“The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, after pressing the liftgate button the liftgate raised and crashed down independently after several seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.”
Owner complaint, filed Aug 4, 2026 at 189,352 miles
“The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while reversing, the liftgate unexpectedly opened, even though the liftgate was properly closed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.”
Owner complaint, filed Apr 23, 2026 at 125,000 miles
Complaints and recalls over time
By year of filing
All complaintsAbout the body and frameRecall (red: the body and frame)NHTSA investigation opened
Complaints about the 2012 Acadia peaked in 2016, with 39 filed that year. Owners had filed 5 complaints about the body and frame before the first recall that covers it, 15V415000 in June 2015; 33 more have come in since. In 2026 owners filed 6 so far.
Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Risk. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Filed Jun 30, 2015691,144 vehiclesGeneral Motors LLC
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Risk. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.
Filed May 20, 20141,339,355 vehiclesGeneral Motors LLC
Defect. General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Risk. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
Remedy. General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.
Filed Mar 17, 20141,176,407 vehiclesGeneral Motors LLC
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk. Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
Defect. GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.
All 5 campaigns on file, newest first.
NHTSA investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
Before a recall there is often an investigation: NHTSA opens one when complaints or manufacturer data point to a safety defect. 2 name the 2012 Acadia.
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureEngineering analysis EA20002Closed
Opened Aug 31, 2020Closed Aug 30, 2024Led to recall 21V245seat belts
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The subject vehicles included model year (MY) 2009 through 2014 GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse SUVs as well as MY 2009 through 2010 Saturn Outlook SUVs. These vehicles were previously …
Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureRecall query RQ19003Closed
Opened May 28, 2019Closed Aug 31, 2020seat belts
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform) vehicles.The remedy was to inspect for signs of damage and replace pre-tensioner anchor cables as needed. Re-work was conducted to relocate the pre-tensioner anchor cable out of the …
Technical service bulletins
1,587 on file
Repair instructions the manufacturer sent its dealers for the 2012 Acadia. Not recalls: the fix is usually free only while the car is under warranty.
General CommunicationService campaignAug 26, 2024electrical system
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to …
PIT5236GService campaignMar 31, 2016electrical system
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. Technician will check Global Warranty Management system for customer satisfaction program 15086 status. If the status of the customer satisfaction program …
PIT5236FService campaignAug 3, 2015electrical system
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. Technician will check Global Warranty Management system for customer satisfaction program 15086 status. If the status of the customer satisfaction program …
G-163500Service campaignApr 5, 2013engine
13079 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Vehicles may have leaks from the water pump shaft seal. These leaks are often due to vehicle operation with a low engine coolant level. Proper maintenance of the engine coolant level will increase shaft seal reliability and help ensure that the water pump operates as intended. Dealers are to check the engine coolant …
21-NA-043Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsNov 5, 2024body and frame
This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
PI0281KService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJan 18, 2024body and frame
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
99-08-51-001FService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJun 30, 2023body and frame
This service bulletin provides information on Paintless Dent Repair Process.
PI0281JService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 4, 2023body and frame
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
PIP5358BService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 31, 2022body and frame
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for …
PI0281IService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 7, 2022body and frame
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
Showing the newest 6 of 34 bulletins about the body and frame, and any warranty extensions or service campaigns.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-star safety ratings
Version tested
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
2012 GMC Acadia SUV AWD
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
15.5%
2012 GMC Acadia SUV FWD
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
16.9%
New Car Assessment Program results for this model year. Ratings compare cars of similar size and weight only.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Aug 5, 2026PA
Hello so I notice 3 weeks ago my headlights keep cutting off and on then a week later my radio stopped working, The floor of the driver side is always wet after it rains. I noticed one day the rain started dripping on my feet when I drive after a big rain fall, I believe the car is not sealed properly and now water is coming out from the airbag signs in my vehicle and the car starting to smell like mildew. I think water is sitting in certain parts of my vehicle. I'm not sure what to do.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Aug 4, 2026189,352 milesMN
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, after pressing the liftgate button the liftgate raised and crashed down independently after several seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,352.
