10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,441 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 GMC Acadia:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #70

Jan 052024

Acadia

  • miles
The stabilizer/traction control keeps going off and it will stay off.i can turn, hit a bump or start it up and the traction control/stabilizer system is off.i almost had a accident on the freeway in the rain because it turned off out of nowhere and I almost lost control. Also I was going down the road and all of a sudden my vehicle died and I had little control over vehicle. Once it came to stop it would not start again and when attempting it sounded like something was stuck in my fan or something because of the way it rattled and sounded and was rough sounding. Vehicle was inoperable and had to be towed. Upon investigating it was the timing chain kit that had failed suddenly for no apparent reason. Vehicle was well maintained and kept accordance with running policies and practices required and suggested by manufacturer. Still the failing caused engine damage that is well in to the several thousands of dollars and engine must be replaced due to this issue failing and I have noticed several thousand people having this same very issue and rendering them a foot and vehicle less due to the high cost of fixing without any warning or engine light or code suggesting of the timing chain kit failing or about to fail before stranding a person wherever and whenever unexpectedly and suddenly without any warning or check engine light at all. No OEM code to validate the issue either. Manufacturer should be held liable for the exact same issue occuring in so many of the multitude of people experiencing the same exact issue causing financial turmoil and risk of disaster or collision and harm when the timing chain kit fails suddenly. This is a huge and vast problem I have found with multitude of Acadia owners and should be addressed because to not honor a issue of so many experiencing the same issue occuring should be reconciled and corrected at the manufacturer cost due to it being their liability in making the faulty part of device to begin with causing vast financial hardships.

- Fort Smith, AR, USA

problem #69

Nov 152023

Acadia

  • miles
The stabilizer/traction control keeps going off and it will stay off.i can turn, hit a bump or start it up and the traction control/stabilizer system is off.i almost had a accident on the freeway in the rain because it turned off out of nowhere and I almost lost control

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #68

May 312022

Acadia

  • miles
The wire harness corroded, and it caused everything in my car to stop working my back passenger window won-??t go down, my back driver side cannot be put up or down from the back, my airbag light is now on and now my car will not shift while driving to allow me to drive it over 30mph.. I-??ve paid the dealer almost $1400 to fix wiring. I-??ve owned the car exactly a year now

- Canton , NY, USA

problem #67

Jun 012020

Acadia

  • 160,000 miles
The vehicle started giving us problems. While driving at normal speeds (25 - 30 mph) the motor will start to shutter or jump around. After taking it ot a local dealership we found that the issue is a the timing chain. I also did some research and found this to be a common problem between 120,000 and 200,000 miles. GM only offered an extension up to 120,000 miles. This is a costly repair that we can not afford. GM knows this is a continous problem but refuses to take responsability for it. I am getting a P0007 code and the check engine light stays on all the time! I have been a loyal GM customer for 20 plus years. Most recently I have been considering leaving them for another manufacturer since this is not the first time being screwed over by them in the past 3 - 4 years.

- Manhattan, IL, USA

problem #66

May 282020

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
There was a recall at one time for the transmission linkage about it popping off, I am now having it pop off I have no clue how long it been this way seeing as it goes to the dealership and they never said anything but it had been that way for a while you can just lift it off. Head lights go out almost every 6 months on the dot! I have been caught twice with no low beams.

- Lewis Center, OH, USA

problem #65

Aug 152019

Acadia

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. While driving 30 mph, a loud whining noise occurred when attempting to shift gears. The vehicle failed to shift and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The contact stated that the shifter would take a while to shift into drive. The vehicle was taken to D'arcy Buick GMC (2022 essington rd, joliet, il 60435, (815) 673-7146) to be test driven, but no failure was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced a few years ago per bulletin number: 14404A (power train) at the same dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 95450230066. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #64

Jul 112019

Acadia

  • 164,532 miles
While driving the vehicle at 45mph I received a low oil pressure shut off engine. Oil was fine so we took it to have the oil changed. Light came back on. There are no codes being stored in the system. Everyone is guessing what could be wrong with it from a bad oil pump or the pan needs to be cleaned. There is a forum a bunch of other people having the same problem and spending thousands and getting nowhere. Some have had to have a whole new engine installed. GM says there are no bulletins and they will give me a 100 $ for the vehicle to be serviced by a tech. Just to be checked is 250 $ not including any fixes for the issue.

