What 138 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Acadia Limited

My 2013 GMC ACADIA started fire on April 9, 2024 around 11PM in the driveway of our home. The vehicle was parked and off. The vehicle wasn’t used during the day. The last day of use was on April 8, 2024 around 6PM. The fire department stated it was potentially an electrical fire within the engine of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11582226

I was tboned January 9, 2023 the side impact airbags didn't deploy nor does it seem the seatbelts engaged. There were 2 side impacts to the passengers side ZERO airbags deployed. It WAS part of a recall AND recall work had been completed almost immediately in 2014 (GM website screenshots attached for your easy reference for the 2 recalls showing completed). YET, they STILL failed! NO indication they had an issue nor would fail when needed as they did. The driver of the other vehicle was seemingly going a high rate of speed when she failed to stop for the red light her direction and tboned me as I was traveling through an intersection for a green light my travel path. My vehicle was totaled, part of the total report attached indicated "Diagnose Airbags" as they didn't deploy. (Screenshots of a GM autobody shop estimate line item as well as CarFax report attached for your easy reference) Multiple injuries sustained, including a serious TBI.

NHTSA ODI 11572815

Car had sat most of the day. By approximately 2:30CST, we decided to go do a little shopping. We drove about 1 mile and the dash displayed "check battery charging system". My husband assumed it was the alternator going out so we turned around swapped vehicles. Probably 45 mins after swapping vehicles I received a call stating my vehicle was up in flames.

NHTSA ODI 11503507

The contact owned a 2013 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH, the contact was struck by another vehicle that ran a red light at 60 MPH and struck the passenger side of the vehicle. No air bags deploy. The contact suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was deemed totally lost. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11501433

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

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT SQUEAKS WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKING. BASICALLY WHENEVER THE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. MECHANIC SAID HE CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT DOES IT BUT HE THINKS IT'S THE MOUNTING TRACK ON THE BASE INTO THE CONNECTION TO THE BACKREST. SAID MOST LIKELY AN ENTIRE SEAT OR FRAME OF SEAT WOULD NEED REPLACING.

NHTSA ODI 11222570

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

I WAS COMING OFF A RED LIGHT AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE / FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT LEAST 55 MPH AS THAT IS THE POSTED SPEED. I HAD TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK. ONE IN A REAR FACING CAR SEAT. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CAR SEAT FLIPPED TO THE SIDE . NO SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAGS WENT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11057820

THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY SOLD MY VEHICLE TO ME WITH PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF FAULTY "BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM". I WAS TOLD I JUST NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (WHICH WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE SAME WEEK). THIS PROCESS BEGAN ON 11/12/2016. I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR ON MY DASH (BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICING) AND MY BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED JUST LIKE BEFORE ON 4/12/2017. I CONTACTED ONSTAR AND MADE AN APPT.WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MCCARTHY MORSE CHEVROLET FOR THE NEXT MORNING (4/13/2017). HOWEVER I DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE MY CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES IN MY GARAGE ABOUT 15MINS. AFTER ME AND MY CHILDREN GOT OUT OF IT!!!! OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE ADDRESSED DURING THIS 6MO. TIME FRAME INCLUDED: A/C REPLACEMENT, HEAD GASKETS AND HEAD BOLTS REPLACEMENT, TIMING CHAIN AND CAM SHAFT ACTUATORS REPLACEMENT, AND FLYWHEEL REPLACEMENT. I FEEL LIKE THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ISSUES AND DIDN'T CORRECT THEM BEFORE EITHER.

NHTSA ODI 11003735

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT TIRES SPUN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. THE ENGINE STABILITY AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.

NHTSA ODI 10663966

AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM A SHORT 5 MILE DRIVE IN THE EVENING ON 11/19/13, I SHUT OFF MY 6 MONTH OLD CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE HOOD AND SPARKS AND FIRE WERE COMING OUT BELOW THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT WAS A FULL BLOWN, ROARING FIRE AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CONSUMED. MY DRIVEWAY SUFFERED BURN DAMAGE AS WELL. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS HURT. GMC HAS BEEN AWFUL TO DEAL WITH. THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED MY VEHICLE, NOT REPAIRED MY DRIVEWAY AND HAVE STOPPED RETURNING MY CALLS. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS THEIR FAULT AND THINKS IT STEMMED FROM THE HEATING ELEMENT THAT HEATS THE WINDSHIELD FLUID. THEY ARE STILL DOING MORE TESTING TO GET THE FINAL RESULTS THOUGH. I FEEL HELPLESS AND TOTALLY IGNORED BY GMC. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THROUGH TO THEM AND SIMPLY TO GET MY CAR REPLACED AND MY DRIVEWAY REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY PRODUCT THEY SOLD ME. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AND I WILL NOW NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR FROM THEM AND WILL SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS I HAVE SHARING THIS INCIDENT WITH OTHERS CONSIDERING PURCHASING ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE WHOLE THING I AM HAPPY TO SHARE.

NHTSA ODI 10567255

WHILE DROPPING OFF SOME KINDERGARTENERS AFTER A PLAYDATE, I WAS PARKED IN MY FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND LEFT 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH THE DOORS CLOSED. AS I STOOD THERE WITH MY FRIEND NEXT TO THE CAR, I NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER TIRE. WE GOT THE KIDS OUT, THE CAR WAS FILLING WITH THICK SMOKE, AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 4 MINUTES AND WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND DISABLE THE BATTERY. GM HAD THE CAR PICKED UP AND DROPPED US A BRAND NEW 2014 ACADIA A FEW WEEKS LATER AT NO CHARGE. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED SINCE NO ONE ASKED FOR A FORMAL REPORT. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THIS DOESNT OCCUR TO ANY OTHER FAMILIES THAT MAY HAVE WORSE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10553646