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2017 GMC Acadia Denali
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
639 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (35% of complaints, typically reported near 35k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#313 of 589Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali ranks #313, scoring higher than 46% of them. See the 2017 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
Varies 4–5 stars by trim; shown conservatively.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 GMC Acadia Denali SUV FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 16%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (75) · Brakes (33) · Steering (26)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Transmission & drivetrain
35%221 complaints · typically near 35k mi · 39 in the last 2 years
“The transmission failed at 90k miles, causing shuddering and stalling on acceleration. This has occurred several times on major highways and is very dangerous.”
Electrical system
26%169 complaints · typically near 38k mi · 14 in the last 2 years
“Backup camera often does not have a clear picture. Very grainy and static.”
Airbags
12%75 complaints · 17 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not…”
Engine
8%53 complaints · typically near 69k mi · 7 in the last 2 years
“Shift to park. Vehicle does not turn off when in park. This recall is in effect on other 2017 Acadias but for some reason ours is not under the recall. Had this issue …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 639 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 14 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this GMC before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 35k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 38k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 GMC ACADIA DENALI beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Acadia Denali model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 GMC Acadia Denali against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.