Home · 2019 GMC Acadia · Complaints

What 370 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 GMC Acadia

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (370)Crash / fire / injury (8)Transmission & drivetrain (150)Electrical system (103)Engine (47)Steering (29)Brakes (16)Lights (10)Driver assistance (6)Lane Departure (6)Engine & cooling (5)Suspension (5)

6 of 370 complaints match · Driver assistance · clear filters

Jun 7, 2026Electrical systemDriver assistance

Thermostat in these are all bad and everyone keeps having problems with them. Also forward collision warning and steering stability warning come on. Thermostat needs to have recall. Everyone is having the same problems.

NHTSA ODI 11742603

Mar 24, 2026Transmission & drivetrainDriver assistance

I see where GMC Acadia is have a recall on transmission and if it’s the description of my two GMC Acadia’s, but when I put my Vin number in it doesn’t have a recall

NHTSA ODI 11726873

Mar 24, 2026Transmission & drivetrainBrakesDriver assistance

It has the ABS lights on and tire traction light on check engine light on and given signs of failed transmission Slow to takeoff shuttering of transmission

NHTSA ODI 11726874

Nov 7, 2025Driver assistance

The put in park shows after engine is turned off, have to restart and shift out of park and back to park. This could take several times to accomplish.

NHTSA ODI 11698161

Nov 4, 2023Driver assistance

On 9/24/23, I was driving both locally & the highway in S. I., NY. Suddenly the Adaptive Cruise Control feature shut off & on repeatedly & kept flashing (Adaptive Cruise Control unavailable) almost causing an accident, then I pulled over and shut off the system. The next day on (9/25/23) I brought the car to GMC & Buick Dealership at 1855 Hylan Blvd, S.I. N.Y. 10306. After a couple of hours, the manager Carlos Mercado tells me they need to do further testing tells me to come back on 10/04/23. I arrive at 9:00am for my appt. After three hours, I asked him what’s going on? He tells me that there are two Modular’s in the vehicle & needs to be reprogramed & updated. He says the mechanic that was working on it can’t do it & to come back. I knew at that point I was being scammed. On 10/11/23 at 10:15am he comes & tells me the vehicle is ready. I go to the register tells me at first was $671.00. I said for what? It’s outrageous! He says oh it’s electrical. I asked him did you replace any parts? He says no. replace any wires? He says no. I said if this was a recall I wouldn’t pay for it because its a safety issue. So he must have felt guilty and says I give you a discount & the price now is $555.56. So I says to him this is a lot of money for this. He tells me it was labor. I said to him I have been watching the whole time that the vehicle would sometimes be in the service area & the parking lot with the mechanic hardly working on it. I said to him do you think I’m a fool because I’m a woman unaccompanied by a man you take advantage of me. So they would not release the car unless I pay for it which I did with a credit card. On 10/12/23, I filed a complained with GM for a full refund, and explained that the program was faulty & only need an update and I was contacted by Charlie from the Executive team on 10/17/23. Tells me he will reach out to the dealer. On 10/23/23 he tells me they can only offer $250 in reward points which I declined, because they know I wont use it.

NHTSA ODI 11553558

Jul 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structureEngineDriver assistance

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ACTIVATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RANCHO GRANDE MOTORS LOCATED AT 1404 AUTO PARK WAY, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93405, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS COMMON WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES. THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DVD WOULD TURN ON IT. THE DEALER STATED IT COULD BE DUE TO A MISSING REMOTE THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING AND ENGINE REDUCED POWER THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HEADREST DVD PLAYER DO NOT PLAY THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. THE WIRELESS PHONE CHARGER WAS OFTEN INOPERABLE. THE SECOND GEAR DOES THE NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THE DASH AND RADIO PERIODICALLY LOSE POWER. THE WINDOWS MAKE A LOUD OBNOXIOUS NOISE WHEN ROLLED DOWN. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11341276

Working with the data? Download all 370 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 GMC Acadia verdict →