What 145 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Acadia Limited

Display suddenly says "Steering assistance reduced, drive with care" Temp gauge goes to C and stays there. Radiator fans speed up and stay on after the car has been turned off. Dealer unable to find a diagnostic code for the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11741035

This is a very known issue that has been reoccurring with GMC Acadia. The torque converter slipping. That cost alone is over $7.000 for the transmission. I am still making monthly payments for my 2021 Acadia. With rising cost above the board GMC could have resolved this issue before releasing this vehicle to the public for purchase. Only had this vehicle for 2 years and already a new transmission is needed. Other individuals i personally know have the same issue. From my research GMC is aware and fails to do a recall on this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11737300

The camera system has failed. The screen is black and there is an exclamation point and a camera on the screen.

NHTSA ODI 11735258

Car has had multiple issues with check engine light coming on for the last 2 years and stays on especially during the winter months. The purge pump has failed multiple times. The cooling fan has run after engine shutting off for multiple years now. The thermostat has been failing for the last 6 months. Now yesterday low power protection suddenly turned on driving on the expressway limiting power in the middle of traffic. Was able to get off at exit without accident and get car home. I guess we have to pay out of pocket to get fixed. This is a known issue that GM fails to include every VIN with the 2021 year or certain models and VINS.

NHTSA ODI 11721893

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was approximately 29,000. The contact attempted to trade in the vehicle, and the purchasing dealer checked the VIN and retrieved a Carfax Report. The Carfax Report indicated that the mileage on the Title on 11/04/2024 was 58,000; however, on 02/04/2025, the mileage was 28,000, and the vehicle had been in an accident in the past.

NHTSA ODI 11715591

The electronic dashboard goes black while driving. I was driving to work on the highway at highway speeds and the entire electronic dashboard went black including the hud display and the radio screen. The radio screen turned back on and auto reconnected to my phone and android auto. I was able to safely get to an exit and park, turn off the car and restart and the dash did come back on to then go black about 5 minutes later this time the hud stayed on and I was able to get to work where the car sat off for 8 hrs , when leaving work the dash stayed on. The radio screen would turn off randomly and unable to connect to a programmed cell phone via Bluetooth or data cable. I brought the vehicle in for a service and this issue plus the concern of the transmission shuddering. The dealership found the problem and both the dashboard and radio needed service updates and both were charged to fix. A service update should not be charged for the dash as you have no speedometer when it goes out. There was no warning or alert that the dash or radio needed an update.

NHTSA ODI 11709819

The infotainment center/and On Star alert systems ( crash detections / SOS ) No access to anything in the infotainments center along with most of the safety setting not alerting due to and over the air update failure. yes is available for inspection upon request. all On star safety features are not working if a crash were to happen i would not be able to get help if i was injured. Yes and it is ongoing. BY a GMC certified dealer. No.

NHTSA ODI 11701600

Often times, on the heads-up display I would get "Steering Assist is Reduced Drive with Care" and my temp gauge will stop working and when I stop, my fan continues to run until I disconnect the battery for 20 secs.

NHTSA ODI 11699159

I was driving home and about 10 minutes into my drive I got a notification about my steering assistance being disabled. When I arrived home about 10 minutes or so later and went to shut my car off I noticed that a very loud fan sound from the hood of my vehicle began roaring. I restarted my car and it went away. I looked at my temperature gauge and it was all the way on C. I tried shutting my car off again and the loud electrical fan sound picked right back up again. I stayed in my vehicle while it was turned off waiting to see if it would stop while trying to call for answers. I couldn’t risk having a dead battery for work tomorrow morning. After what was about 6-7 minutes the electrical fan finally shut off. Turns out my aunt JUST had this exact same issue with her 2021 GMC Acadia as well. According to Reddit MANY people are having this issue yet there is still no recall for this problem. My car is only at 85K miles, has always been dealership maintained and has never had any issues like this until now. If this is a wide spread make and model issue a recall should have been issued.

NHTSA ODI 11697020

While driving, error popped up stating steering assist is reduced; drive with caution. Heat was no longer working. Engine temp was reading cold even though vehicle had been running for half hour and temp outside was 65 F. After vehicle was stopped, engine fan ran very loudly for at least 15 minutes. Took vehicle in to have diagnostics ran, and received error P0128 pointing to faulty engine coolant thermostat and sensor. Also received U0401 indicating insufficient data coming from ECM/PCM. I was told that together with U0401 and P0128 together indicate a communication problem between control modules. Check engine light was never on.