Power Train
Filed May 21, 2026213,766 milesOH
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to release from low gear while at a stop. The transmission was backed up. The engine light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there were no recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 213,766.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 23, 2026125,000 milesWI
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while reversing, the liftgate unexpectedly opened, even though the liftgate was properly closed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Electrical System
Filed Apr 12, 2026MD
Service battery charging station error code keeps popping up
Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2026NC
Daytime Running light bulb and housing failure. Some 2012 Acadia models recalled under now expired recall for bulbs and deformation of surrounding housing. Apparently the above recall was excluded from this recall and should have been included. Both DRL on this vehicle have failed and surrounding housing has been damaged . Subsequently replacing just bulbs is not possible. The housing melted on the bulb. Photo is available on request. This failure should be considered a fire hazard. GM customer service center stated to me that this vehicle was not included in recall after VIN search. Some 2012 Acadias were in fact included , this one was not. And should have been since the failure occurred as stated in the original recall.
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 18, 2025DE
The power lift gate suddenly comes down.
Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 16, 2025NE
Back up camera When in reverse the backup camera screen is black or shows very little light making it unusable. Unable to see objects or persons behind vehicle. Despite cleaning camera. No visual damage noted. * It is available for inspection upon request. * Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO * Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO *Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO , first appeared over a year ago.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Oct 14, 2025187,000 milesMI
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the liftgate independently unlatched and fell midway down, and then independently closed and latched. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
Engine
Filed Aug 25, 2025172,000 milesWA
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact’s wife stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
Power Train
Filed Aug 18, 2025NC
The transmission has all the symptoms of a broken wave plate and/or torque convertor as reported in the first generation T75 transmission service bulletin. This started occurring at 120K. I know the service bulletin was for the 2007-2009 models but the 2012 had the same exact transmission and waveplate. The car feels like it's going to shudder out and die on the highway.
Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Jul 25, 2025WI
The back seat driver's side door shut with such impact as to amputate the finger from an adult. Vehicle was parked on incline when front driver's side door shut, the back door also shut. There were no safety features to protect fingers from the hinge side of back door. The force of the door slamming and lack of any space between the hinge side of the door and its frame caused my middle finger from the top knuckle up to be cut off completely thus amputated from hand.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Jun 30, 2025130,000 milesMN
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that shortly after purchasing the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the catalytic convertor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The mechanic also inspected the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, front struts, and suspension control arms were also faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Electrical System
Filed Jun 24, 2025MA
This 2012 GMC Acadia denali with close to 160k has been in the shop several times due to it randomly stalling out It kept basically locking me out from starting the car a "service anti-theft system" would flash across the dash followed by a flashing check engine light along with a lock and key symbol. A local GM repair shop had it in 3 times for them to tell me they couldn't figure it out or get the vehicle to "act up" they cut me two new keys and tightened up what they claimed to be loose battery cables just for the vehicle to die/stall with a no crank no start happen literally 10 minutes down the road after paying almost 600$ for repairs and that it was towed back 3 times for the same issue spanning over two months of them not being able to figure out the issue. Salvador ended up replacing the anti-theft control module after the 3rd time having to tow it back and forth just to leave the shop and I couldn't start the vehicle the next day after handing over almost another 400$ and less than 15/20 miles of drive time. GM needs to get this issue figured out!!! There anti-theft system locks people out from starting their vehicles more than it does actually preventing actual theft. This will eventually end up causing a major crash at an intersection or highway if the anti-theft system keeps failing it just randomly cuts out power to the engine while driving.
Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2025NE
Ratle sound in the engine thinking it may be the timing chain. Code p0430 came on stating catalytic converter bank 2 needs replaced. We replaced o2 sensor downstream on bank 2 code was cleared by shop. After driving a few miles same check engine light came on and i took it to the shop they hooked it up to run the code and it was the same p0430 again
Electrical System
Filed May 31, 2025FL
Vehicle producing code P2138 then goes into limp mode stating to service stability, traction control off and engine reduced power. Replaced Throttle Body and Acceleration Pedal Position Sensor and error was still present.
Service Brakes
Filed May 22, 2025AL
I was driving along [XXX] . I stopped at Walmart and shopped for about 2 hours. I was Leaving Walmart and was stopped at a red light at the exit from Walmart [XXX] and traction control light comes on and a message came up and stated traction control off and to service stability control and the vehicle loses power right at the light. I checked everything I could and dis connect the battery for about 30 minutes and connected the battery back up vehicle still would not start. After sitting there for 3 hours the vehicle starts up. A week later the same thing happens again. I had to go through all the steps again so after a couple of hours. The vehicle started up. A few days later it happens shin but this time I'm at a stop sign on a busy road. I called Road side service for a tow. No one showed up so I went through Ll those same steps of disconnecting the battery and hooking it back up after a couple of hours and it stated up. I drove it home and started doing some research and found something saying to change the brake pedal position sensor so I done that and it worked for a few days and started doing the same thing all over again. S week later I drive it to the store and got almost home and the vehicle shut down again and would not start back up. I had it towed to my uncle shop Nd he done a diagnostic on it and got about 4 or 5 codes. All of those things are very expensive to purchase. I just ran the Vin to check for recalls on the vehicle but couldn't find any but it should ha
Engine
Filed May 1, 2025MO
Transmission issues
Engine
Filed Nov 30, 2024DE
The timing chains went on the engine at 148,000 miles. Which is known for 3.6l engines. Gm needs to own up to their faulty manufacturing on these engines. I need this vehicle for my children. This is the second time I have to put another engine in this truck. Thankfully when I purchased this vehicle it had a warranty but it only cover so much so I had to put a jasper motor in it instead of a brand new one from GM itself and now this jasper motor died after only driving it 22,000 miles and getting my oil changed every 3,000 miles. Single mom of soon to be 3 children i can't afford another 3 row seating Vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while closing the hatch of the vehicle, the driver's side ball joint hinge fractured, causing the bar holding the hatch to scrape off some of the tints of the windshield. The contact stated that he was able to stop the hatch from fully closing to prevent the hatch from braking the windshield. The contact stated that the hatch had not been opened since the incident occurred to prevent further damage to the windshield. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2024128,000 milesMI
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contacts stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost velocity while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Engine power reduced and service traction control" was displayed temporarily. The contact managed to pull over the shoulder of the road and had the vehicle towed to a local independent service lot where it was diagnosed with metal debris in the engine which required an engine replacement. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2024WI
While driving the vehicle it just shut off for no reason which created a safety hazard! We were then forced to have it towed to a nearby repair shop, because we did not want to take the chance to start the vehicle and have the same thing happen again. The repair shop did their diagnosis and informed us it was a broken timing chain but couldn’t tell us if any other damage was done to the motor, without completely tearing it down. The decision was made to wait and it remains sitting at the repair shop.
Electrical System
Filed Aug 21, 2024UT
The car shutdown mid-driving do due to a power system issue, which was dangerous on the highway. I had the car battery and the alternator replaced and it did the same thing again 8 months later. Says the battery system needs servicing
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2024PA
142,000 miles and timing chain is bad. A very known issue and a very common issue in the GMC Acadia Denali which I think should be repaired by GM! I only owe $4,000 on the car and it's going to cost me 3,000 to get it fixed that is ridiculous so I think you should stand behind your workmanship and your quality of vehicles that you build GM and fix it take care of your customers as we keep buying this type of junk
Power Train
Filed Apr 25, 2024CT
Transmission is slipping, shuddering at low speeds making car unsafe to drive
Power Train
Filed Apr 10, 2024IN
TRANSMISSION STARTES SLIPPING THEN WENT OUT
Steering
Filed Mar 11, 2024WA
About 1 month ago While making a slow speed turn from a parking lot to a street the steering seemed to lock for no reason. After a brief moment the steering resumed normal function. I inspected the ignition switch and found nothing abnormal. Checked power steering fluid level, it was in the operating range. Unable to duplicate the issue at that time. On 3-9-23 while driving the vehicle started making an unusual noise coming from the engine. It seemed to be consistent with engine rpm. I believe it was the power steering pump. After stopping and starting the engine the noise was gone. A few minutes later while driving at slow speed the steering locked again, or the resistance was too great for my wife to overcome.
Visibility
Filed Feb 2, 2024175,000 milesTN
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the liftgate lamp detached from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the adhesive had severely deteriorated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Power Train
Filed Jan 27, 2024PA
I noticed shuddering while driving my car and when I took it to my mechanic upon test driving and inspecting it he realized the torque converter is not strong enough for the size of the car. He informed me driving it with the improper size will cause it to shudder and accelerate or not accelerate correctly while driving and cause slipping while shifting gears. Those issue have been happening the entire time I've had it and if the car slips and goes too fast or slips and loses power it is a danger to me and the other cars on the road. There were no codes or warning indicators while this is happening.