- East Dublin, GA, USA

problem #63

Jul 082019

Acadia

  • 123,499 miles
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. While driving 40 mph, the gear shifted out of second into first gear on its own and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that, when in reverse, the vehicle seized. An independent mechanic test drove the vehicle and determined that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to nelson hall Chevrolet (1811 S frontage rd, meridian, ms 39301, (601)-621-4324) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 123,499.

- Meridian, MS, USA

problem #62

Jun 192019

Acadia

  • 125,000 miles
I was experiencing problems driving my vehicle. It was riding rough and making a loud noise when I accelerated, so I took it to my mechanic and I got spark plugs and an oil change-still was riding rough. I went back and got a cam shaft position replaced-still nothing changed. I took it to another mechanic. He said it was an O2 censor. Changed it and nothing changed. No one could tell me what was wrong or what the noise was. Finally one morning on my way to work I had to pull over on the highway bc the car wouldn't accelerate. Got it towed to a different mechanic and that's when I found out it was the timing chain. After doing some research I was getting quotes for $2000-$2500. Finally one place told me to see if there was a recall. I called GMC. They said there is a recall on the timing chain. They connected me with a local GMC dealer who informed me after evaluating my vehicle that it's out of warranty and 5000 miles over the limit. Well I'm still paying for this vehicle and I owe $5000 on it. Clearly I was sold a lemon but what are my options now?

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #61

Mar 242019

Acadia

  • 137,194 miles
Takara recall well my truck just stop changing gears on Sunday nite 03/24/19 I was getting off about to drive out of the parking lot when I saw the RPM hand go up but didnt come back down I knew something was wrong then it didn't change at all I drove 20 all way home with my flashers on and almost got ran over

- Lyons, MS, USA

problem #60

Dec 122018

Acadia

  • 90,000 miles
Dec 2018 my Acadia was left at the service department of whitmore Chevrolet in West point va 23181 for a diagnosis. My vehicle ran when I left it there. Over a month later including illegal activity in the service department I get my vehicle back and it is dead. I would start my vehicle and drive away sometime stopping soon or randomly on the road. It's done that several times. I have three children too. I need my vehicle looked at and the possible recalls fixed. I am without transportation and it's unbearable. I am a mother of three wonderful sons and we need our vehicle to run please!!!my review is in the pictures as well

- King William, VA, USA

problem #59

Dec 292018

Acadia 4-cyl Diesel

  • 105,000 miles
The torque converter failed while driving down the highway, was left stranded on the highway in winter while in nd. The vehicle is very well maintained. Vehicle has 105,000 miles on the odometer. I have been told by a GM dealer that this is a very common problem with the Acadia.

- Canby, MN, USA

problem #58

Oct 222018

Acadia

  • miles
I leased my 2009 GMC Acadia almost 2 years ago, it has been a nightmare. I bought as is so dealer would not return my calls that had anything to do with problems. First, not even 3 weeks after I leased the vehicle the electrical system started to go, my driver window stopped working, my back hatch well I can't even open it because there is no key to open nor is there a button anywhere the mechanics said I need to take it to an electrical mechanic...wonder how much that will cost?, my stabiltrak system constantly flashes. The engine burns up too much oil even after an oil change within 3weeks I need to put oil, I do not drive far nor alot. To work and back. It will cost more to fix this truck than what it is worth now I'm stuck with $5,000 left on a vehicle that is a piece of poop. When I drive the truck pulls as if the engine cannot get the truck going. I can't turn off the truck while putting gas because the vehicle wont turn over once the gas has been put in and started. The mechanic said its the trans evap system. I dont understand how GMC can get away with manufacturing vehicles like this with no concern for the customers.