NHTSA ODI 11694926

Instrument cluster malfunction. Entire instrument cluster blacking out every 60 seconds, then rebooting nonstop while driving. While this was occurring, none of the advanced driver assistance systems functioned, nor did the speedometer or other gauges. This occurred while on a trip, and meant having to travel a long distance without having emergency braking, collision warnings or the ability to monitor speed. The car was taken to local dealer and they replaced the entire instrument cluster.

NHTSA ODI 11679159

Car was parked overnight in my garage and in the morning it would turn over, but not start. Had to have it towed to my GMC dealer, but had great difficulty moving the car out of the garage because the transmission remains in PARK if the engine is not running. Had this happened on a highway while driving and without a place to safely get off the road ( which HAS happened to others who have made this same complaint to NHTSA), this could have been an extremely hazardous situation for the occupants of the vehicle. The engine will suddenly shut down, power steering is lost, and power braking will also be lost. This problem was diagnosed as a failed fuel pump module. The failed part was replaced by the dealer (GM part#13554820). The service manager acknowledged that this is a known and common issue and that GM is aware of it but has not issued a voluntary recall. The manager also advised that this part has not been updated and that it may fail again without warning. Please....this is a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed before someone is injured or killed while abandoning a car stalled in traffic that cannot be moved.

NHTSA ODI 11679168

The fuel pump control module failed, 2021Acadia Denali First time, 9/22/21 8073 miles, the car was parked at the residence under the car port, when needed, the car would not start. No check engine or other indicators. Car was towed to dealer for repairs under warranty. Second time, 10/6/23 31879 miles, we were driving the car on a rural road, 55 mph speed limit with no shoulders when the car stopped in a curve. Had to flag down cars to keep them from hitting us for an hour till the wrecker loader it on the truck to take back to same dealership for warranty repairs. Third time, 7/29/25 48199 miles, we were again on a rural road 55 mph speed limit when the car stopped with my 71 year old wife alone in the car, again in a curve. This time there was a check engine light. I drove my truck to pick her up and assist her until the wrecker came. This time with luck I was able to restart the car and I followed her to our home where the tow truck picked it up and brought it to the same dealership for the third time for repairs under warranty. All three times the culprit was the fuel pump control module. Each time it was the same code in the ECM. Each time the dealership said they did a full check on the fuel system, pump, etc. and only replaced the fuel pump control module.

NHTSA ODI 11678212

The Radio in my 2021 GMC Acadia had to be replaced due to an UPDATE Failure. I had to pay $221.32 for diagnostic and $1,580.18 for a new Radio. My Husband and I are the original owners of the 2021 GMC Acadia. My Dissatisfaction is why are some GMC products under recall for this issue but my 2021 GMC Acadia not part of the recall. The Hands free calling was not working, the GPS and also affected the back up Camera. all of these . a response is requested

NHTSA ODI 11663955

On numerous occasions the key fob is not detected and locked out of vehicle. Key fob notice on panel saying it’s not detected while driving. Took it to Jim Causley GMC dealer several times and then they kept vehicle for a week unable to duplicate and sent me on my way. This is still happening with no help.

NHTSA ODI 11656763

Vehicle gives, “Driver assist reduced Drive with care” warning randomly. Lane change will no longer work and engine light will come on. Problem is sporadic and does not stay active. Engine light will shut off after a day. Once vehicle is shut off cooling fan runs extremely loud and for a long period of time draining battery.

NHTSA ODI 11650976

While driving all displays, gauges, screens shut off. Unable to determine speed or anything. Car still drives but there is zero driver feedback. System will come back on and the it will happen again. Has been going on for 2 years. Dealer unable to determine the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11650979

I have had nothing but issues with this vehicle from the day I purchased it. I should have been more leery of purchasing a vehicle with so few miles on it as a certified vehicle. First issue lift gate wouldn’t work. Had to have sensors replaced twice. Next was the purge valve sensor that has went bad 3 separate times. Then the crankcase vent sensor. Paid a fee for diagnostics, it was not repaired took it back when the engine light came back on, they replaced it without charging but I was advised it’s not covered under warranty. And most recently my check engine light came on yet again today now reading an issue with the engine cooling system. Unfortunately the dealer is so booked out, my only option is to drop it off and hope they can get it in by a cancellation or no show. Seems there are new issues ever 3-6 months with the car.

