8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,800
Average Mileage:
112,900 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. get a new throttle body installed (2 reports)
  3. new switchplate (1 reports)
  4. replace new engine (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your GMC dealer.

problem #10

Feb 082019

Acadia STL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 128,776 miles

Today I was dropping my 4yr old son off and we were on the highway, when all of the sudden the truck shut off!

- Yvette L., Ingleside, TX, US

problem #9

Jul 172018

Acadia

  • Automatic transmission
  • 165,000 miles

This happens any day we drive it around town; hardly ever happens long distances; we routinely drive it 400 miles round trip and have not had it quit, but in town, it quits in traffic three or four times in a five mile journey across town in stop and go traffic. This is a routine and daily experience. It always restarts after resting about two or three minutes.

- Jim H., Missoula, MT, US

problem #8

Feb 012017

Acadia SLT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,000 miles

Turns off when drivings, stop everywhere, stops in traffic, very scary. What the hell what are going to do with this f*cking car? Don't buy GMC Acadia, there is a problem each month. Change oil, low air pressure, car roof window a lot water, passenger window switch, lift gate.

- Norge R., Syracuse, NY, US

problem #7

Nov 192016

Acadia ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

engine light came on...........no awd light,..........check stability bar,.......and engine power reduced..........this happened while on vacation in Montana and I had a GMC dealer make repairs which cost 800.00 dollars all seemed well until our trip back home. 1 week after repairs, then it started doing the same thing...........we limped back home by pulling over and disconnecting the battery to reset the computer, this happened usually about 5 times an hour..............we had to do this for 18 hrs. to get home.............later that day we dropped it off with our local GMC dealer and haven't heard from them yet, it's been 2 days..........we also had to have our transmission replaced in oct. 2015 and the airconditioner which cost 700.00 dollars and we purchased the car in august of 2014 from GMC used car lot...................so not very happy with GMC as I always drove a Ford and never had any problem............on a positive note I really like the looks of the acadia and it is comfortable to travel in........................

- stacytrevino, Lake Orion, MI, US

problem #6

Nov 062016

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 156,000 miles

Several times now my car has said "Traction control off" and just shut down. Twice I was driving in traffic when this occurred. Once I was driving 70mph on a 4 lane highway with my kids in the car when it said "traction control off, reduced motor power" and just slowed down in the middle of traffic. Could barely steer it off the road and then brakes were almost impossible to press to stop. I really feel this needs to be a recall and fixed at your expense. It would terrible if someone or their children were killed due to this issue, as I have seen I am not the only one having this problem.

- Alishe W., Iola, KS, US

problem #5

May 012012

Acadia

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

It seems that this switch plate issue was the beginning of a long standing issue with the car. We were driving on the highway near the Washington DC area (traveling from NC) and the car just stopped. We (husband and 3 kids) had to have the car towed, we had to get a rental car to get back to our military jobs and then I had to drive back to DC to pick up the car after the repair. GMC NEVER reimbursed me for my hotel stay and rental car although I provided ALL of the information when I picked up the car.

- clmjen, Colorado Springs, CO, US

problem #4

Jul 082015

Acadia SLE 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

The car ran fine for about 55K miles, then one day it failed to start, turns out the whole engine needed to be replaced! The engine was 5200, but they replaced it for 3800 as it only had 55k miles..(they called it helpful...)

Don't buy GMC please...

- crazyfastrapper, haha random, MI, US

problem #3

Jan 052016

Acadia 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

GMC needs to address this problem.!!! The reduced engine power, service traction control and service stilabatrack is something that happens to A LOT of Acadias!!!! Since this has happened I have found out that its wide spread. My Acadia is having a new throttle body installed tomorrow. $600!!!! Then, he can figure out what the rest of the issues are.. My tires sensors keep going off even though I just got new tires and always have them rotated as I should. The car would not even make it to my work so I was forced to miss work, as my husband is a firefighter and is gone for the next two days. My aunt had to come get me to take me to store so that i could have food for the next two days while I am stranded at home in 20 degree weather.

If this is so widespread then why doesn't GENERAL MOTORS MAKE A RECALL AND FIX IT???????? BEFORE SOMEONE DIES ON THE FREEWAY??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- jfoti, Post Falls, ID, US

problem #2

Feb 122014

Acadia SLT 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

Same problem. In February of 2014 I was driving down the interstate and all of the sudden I got all kinds of messages on the dash: Traction Control Off, Stabilitrak Off, Service Stabilitrak, Reduced Power, etc. The car started running really rough. I had to cross traffic to pull over. I shut it off and sat there for 5-10 minutes. Then I started it and it was running ok, so I headed to the nearest Chevy dealer.

They looked at it and said the only thing they could find was that it appeared that there was moisture in the throttle body, which had frozen. They dried it out and things had been ok until last week. While on my way to Chicago, also interstate with really heavy traffic, the dash messages started flashing: Traction Control Off, Stabilitrak Off, Service Stabilitrak. I did not lose power this time, but then the engine light came on. I had a diagnostic check and all it said was running lean.

I have several more trips to Chicago (a 3 hour drive one-way) in the very near future and I am afraid to drive my car! I would take my husbands truck, but "Guess What?", it's also a GM vehicle and has had the same problem! I have read all the forums and came to find out that this problem and been going on for at least 6 years! Some have been serviced with a new throttle body, some have replaced sensors, etc. and it doesn't help. Most of the time the dealer can't even diagnose what the problem is.

Why hasn't GM done anything about this? Are they going to wait until someone is killed because their vehicle shuts down in heavy traffic? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW!

Frustrated in Illinois

- Pam W., Mapleton, IL, US

problem #1

Feb 152015

Acadia SLT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,012 miles

My wife and I were driving on the major highway 401 here in Toronto when our Acadia, after giving a beep along with some info on the computer, shut down completely in the middle lane. The info on the dash said stabiltrak disabled, traction control disabled, service stabiltrak, reduced engine power and then the engine stalled out leaving us with steering issues. I managed with great difficulty getting the Acadia to the side of the road with cars zooming past at over one hundred KM per hour. We couldn't even get out of the vehicle due to the snow bank against the side wall. It was a morning where the temperature was minus 25. We tried several times to restart but only after about fifteen minutes of sitting in this scary spot did the vehicle start.

We got off the highway as quickly as possible with the service engine emblem showing on the dash. We got the Acadia home and got it into our local CAA garage. I just heard from them and the code is showing throttle body issues but the engine light has cleared. I just got off the phone with GM Canada customer service about this issue and there are no recalls. I cannot believe this after reading all the posts on the different sites including this one. I consider myself a professional driver after driving fire trucks for thirty years, and believe me, this issue needs to be rectified or someone is going to get hurt seriously.

I usually don't bother posting but I am to the point I don't trust the vehicle now. Please post if you have this problem to let GM hear our voice and maybe they will do something to protect you and your loved ones.

Update from Mar 4, 2015: I got the Acadia into my local garage and not the dealer to fix this issue. After two days in the shop and $675. later the problem is fixed. Had a new throttle body installed and have driven it for two weeks now with a couple of long trips during that time period. Touch wood all seems good until the next issue arises with the Acadia. I had no satisfaction from GM Canada as all they would say this was not a recall at this time but keep my bills. This was scary for my wife and I to have this just up and die on a major highway at the speed we were travelling.

- Stan B., Toronto, ON, Canada