- Ingleside, IL, USA

problem #57

Sep 242018

Acadia

  • 90,000 miles
The vehicle was stationary, will start but it doesn't recognize that it has or cords aren't connecting and it won't shift into any gear-just makes a clicking sound-shift lever. Lift gate/back hatch won't stay up and keeps falling down. Power/electrical issues involving the transmission was driving, at a red light and the vehicle just stopped working and I couldn't even get it started again. There has been ongoing issues with this vehicle.

- Grand Forks, ND, USA

problem #56

Aug 132018

Acadia

  • 167,000 miles
My clock spring broke causing the cruise control to stop, my suspenion on my car is going out at 167,000 miles maling the car ride horribly, and apparently there is a problem with the wave plate in the transmission there have been multiple complaints about this problem but noone wants to do anything I was driving the moments these occured

- Gay, GA, USA

problem #55

Sep 152017

Acadia

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. While the vehicle was idling at a stop sign, the engine independently revved and the rpms increased. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate. Also, when the gear shifter was placed in reverse, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was rebuilt with upgraded parts. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Seminary, MS, USA

problem #54

Apr 102017

Acadia

  • 107,000 miles
I bought the car on March 21st of 2017 car seemed to be running and driving fine( shifting and driving smooth) and on April 10th 2017 I was on my way to work I have a approx 12 mile drive one way commute to my work place and I noticed all of the sudden whn trans was shifting gears it would slip a little bit so I drove it in a manner to where the slipping was minimal and after work when I put in reverse it was slipping worse than what it was that morning in drive I drove it home so at most from the time the problem started it was drove less than 20 miles but by the time I got home two blocks away from my house I stopped at a stop sign and trans completely stopped pulling car would not move at all luckily I was on small incline and there was no other vehicles behind me so I was able to put in reverse and get the car out of the road so I called the car lot where I had bought the car and they said to not get to exited that it could just B a sensor something small that they would send a tow truck to pick it up and take to mechanic shop and we go from there we'll now on April 12 we was told that the transmission is completely shot and it was could B upwards to 3500$ for used transmission that had 76kmiles that also includes installation of transmission I'm not comfortable with paying that much for used transmission that I don't know what I'm getting and also no warranty on or guarantee I bought the the car as is but I traded in my 03 Tahoe still a very dependable SUV and I also put 5000 $ cash down on this Acadia and now this the dealer says he will need 2000$ up front and he will pay the rest of it and whatever that amount is that he would put it on top of what he had already financed because (he wants to help out) no help other than not having to come up with the whole 3500$ at once. Any advise on wht I should do or if this may B part of a recall on this vehicle

- Henderson, KY, USA

problem #53

Mar 072017

Acadia

  • 133,000 miles
9/2014 at 93,000 miles transmission failed. Dealer confirmed GMC agreed to pay 60% of repair, but later after transmission, wave plate recall I was reimbursed. 2/2017 133,000 miles new replacement transmission is failing again in 3rd gear with same internal failure code per my service person.

- Pickerington, OH, USA

problem #52

Jul 042016

Acadia

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. While driving approximately 65 mph, there was a sudden loss of engine power and the vehicle was unable to be driven over 40 mph. The stability traction control warning indicator illuminated. The dealer was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. In addition, while driving highway speeds, "engine hot" and "A/C off" appeared on the instrument panel. The contact noticed smoke under the hood. The vehicle was coasted over to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure and was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the part. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and indicated that they also had campaigns that needed to be addressed. The timing chain needed to be replaced, there was a loss of power steering assist, and the transmission cutlet leave plate failed. There were no recalls. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- Alburtis, PA, USA

problem #51

Sep 132016

Acadia

  • 105,000 miles
Transmission failure at 105,000 miles car is being repaired bobs transmission, grand rapids, Michigan

- Rockford, MI, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »