10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,738 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 GMC Acadia lights problems

lights problem

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2011 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Mar 232022

Acadia

  • miles

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

Hi, I think the 2011 Acadia Denali should be in the recall along with the Terrain. The reason being that I always get flashed at night and every night as though I have the high lights on which I don-€™t. That-€™s every night. Please check into this. With all this road rage going on I worry I might come across one angry person or cause someone to wreck. Please I-€™m worried. Thank you.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #36

Mar 092020

Acadia 6-cyl

  • miles
My interior dome lights either flicker or don't come on at all there are 3 sets and none of the work properly at any time.

- Sherrill, IA, USA

problem #35

Mar 092020

Acadia 6-cyl

  • miles
In my 2011 GMC Acadia slt1 the headlights specifically the low beams are very dim regardless of the bulb because I have tried all from the lowest priced to the most expensive. While using the high beams there appears to be a shadow in the shape of mickey mouse's head in the central area of vision.

- Sherrill, IA, USA

problem #34

Feb 222020

Acadia

  • 87,000 miles

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

I have a 2011 Acadia denali with factory xenon hid lights. Both daytime running light housings and connectors have melted. The passenger side bulb has melted itself to the socket itself. The housing has melted and cracked. Both are no longer reflective or functional as daytime running lights. This is obviously a issue for all Acadias. A fire is inevitable.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #33

May 122019

Acadia

  • 137,400 miles
2011 Acadia denali, has hid headlights for night time driving, and traditional incandescent lights for daytime running lights (drl). I noticed the driver's side drl bulb was burned out approximately a week ago (so ~5/12/2019), when I when to remove it to see what size bulb was needed part of the projector housing broke off with the bulb. I then noticed that the bulb socket was partially melted, and the dust seal around the bulb is also partially melted (brown and starting to melt). I also looked at the passengers side and, without removing the bulb, you can see that the projector housing on that side is also starting to bubble/melt. The drivers side bulb is melted enough that I cannot remove the entire bulb from the socket, only the glass wants to pull free. I feel lucky it didn't start a fire.

- Monticello, MN, USA

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problem #32

May 012018

Acadia

  • 180,000 miles
I have a 2011 GMC Acadia slt. My car is equipped xenon high intensity discharge (hid tvd) low beams lamps. Both passenger and drivers side low beam light sockets have melted inside each head light assembly. The low beam lamp connectors and portions of each wiring harness have melted from the intense heat of the hid lamp. I contacted GMC customer assistance center to see if a recall has been initiated. No recall. I was given a case number and the contact information for my local customer experience manager. I was encouraged to schedule an appointment at the dealership so my light issue could be looked into by a GMC maintenance team. I was encouraged to resolve my lighting issue with my customer experience manager.

- Waianae, HI, USA

problem #31

May 152018

Acadia

  • 98,000 miles

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

Headlight bulb and assembly system completely melted! went to replace the bulbs that I thought were just blown out but the bulbs exploded and melted everything. Took it to the local dealership to fix and they said it would cost $2500 to fix in ordering new assembly. They said they have seen this happen on Acadias before. I went online and sure enough melted headlights and wiring were a common problem. When I called the headquarters customer service line to ask if a recall had been issued a foreign gentleman wrote down my information and said someone will get back with you but there should be no reason it melted unless someone or something happened to it. I've never been in a wreck ever. I asked the guy what it would take to get this fixed me or one of my kids dying in a wreck and is suing you to make sure we have a safe vehicle. I told him I didn't appreciate his I don't care attitude towards my feelings of having small children in a car that has a part that is common and known to melt and not get fixed.

- Trenton, GA, USA

problem #30

Mar 012017

Acadia

  • 60,000 miles
Daytime running lights have overheated on both sides and have melted the plastic housing. The lights are extremely hot in a confined space and are in very close proximity to a flammable material. I noticed smoke coming out of the headlight and saw that it has melted the housing to the point where the bulb is now sitting directly on the melted plastic housing. These are the running lights....not the main headlights.

- Clarksville, MD, USA

problem #29

Dec 222016

Acadia

  • 116,000 miles
I have a 2011 GMC Acadia. I purchased this vehicle used in late 2013. This is the 6th time I have needed to replace my lowbeams. Last night heading home from work around dusk I was driving down the highway and someone pulled out in front of me and I had to swerve to avoid hitting him. I lost drivers side two days ago and lost the passengers headlight as I started up my vehicle leaving work. It was apparent that he did not see my vehicle as all the other vehicles had their lights on. This is clearly a design issue that if allowed to continue significantly increases the risk of an accident which puts my family in danger. Please address this increased risk to my family and other families that are on the road with these vehicles.

