Home · 2020 GMC Acadia Denali · Complaints

What 97 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Acadia Denali

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 (97)Crash / fire / injury (4)Electrical system (27)Engine (24)Transmission & drivetrain (21)Steering (17)Fuel system (11)Driver assistance (8)Brakes (7)Speed control (4)Airbags (3)Lane Departure (3)

7 of 97 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Mar 14, 2026Brakes

On multiple occasions the car will suddenly brake or like throw on the parking brake and stop suddenly no warning

NHTSA ODI 11724282

Mar 24, 2025Transmission & drivetrainBrakesFuel system

The vehicle stalls when air start kicks on so when stopped auto stop kick on and when your ready to go the go stalls to turn back on. I have also lost power to the car randomly. Power train issue on car keeps coming on with engine light. I have taken to dealer when car was under warranty and they were very dismissive to my issue. They changed some sensor under warranty And they said the issue was fixed. But the issue remains and it’s causing several issues to the car with Also a fueling code to the engine light

NHTSA ODI 11650043

Jan 22, 2024AirbagsBrakesEngine

The car has parking brake on unable to disable.Have to put in drive force the system to move. Same with reversing the car. Air bags not working. Seat belt restraint on when we are wearing them. Left turn signal failure. Steering limited caution sign on. ESC sign on. Engine light on. Transmission unable to shift soon light on. Traction lights on. ABS brake light on. Temp says -40 degree when 30 out. I’m finding this unsafe to drive. Call GMC that told me to start On Star diagnostic. Pull up at least 4 codes And today the transmission indicators came on. Not sure what to do. The car has low miles. But I have stopped driving as of today due to break down or serious malfunction while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11567007

Sep 29, 2021Speed controlBrakes

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake was applied independently. The contact mentioned that the brake was operating when there was nothing in front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired. in addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started slowing inadvertently. The contact stated that the vehicle was locked and needed to be in the park to operate however, once the accelerator pedal was depressed the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic experienced the failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000. The VIN was not provided.

NHTSA ODI 11434897

Aug 7, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlBrakes

WHILE IN MOTION- BLIND SPOT SENSORS TURN ON WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT AND VICE VERSA. TRACTION CONTROL HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. PREDICTIVE BRAKING HAS ACTIVATED IMPROPERLY MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. CAMERAS WENT OUT AND THEN BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. WAS TOLD FIXING BATTERY WOULD FIX VEHICLE. THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE UNTRUE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIRD TIME. REMAINS UNDER WARRANTY, AS I HAVE HAD IT THREE MONTHS. MOST RECENT DATE HAS BEEN USED BUT I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE LITERALLY THE FIRST FULL DAY I HAVE HAD IT.

NHTSA ODI 11343838

Mar 3, 2020Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MANUALLY RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. DEALER RUSTY WALLACE KIA LOCATED AT (300 KING AVE, MORRISTOWN, TN 37814, (800) 458-0302) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,276.

NHTSA ODI 11315892

Nov 26, 2019Brakes

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2020 ACADIA DENALI. WHEN PARKING AT ANY INCLINE THE PARKING BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON. DEALER IS NOT SURE WHY, BUT NO WHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT STATE THIS IS NORMAL. TO DISENGAGE BRAKE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE TO TURN OFF. THE PARKING BRAKE SHOULD TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE BUT IT DOES NOT. DEALER IS UNSURE OF ISSUE AND HAS AN OPEN CASE WITH GMC TO INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 11282398

Working with the data? Download all 97 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 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 2020 GMC Acadia Denali verdict →