NHTSA ODI 11648891

I was traveling in my 2021 gmc Acadia in which I have had numerous issues with is the almost 4 years I have owned it. The back up camera 2 weeks after purchase it went out in June of 2021. After that The vehicle In October of 2021 I get in the vehicle on rainy day. Infotainment systems reads error with the SD card that Issue progressed I called dealer finally I get service appointment after strike and my vehicle sits at Roger’s Pontiac GMC 2660 Michigan Ave Chicago IL 60616 for 10 hours now I placed thread around the crowl and by knob. Car was not touched I was told it was a internal issue and that the GM Engineers would need to replace the infotainment system They looked at it again In November of 2022 No closer to finding a problem I called Gmc Because by now My Temperature coolant sensor was working then not working car would say reduced parking assist and then if hot Air conditioning wouldn’t work I Called GMC offices filed numerous complaints. They called the service manager no one would take calls nothing would get done. So [XXX]I’m Driving down [XXX] heading east a big Truck flys off of [XXX] slams into side of my SUV Destroys every panel on passengers side of vehicle The Acadia mine with all the curtain air bags in the a pillar in ceiling on the front and back seats on top Side and bottom side not one deploys not even on the A pillar where rear passengers door is ripped off. I was knocked out if anyone was in them 2 seats like my 2 kids that are always with me [XXX] they could have been killed no safety bags deployed? I basically begged for auto to be repaired of electrical issues when only 2000 miles on it with 900 miles on it GMC I called every week for almost 2 years no help now this! I was injured have not much memory of accident. This auto needs be taken off road I deserve like I asked for when new same car just without issues I could have been killed but no one cared. Now look no air bag INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11647636

While driving vehicle stalled multiple times in the middle of the road, with service transmission and engine light coming on, causing unsafe conditions, causing accident and leaving passengers stranded. Battery being drained and needing to be replaced multiple times within 2 years. Vehicle stopping and shutting off on the highway causing dangerous driving conditions!! Radio and lights flickering, with radio freezing and shutting off. Electrical system not working properly and overheating!

NHTSA ODI 11630080

While driving down the interstate at 70mph+, the instrument panel went black and restarted multiple times. The car continued to stay at a sustained speed, but I was unable to control anything or see how fast I was going. It appears as if the car has shut off, but it isn't. It also affects the lights. It has happened multiple times with no known cause. When I brought this up at the dealership, they said that it would be an $80 diagnostic fee and unless they can replicate the problem they can't do anything about it because it doesn't throw any error codes. There was another women in the dealership the same time as me with the exact same issue. No fix offered. Looking online and talking to others this seems like a common issue that GMC is ignoring.

NHTSA ODI 11629038

Vehicle stalled on major interstate while giving no warning Vehicle would not start after failure Had to be towed to dealership Found to be a faulty fuel pump module Service advisor even said this is a common problem Vehicle mileage was at 33,478 This could have been a deadly accident

NHTSA ODI 11624802

The vehicle, without any warning, suddenly stopped. I was unable to restart and unable to put the vehicle in Neutral for pushing to a safer location. Had to be towed to the dealership.

NHTSA ODI 11604229

Electronic dashboard failure. Entire instrument panel randomly shuts off while driving, including speedometer and all gauges. Driver then has to wait for system to reboot itself before it begins working again. This condition is completely random and may not occur for months, or may occur several times within minutes. This is a safety issue due to the driver's inability to monitor speed. It is also possible that other safety systems are being shut down while waiting for the system to reboot. GM has known about this software glitch since 2021, and it affects certain GM vehicle models from 2021-2023. (Refer to GM TSB# 21-NA-054). NHTSA should require a recall for this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11603194

My 2021 Acadia digital dash goes out (completely black). I took it to the dealership on Friday August 25, as the issue was happening more frequently. I was told the software was not current. This was attributed to parking in a garage each night. Yesterday September 22 while driving, the dash again went out for a much longer timeframe (several miles). I called the dealership. Service was closing but was told by the receptionist that one of the sale people said to (1) park the car, (2) turn off the engine, (3) open the drivers door and leave open for 5 minutes to reset the system and everything should be fine. The black dash prevents the driver from seeing current MPH. I am uncertain if it also disengages adaptive cruise control and auto-braking. Is it acceptable for the digital dash to routinely go black while being operated? Is there a more sustainable resolution for the dash going out? Thank you!

NHTSA ODI 11546197