What 145 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Acadia Denali

The IPC goes out while driving. GM is aware of this issue in several models they make starting in 2020. They failed to call a recall on the issue and when you take it in to be looked at there is a service bulletin out to have the dealership to do a software update on the IPC to resolve the issues that some customers may be experiencing. This issue costs 189.99 to diagnose the first hour then the dealership spends another 2.5 hours diagnosing the known issue to charge customers for a total of 3.5 hours in repair costs. GM does not assist in anyway with covering the cost of the repair to the vehicle that is a 2021 make and model. In all to make your car safe to drive again the repair costs 474.88 and there is no guarantee after the software is updated that the issue will not come back and then I will be left with taking it back in for troubleshooting to be charged another 474.88 as long as the price does go up for electrical diagnostics charges. It’s pretty convenient on GM and their dealerships to charge customers a to fix a safety concern that can happen again and charge 3.5 hours of labor charged even when there is a service bulletin out telling repair technicians to do the software update when a customer stated the IPC goes out while driving and comes back on. If there is a know. Issue then my issue should be been resolved with just having to pay for time it took the repair technician to do the software update. Not waste time tracing all wiring just to run up all labor rates first.

NHTSA ODI 11538420

Vehicle has previously been brought in to GMC dealership at least 2-3 times for the dash turning on and off while driving. Started happening around 5,000 miles here and there. First took it in just over 7,000 miles as it was happening more and more frequently. It was last in for the issue on 2/6/23. The dash turned completely off WHILE driving going approx 45-50 mph, is not turning back on, unable to see speed while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11509088

WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE ENGINE DEAD STOPPED WITH OUT WARNING. COULD NOT GET STARTED AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER TO TOW TO GMC DEALERSHIP. WERE TOLD IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS. THEY HAD A PART IN STOCK TO REPAIR IT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE “DRIVERS FUEL PUMP MODULE” .WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY INCIDENT DURING RUSH HOUR ON THE ROADS IN MY AREA. WHILE RESEARCHING FOUND A RECALL ON FULL SIZE GMC 2021 SUVS FROM LAST YEAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 21V739000) ! WHY IS THIS NOT BEING DEALT WITH ON THE 2021 ACADIAS? MY DAUGHTER HAS ONE SHE BOUGHT THE SAME DAY AND NOW I AM IN FEAR IT WILL DO THE SAME THING !!! NO INSURANCE ISSUES OR POLICE ISSUES. AFTER ENGINE DIED SEVERAL SYMBOLS INCLUDING ENGINE ICON CAME ON WHEN TRYING TO RESTART. ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL “DIAGNOSTIC ALERT” FROM ON STAR IMMEDIATELY : AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2021 GMC ACADIA HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE WITHIN 7 DAYS….

NHTSA ODI 11493628

We purchased the vehicle in March 2021 and within a few weeks, the rear camera started working intermittently. At one point, it displayed a black screen with a red warning triangle. The dealership ultimately replaced the camera and we haven't had the problem since.

NHTSA ODI 11487101

Make a left turn engine stopped. Fuel Pump Driver Module Failure. Electrical Short in module. Several fuses also blown. All dash warming lights stayed on. Vehicle had to be towed from middle of roadway. Battery also had to be replaced. Vehicle mileage 8100 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11482540

I got into an accident because my back up crap camera did not warn me that a car had turned behind me. Also when and backing up and a car is coming it doesn’t indicate the car is coming until it’s behind me. I’ve taken it to the dealer and they say there’s nothing wrong with it. Also there is no break when you come too close to something in front of you.

NHTSA ODI 11463901

Electronic parking brake is setting itself without you doing it even when parked on a completely flat surface. Voice activated assist is going off while driving down the road without you hitting the steering wheel button. 1st dealer I took the car to refused to even address issue because the car didn’t throw a code even though the parking break issue happened while in their parking lot. 2nd dealer at this point has had the car for a total of 16 days. They tried to tell me the parking break was normal, manager at actual dealership told me it definitely was not normal, and they don’t know what to do about voice activation going off. It has now been at dealerships 3 times for this issue within Oct and Nov 2021. Only 4,500 miles on car. If it is having these electric issues already what is in store for this car in the future? My husband has a video on YouTube of voice activated assist issue so far 2 other people are saying their cars are having the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11441816

My 2021 Acadia just stooped working as COMPLETLY SHUT OFF. I had no power to contact OnStar or more importantly to put my 4 ways(Hazard lights) on to signal or warn other motorists that there is a problem ahead. I could not push the vehicle as it is locked in gear because of the termination of power. I have had this exact problem happen 3 times leaving me and my family stranded on a busy road with nothing working. On each occasion I have removed my family from the vehicle in fear of being rear-ended! This would not only cause an accident with harm or fatality to my family, but has put that same risk to other motorists on the road. When I have had the vehicle in the dealership (Champion Buick/GMC of Brighton) in which it needs to be towed, they have not been able to find or confirm this issue. The dealership has had the vehicle for multiple weeks with help and assistance of GM with also no resolution. This is a very intermittent issue and when it happens it is an extremely dangerous situation. The vehicle gives no warning except for a total shut down.

NHTSA ODI 11441021

On at least 3 occasions, my vehicle’s locks have malfunctioned and I’ve been locked out of my car with one incident being locked out in the rain. Upon approaching my vehicle and using the unlock button on the outside of my door, I was unable to access my vehicle. Then trying my key fob and app to unlock, with all attempts unsuccessful. The back hatch of the vehicle would open, so my daughter had to crawl through to manually open the door. Once the vehicle was started, once put in drive, the vehicle would not lock. As stated, I can confirm three dates this has happened and that I’ve contacted my local dealer. I am pretty sure it’s happened one other time but I can not remember the date. The dealer would only look at it once and could not find anything wrong because the problem did not happen in the short time my vehicle was there. I do have video of at least one instance that I can provide.

NHTSA ODI 11439134

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW MID-MARCH 2021 AND IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED.

NHTSA ODI 11415501

REAR CAMERA STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11406709

CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11383159