8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,090
Average Mileage:
95,150 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace engine (3 reports)
  3. dealer replaced 6 spark plugs, 6 ignition coils and ecm (2 reports)
2009 GMC Acadia engine problems

engine problem

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2009 GMC Acadia Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 012017

Acadia V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Had to have engine completely rebuilt and still did not fix all of the engine problems.

- Sarah D., Belpre, OH, US

problem #7

Mar 122019

Acadia 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,021 miles

Bought this GMC Acadia off a lot in Toledo Ohio where I was told it is a great truck. Upon purchasing the owner of the place let me test drive it - it ran well. Bought the truck which had oil changed and not one month later the light goes on. I talked to the guy I purchased it from to no avail - he was no help at all. Purchased on Monroe St. GM auto - he basically was like my loss.

So I had to put an engine in the truck which cost 4,000 to get done. I was pissed being I only had the truck for 3 months. GMC has bulletins on their cars but they also don't honor their bulletins. They give you all kind of excuses to why they can't honor the bulletin when I clearly see on the paper that you can. So they kept my truck in the shop until the bulletin ran out and could not be honored.

- devilbiss1981, Toledo, US

problem #6

Feb 052016

Acadia

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles

I just purchased this vehicle and while the sales guy was giving me his sales pitch I noticed the check engine light was on. I asked about the light and told the guy I won't buy the car because of it. He, the sales guy, assured me that the light was because they just changed the oxygen sensor and forgot to clear the code. I took them to be honest and agreed to buy the car once they said they would clear the code for me. I went in to sign papers they took the car to clear code and have it cleaned up. Once on the road I noticed the light was still on, I called that Monday and let them know about the code. The service manager told me to take it to a garage since I now was at my home in another state about 500 miles away. He told me that they would take care of the issue once the mechanic here found out the issue. The mechanic at the garage told me it was a P0008 code which was something to do with my timing gear but there was a service bulletin on it so they were aware of the problem to begin with (in his opinion). I called the car lot to let them know and the girl in the garage told me that I could have it fixed but it would be out of my pocket. I am so angry because I would never bought the car if I had not been lied to by the dealership. I feel that this is theft by deception and I should not have to pay anything to get this repaired. I also found out that my car is under 3 or 4 safety recalls that weren't addressed either so now I have had to contact a dealership here to take care of those issues too.

Update from Feb 17, 2016: I just got a call from the dealership which sold me the car. My problem is a known issue and is under a service bulletin warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. Therefore when I get the safety issues taken care of from the dealership in my area, I am going to insist they address the timing chain issues as well. Wish me luck.

- Teresa H., Emporium, US

problem #5

Sep 052015

Acadia SLT LltV6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,031 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought this as second hand car and the day I bought it is troubling. More in garage and less on the road. It was over heated 3 months back and completely over hauled with gasket sealed changed. Radiator changed, fan unit changed, fuse box changed, battery changed, exhaust manifold cleaned, A/C repaired, suspension changed.

This is car is a nightmare....just got repaired and again the it shows check engine. Anyhow, running and like to sell as soon as possible. so complicated design that even small work require complete front bumper opening and pull down of engine..

Never buy this vehicle ..it is a tension car...better to buy Japanese car as is less trouble and easy to repair.

- maniararif, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

problem #4

Apr 302015

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,406 miles

In April of 2015, the check engine light was on. This was the second major repair it's had since I purchased it in 2013. The vehicle wouldn't accelerate over 60mph without bucking. Took it to GMC dealer because I received a letter from them saying they would reimburse me for transmission work I'd previously had. If the problems were transmission related, GMC would have covered the cost of repairs for the additional work on transmission. To my surprise, it was not the transmission but the engine. They had to remove and replace my O2 sensor, spark plugs, tune up on my engine , and fix other repairs. I had to take out a personal loan, and deplete my savings account in order to cover the cost of all the repairs needed during this one visit.

- pavao, Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #3

Jul 292015

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,452 miles

Two months after fixing engine, the check engine light was back on. The oil pressure was low; stop engine warning light came on. The SUV now wouldn't accelerate past 40mph without bucking. I had to pull over, and turn off the vehicle for a few minutes to let it cool down before proceeding to my destination. Every time I was at a red light or a stop sign, the warning light would come on.

When I took it to the GMC dealer, I found out the the oil pressure was low and it would cost $500 to repair. Without letting me know what the actual issue is, just that they need to replace it because its an issue with the GMC Acadias. I did not get this fixed because of previous repairs that left me unable to afford the many other repairs needed during this visit.

- pavao, Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #2

Apr 152013

Acadia V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

I purchased my 2009 Acadia used August 2011. It had 46,000 miles and seemed like the perfect vehicle for a family of 5. In April 2012 it started skipping. I took it to the dealership and they said it was the timing and fixed it. It has been all down hill since then.

At 70k miles I ran to the store with my 3 small children and when I tried to leave, the vehicle refused to go in to D,N,or R. I was stranded. Can't call a tow truck, they are not made to transport 4. Finally got a ride home and had it towed to dealership. This time it was the rings in transmission, motor mounts, and master cylinder. Thank god it was covered under extended warranty and 100k mile power train. When I got it back it still ran like sh*t but was told "that's just how the Acadia was."

1 month later the check engine light comes on and the vehicle strands me and my children yet again on a bridge with heavy traffic. This time I'm told it's the catalytic converter, a cylinder, and now my battery is dead. Now it's only 7 months later and now I'm at 81k miles, just out of extended warranty and guess what, check engine light is back on. They say it's my converter yet again and 4 more cylinders, and spark plugs, a $1600 to fix.

Gm needs to fix these piece of sh*t vehicles before someone is killed and they have another huge lawsuit. I am speaking to an attorney because I cannot feel safe driving my children in a vehicle that may get us killed.

- Shanna M., Pride, LA, US

problem #1

Feb 062014

Acadia ES 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

This problem is just the tip of the ice berg. I think this thing is a piece of garbage that could be called a money pit. If I had to pay for all the issues I've had, I'd be bankrupt. I have driven Nissan for the last 15 years and never had this sort of problems. I will NEVER buy another GM made product as long as I breathe. I'm on my way to Nissan dealer to see what I can get for this boat anchor!

- Lynn P., Allen, TX, US

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