Home · 2020 GMC Acadia Limited · Complaints

What 97 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Acadia Limited

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)

8 of 97 complaints match · Driver assistance · clear filters

May 18, 2026Electrical systemLightsDriver assistance

Back up camera randomly stops working (black screen-completely gone, or blue screen). Dash will randomly dim on its own and does not go back to normal unless car is shut off and turned back on. adaptive cruise control will disengage for no apparent reason. stabilitrak will flash on screen but no other indicators or reasons; nothing happens with car. Occasionally the blind spot mirror lights will not light up when vehicle is present.

NHTSA ODI 11738492

Nov 29, 2025Driver assistance

My front camera that detects the front collision and helps with adaptive cruise control just went dark. I thought maybe it would reset after turning engine off and restarting it, but it didn’t help. Not sure what happened.

NHTSA ODI 11702024

Jul 3, 2024Electrical systemDriver assistanceCrash

I bought my car [XXX] it had 7 miles. I loved my car. Then in January 2021 things just went crazy. It started with park light on. My forward brake assist warning didn’t work, my back up camera in and out . My braking and stability were on and off. Then weird codes like. Engine at half power, unable to shift soon and speed control out. Then if I hit a bump message went away and speed control back on. I’ve taken care into another GMC dealer because dealer I bought my car at , closed up and took off!! Took it to closet dealer. Not long after repairs same issues started! So many different problems all at once! I have been treated horribly during these issues by dealership and extended warranty company. Dealer had my car for 3 weeks ! They couldn’t figure out the problem. I sat there for 4 hrs sent me home told to come back for 9 mile test! Why in 4 hrs that wasn’t done. So again the unable to shift message back on! I get in my car it starts but won’t shift ! Dealer charged me 250 to tow to shop! When they said I’d be fine ! I had more issues again and again! I’ve been driving over 40 yrs no accidents. I bumped into someone during a huge traffic jam in Ohio! Braking didn’t work no warning even . I should speak to a lawyer and could explain more to a person on filing these complaints. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11598664

Feb 22, 2023Electrical systemDriver assistance

While driving the vehicle goes into Automatic Braking. It has stopped me while I'm driving or it will make a loud scrubbing noise as if I've hit the brakes quickly. It has happened over 15 or more times. I've taken to dealership and they are not very responsive to check into the issue I am having. It is a danger to me if I am on the Interstate with vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed.

NHTSA ODI 11508507

Oct 21, 2022Driver assistance

The Automatic braking assist feature goes off at times when there is no threat of hitting something. It happens when pulling into a garage and also on the road while driving. There have been several occasions when this happened and the car suddenly brakes which could have resulted in being rear-ended. The car suddenly brakes even if there is no danger of running into a car (or garage) in front of me. It has not been inspected (yet) but it seems to be increasingly becoming more of an issue lately. There were no warning lamps or messages just the sudden, hard-braking and loud noise/buzzing it makes when it happens. There have been several occasions but I'm listing the most recent one below.

NHTSA ODI 11490316

Sep 5, 2022Driver assistance

Twice this vehicle has exhibited this behavior. The collision avoidance system would flash a red warning on the HUD showing that a pedestrian was in front of the vehicle with the vehicle brakes 'hard' engaging causing the vehicle to 'nose dive' even though there was no pedestrian in front of the vehicle. This is disconcerting to those inside the vehicle and potentially be a crash issue with any vehicle following to close behind my Acadia. This may be an issue with the sensors/software used by GM and thus a safety issue that should be reviewed.

NHTSA ODI 11482891

Sep 29, 2021Electrical systemSpeed controlDriver assistance

The vehicle was purchased brand new from Serra GMC in Washington Michigan in April 2020. It has been back to the dealer 5 times for the same issue, with another 4 times that it was not taken into dealer! Reoccurring issue involves the instrument cluster, All gages and visual indicators go to zero (speed, tach, fuel, temp, etc...) as well as getting a notification that the traction control is disabled, the ABS is disabled, cruise is disabled, and other electronic aid. This happens at highway speeds and to loose all function is a safety concern, it is not repeatable and happens randomly but it is the same issue. The dealer claims to fix the issue but it always comes back. GM has told me to accept the issue as its not detectable however this is unacceptable as it puts my family at risk. I have videos of the instrument cluster going to zero but its to big to attached - I can provide it if you contact me or tell me how to share it

NHTSA ODI 11434839

Dec 15, 2020Electrical systemDriver assistance

BRAND NEW VEHICLE. PURCHASED ON 10/30/2020. FRONT COLLISION KEEPS FLASHING A RED LIGHT IN THE TOP OF DASH THAT SHOWS UP IN WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP OR WARN YOU IT WILL NOT. IT WILL JUST LET YOU HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR. WE NOTICED THAT THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING WITH THE REAR SAFETY CROSS TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11383475

Working with the data? Download all 97 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 Limited verdict →