Seat Belts
Filed Dec 18, 2023AZ
SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG CONNECTOR,FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHOR, POWER LIFT GATE PROP ROD RECOVERY
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
Filed Sep 22, 2023158,000 milesWI
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the RPM would rise to 4,000 however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle and became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine block, camshaft, reverse gear, and transmission housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.
Air Bags
Filed Sep 13, 2023MA
I HAVE A 2012 GMC acadia denali with about 147,000 miles on it and the "Service Air Bag" light is on I brought it somewhere to have the code read and the said there is about 5 different codes popping up for the issue... I've called auto shops around me locally and can't find anyone that is willing to look at it. I just want to know what my best options are as to getting this issue resolved. As I have never been in an accident so I don't know why the air bag light is on.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 7, 2023TX
My 2012 GMC Acadia has had numerous issues that all lead to the fuel pump assembly. Three separate times, my cars ignition has just shut off while driving. When trying to accelerate from a stop, the car will struggle to move then jump forward nearly hitting the car infront of me. Stabilitrak warning comes on. Car randomly jerks while driving. Car will randomly not want to start but eventually does after multiple attempts.
Electrical System
Filed Aug 19, 2023WV
No warning light when transmission went out. Traction control/stabiltrac service light came on, doors locking and unlocking, not stating what gear acadia was in. Check engine light eventually came on, after it stalled twice on highway. Vehicle is at gmc dealership service department and they are saying its not communicating and are checking wiring harness wires. I have replaced transmission and torque converter and now i dont know what to expect now. Only had it for 3 years so far. I almost got rear ended when it stalled twice before backfiring and a rough swift shift.
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2023MN
The automatic passenger side window does not work anymore, it went out a couple months after I bought it. I have always done maintenance on my vehicle, oil changes, tires, etc. and the timing chain went out on it for some unknown reason. Very pricey to fix. I would hate to be stranded with my 6 grandchildren with. With all the complaints on the timing chain, this should be a recall.
Unknown or Other
Filed May 21, 2023PA
We have had this recall fixed TWICE but it still reflects in the NHTSA database as an open recall. The first time we had this fixed was in 2017. We had it fixed again on May 19, 2023 and yet it STILL reflects as open in NHTSA. I am active duty military and require proof of clean vehicle recall history to ship this vehicle to Hawaii as part of a permanent change of station move. Please assist ASAP with clearing this recall requirement.
Engine
Filed Apr 18, 2023OH
I was driving 40 mph, when warnings appeared on my dash. "Service Stabalizor control", "Traction control turned off", "power is reduced", and the check engine light came on. I lost power as if engine quit, no acceration, but then came back intermittent. If I had been on a highway going 65 mph, in heavy traffic, there may have been an accident. Power steering remained on. I took to an auto service business, and they were unable to find the problem. Code indicated a fuel pressure problem.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 13, 2023AZ
Incomplete recalls
WheelsCrash
Filed Feb 2, 2023IL
Rear driver side cast aluminum knuckle/hub assembly fractured. The rear wheel partially separated from the suspension with uncontrolled toe, camber, & caster. Wheel impacted suspension linkage causing fracture of rear driver side rotor. Vehicle is available for inspection. Incident caused driver to lose control of vehicle and go into ditch UNKNOWN if problem has been reproduced Vehicle/component has not been inspected No warning symptoms prior to failure
Electrical System
Filed Nov 25, 2022MS
THE CAR STALLED, CUT OFF WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC
Power Train
Filed Jul 2, 2022IA
We just purchased this 2012 gmc acadia about 30 days ago and every day we drive it we have this issue.. from a complete stop when pressing the gas the truck feels like it has no power starting to go until the rpm’s each maybe 4500 then the truck will jerk and studder through the intersections. i feel like we are going to be in a MAJOR accident while proceeding through intersections. the dealer states there is nothing they can do. there is absolutely something wrong when it jerks and stutters to move
Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2022IA
The headlights in this make and model go out frequently. I've owned my vehicle for 2 years and have put 5 headlights in it.
