUT MAY 6TH AS I HAVE VIDEO OF THE DASHBOARD. I GET TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITRAK AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. I HAD IT IN THE SHOP IN APRIL FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT SO I TOOK VIDEO. THE ONLY CODE THEY COULD GET WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE COULD REPLACE TWO RELAYS THAT CONTROL THE VOLTAGES OR THE ECM. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH AND JUST WANTED IN THEIR WORDS THROW PARTS AT IT. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THOSE GM RELAY PARTS AND REPLACED THEM. HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THESE ITEMS DID NOT FIX IT AND PROBLEMS CONTINUED. CAR LEFT HIM SIT AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 23RD FOR $530 PLUS AN OIL CHANGE. I PICKED THE CAR UP ON THE 24TH. I DROVE TO WORK FINE. I LEFT WORK AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR HAD THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE. THIS WAS LATE FRIDAY SO DEALER WAS CALLED MONDAY MORNING. THEY COULDN'T SEE MY CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL TECHNICIAN AT TRAINING AND VACATION. HOWEVER, CAR DIED ON MY HUSBAND ON THE 28TH AND CAR GOT TOWED. NOW THEY WANT ME TO SPEND ANOTHER $500+ DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PRIMARY FUSE BOX. NOTE A NEW TECHNICIAN IS LOOKING AT THE CAR WITH THE PREVIOUS TECHNICIAN ON VACATION. THIS TECHNICIAN REMEMBERED A SIMILAR INCIDENT AND THEY REPLACED THE PRIMARY FUSE BOX. NO ERROR CODE DIAGNOSTIC JUST A HUNCH. DO THESE TECHNICIANS THAT WORK IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER? MY GMC SERVICE LIAISON SAYS I AUTHORIZED THE ECM REPLACEMENT SO I WON'T GET MONEY BACK ON THAT WORK. I TRUSTED WHAT THEY SAID. THEY FELT THIS WAS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN I TRUST THEM ON THIS. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER GM MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE FOR SIMILAR ISSUES. SEEMS GM HAS A PROBLEM THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI 11123363

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TELESCOPING ADJUSTMENT THAT CLAPS WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO IT COMES UP WITHOUT EVEN USING THE BUTTON TO MOVE IT. IF I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I CAN PULL UP ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR PUSH DOWN ON IT AND IT CLAPES ON IT'S OWN.

NHTSA ODI 11122425

I PURCHASED A 2013 GMC ACADIA FROM CAR MAX ON FEBRUARY 16TH OF THIS YEAR. AFTER 3 WEEKS THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BUT CAR MAX REIMBURSED THE COST TO REPLACE. FAST FORWARD TO MAY 24TH...AS I TRY TO LEAVE FROM WORK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DASH DISPLAYED SEVERAL MESSAGES: REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITRAK OFF, AND BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TIRE KINGDOM AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP/FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND COMPUTER RESET. ALL WAS WELL FOR 3 DAYS AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED INCLUDING A DEAD BATTERY! I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE MORE DAYS BEFORE THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FROM JUNE 5TH- JUNE 12TH AND EVEN THOUGH THEY RECEIVED 6 ERROR CODES, THEY STATED IT WAS THE BATTERY (THE SAME ONE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY AND WAS RECHARGED A WEEK PRIOR). I WAS SURE THAT WASN'T THE ONLY PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE CONFIDENT IT WAS. I HAD TO PAY $508 OUT OF POCKET FOR BATTERY/ DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE DIAGNOSTIC WITH REPAIRS. ALL SEEMED WELL FOR 3 DAYS. THIS TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND REACHING MY DESTINATION THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHUT OFF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED GMC (CEL ILLUMINATED) AND AFTER 10 MINUTES THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THEM THE NEXT DAY AND THEY STARTED IT HAD A BAD FUES BLOCK. THEY REPAIRED IT, BUT 8 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AGAIN! ON JULY 2ND IT WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP FOR THE 6TH TIME! THIS TIME THEY ARE SAYING IT IS THE ECM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND'S 2003 GMC YUKON HAS 286,000 MILES AND LITTLE THINGS ARE STARTING TO GO. IRONICALLY IT HAS BEEN MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS 2013!! I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS/DEDUCTABLES. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!

NHTSA ODI 11109976

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED BY THE AIRBAG AND BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS!! UGH!! GET A DENALI THEY SAID!! LUXURY THEY SAID!!

NHTSA ODI 11098017

WHILE COASTING UP TO A REDLIGHT THE CAR ENGINE LURCHED AND STALLED SHUTTING OFF. THIS LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. VERY SCARY. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. WE HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THIS IS DUE TO A GM KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. GM HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. TSB 13120A

NHTSA ODI 11092734

AROUND 50K THE SIDE DETECTION WARNING SYSTEM AND PARK ASSIST QUIT WORKING. UPON TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS WE FIND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AT A SHORTAGE..DUE TO HIGH VOLUME OF REPAIRS. WE CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY STATE THERE IS NO RECALL AND OUR REPAIR WILL BE OVER $1000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WE FEEL THIS IS UNFAIR PRACTICE SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11090248

SIDE DETECTION MODULE/SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE CAUSED THE INDICATORS TO REMAIN ON CONSTANTLY GIVING OPERATOR FALSE SENSE OF VEHICLE IN BLIND SPOT. ISSUE APPEARED TO AFFECT OTHER MONITORING AND SAFETY SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING ERRONEOUS INDICATORS AND APPARENT INTERMITTENT AND RANDOM SYSTEM RESETS OF THE BCM(?) ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A COMPLE SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH SHUTDOWN OCCURRED WHILE PARKED (EVEN REMOTE ACCESS WOULD NOT WORK) IT IS UNCLEAR IF SAME COULD OCCUR WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11083216

MY 2013 GMC ACADIA CAR JUST STARTED HAVING SHIFTING ISSUES AND TURNS OUT TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL AND RECOMMENDATION I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $4600. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I JUST LEARNED THAT ACADIA'S HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. AND OF COURSE, NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON 2013 VEHICLES. TERRIBLE BUSINESS.

NHTSA ODI 11060743