- Perry, OH, USA

problem #28

Aug 222016

Acadia

  • 76,872 miles
The daytime running lamp on the driver side completely melted and began melting the surrounding casing. The other daytime running lamp is beginning to do the same thing. Possible fire hazard. These are the original lamps when I purchased the vehicle new.

- Summerfield, NC, USA

problem #27

Jun 172016

Acadia

  • 69,520 miles

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

We bought this car in Feb. 2016 used with only 66,000 miles. About 2 months after we purchased it, the passenger low beam light went out. I purchased a bulb to replace, but it proved to be difficult. I had 3 open recalls so I brought car in to dealer. The night before bringing it in, driver low beam light went out. I asked dealer to replace bulbs while vehicle was there. Received a phone call from the dealer that the bulbs could not be replaced because headlight housing was melted!!!! this seems to be a recurring problem with Acadias and a recall should be issued!!!!

- Terrytown, LA, USA

problem #26

Apr 152016

Acadia

  • 115,000 miles
The daytime lights, the bulbs keep burning out. I have replaced both the left and right side lo beam lights 4 ttime now. This tends to be a problem for the GMC Acadia and should have a recall on it to correct the issue. Many appear to have the actual sockets melted I have not experience that but within the lat 12 months I have replaced the lo beam lights 4 times this should be investigated as this time they both went out within the same drive and I was left with only hi beam but luckily I was close to home.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #25

Jan 012016

Acadia

  • 80,000 miles
The daytime lights, the bulb has melted itself into the socket. You cannot just replace the bulb, you have to replace the socket also. This has happened on the right and left side. I did not know there was a problem with the bulbs being too hot until I was going to replace a burned out bulb. The I realized the bulb had melted into the socket. This tends to be a problem for the GMC Acadia and should have a recall on it to correct the issue.

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #24

Feb 222016

Acadia

  • 65,000 miles
We bought this vehicle as a certified used vehicle on March 11, 2015. Since then I have had to replace the passenger side low beam headlamp twice and the drivers side once. I too have researched the internet and found the same issue with many of the same vehicles. The low beam headlamps are a safety item that is required to drive at night so there should be something done by GM. I would invite any of the customer care managers at GM to contact me.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #23

Jan 062016

Acadia

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. While pulling into the driveway, the contact noticed that the driver side headlight failed and the passenger side headlight melted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that both headlight assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Slaton, TX, USA

problem #22

Jan 212016

Acadia

  • 52,000 miles
The day time running light has failed and melted the headlight housing.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #21

Jan 302015

Acadia

  • 50,000 miles
We purchased our vehicle in June of 2014. We have had to replace the driver's side headlight 4 times since we purchased the vehicle. Since the tire needs to be removed and the wheel well cover needs to be removed in order to change the light, we have to pay $80 each time we change the bulb. 4 times in less than two years is ridiculous. I have seen other complaints regarding overheating bulbs, so I will have that looked at next.

- Garden City, MI, USA

problem #20

Oct 232015

Acadia

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the daytime running lights failed. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #19

Nov 012015

Acadia

  • 85,226 miles
Daytime running lights bulb melting, both left and right side, resulting in burning of headlight housing. Bulb can no longer be held in place because mounting fixture is melted away. The existing bulbs are made of plastic. I believe the filament is overheating the plastic bulb and causing a potential fire hazard.

- Pinon Hills, CA, USA

problem #18

Jun 302015

Acadia

  • 70,300 miles
My 2011 GMC Acadia denali had a drl go out. It was taken to the dealership and a new bulb was replaced. They informed me it still did not work with just a new bulb. The Acadia was then taken back to the dealership and was looked at again and they were able to fix the light and get it running. I got home a week later and noticed the passenger side bulb was now out. As I looked into the housing I can see the headlight housing was slightly melted and becoming severely cracked where the bulb is no longer being secured by the light. After seeing that I proceeded to look at the original light that was out and that housing was the same with a large piece of the chrome light housing missing, and again the light was just hanging inside the headlight and not secured to the housing. Looking at this thread and other forums, this is a big problem with GMC Acadia's. I have not taken the car back to the dealership but certainly if this is happening like this it was a poor design by GM and should be repaired by the dealership at no cost. I hope enough people bring this up as a fire hazard, to make it become a company recall.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

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