Steering
Filed May 19, 2022SC
Every single GMC I have ever ran into there is an Acadia, the air conditioner never works. Maybe you guys should reconsider the assembly of your air-conditioning It’s exhausting spending money having air for all of five minutes and then it’s right back to the heat.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut
Filed Apr 13, 2022114,000 milesMI
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated the rear hatch door would close independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Dec 14, 2021NC
Unsure of cause, but just lost our 2012 Acadia SLT2 AWD to a FIRE! Driver & passenger jumped out. Fire Dept rolled two trucks to extinguish. Parts melted onto the pavement. No prior warning.
Structure › Body1 injured
Filed Sep 13, 2021TX
The power liftgate suddenly collapsed while I was standing underneath it. It dropped on top of my head pretty hard as it was a sudden drop of the liftgate. My safety was/is at risk and has caused injury to my head. Currently experiencing headaches. As condition progresses, I will be seeking medical attention. It is available for inspection. I have recorded a video of the problem. The problem is recurring and reproducing. I have not taken it to a dealer or independent service center today (9/13/2021 date of incident) as the weather is bad in my area (experiencing high rain and winds from a tropical storm). I will have it taken in on 9/14/2021. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning indicators or other symptoms prior to the initial collapse.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut
Filed Sep 13, 202197,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway and the contact and his wife were taking groceries out of the vehicle, the rear liftgate suddenly fell and hit the contact’s wife on the back of the head. The contact’s wife had a severe headache with dizziness. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the liftgate struts failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.
Power Train
Filed Sep 13, 2021104,000 milesCA
The contact owns 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for the state-mandated smog test and he was informed that there was an issue with the transmission. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
Service Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2021MA
The brakes on the vehicle have failed 5-7 times within the past year and a half. By "failed" I mean that the pedal was touching the floor of the vehicle and did NOT engage. Mechanic was unable to replicate the failure any of the three times we took it in to get it looked at. The brake pads, rotors, and fluid lines have all been checked multiple times and are all in good condition. The master cylinder was replaced and the brakes worked well for about 6-7 months. Approximately 3 weeks ago, the brakes failed entirely, yet again, this time driving on a highway at 70mph. The emergency brake had to be used in order to get the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle was then dropped off at a local dealership, who has kept it for about 2 weeks and states that they cannot replicate the problem when they take it for a test drive. We have 2 young children and this has been our primary family vehicle. There has not been a check engine light or any other warning lamp AT ALL.
Air Bags
Filed Sep 7, 2021NC
THIS VEHICLE IS SHOWING ON DASH THAT ( SERVICE AIR BAGS) WHY WOULD THIS TAKE PLACE? IT HAS 175,238 MILES.IS THIS A RECALL OR WHAT? --- PLEASE ADVISE -- THIS COME UP ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
Complaints 1-50 of 296, newest first, reproduced as filed.
It is not among the Acadia years to avoid. Owners filed 296 complaints, against about 283 for a typical Acadia year. The most common complaint is about the body and frame (13%). In NHTSA crash tests it scored 5 stars overall.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 GMC Acadia?
The body and frame: 38 of the 296 complaints (13%) are about it. Owners most often say it sets off warning lights on the dash (8%). The typical report comes at 60,735 miles.
How many recalls does the 2012 GMC Acadia have?
5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA, the most recent filed Apr 8, 2021. The largest, 14V266000, covered 1,339,355 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
At what mileage do 2012 GMC Acadia problems start?
Half of the complaints that record an odometer reading came in before 75,000 miles. For the body and frame the midpoint is 60,735 miles.
Has NHTSA investigated the 2012 GMC Acadia?
Yes, 2 times. The latest, EA20002 ("Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure"), was opened Aug 31, 2020 and closed Aug 30, 2024.
Are there service bulletins for the 2012 GMC Acadia?
The manufacturer filed 1,587 technical service bulletins and other notices for it with NHTSA, most of them about the engine (244), the electrical system (226) and the transmission (68). They include a service campaign, General Communication, filed Aug 26, 2024. A bulletin is a repair instruction to dealers, not a recall: the fix is usually free only under warranty.
Reading this record
Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 8, 2021. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.