10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,708 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.

2013 GMC Acadia miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2013 GMC Acadia Owner Comments

problem #15

Feb 232022

Acadia

  • miles

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

After having for just under a year the transmission seems to be acting up when going from 2nd to 3rd gear around 30mph to 40mph. After reading several forms it seems this is a common occurrence in these vehicles.. not sure if it-€™s been reported but all the forms are showing people had to spend a good amount to determine what the issue is and seems that everyone had to replace the transmissions for the problem to go away. I-€™m not sure how everything works but feel it should be looked at maybe.

- Marengo, IA, USA

problem #14

Mar 052021

Acadia

  • 132,000 miles
Bought the car and the ac doesn't work seems to be a common problem and should be a recall

- Thief River Falls, MN, USA

problem #13

Jun 012020

Acadia

  • 110,000 miles
Subject: N172097060 - special coverage side blind zone alert module water intrusion I am receiving service side detection error and my blind spot indicators no longer function. N172097060 - special coverage applies to my vehicle's VIN but I am beyond the adjustment coverage period. I have contacted GM customer service and the dealer customer experience manager. Both said there is nothing they will do. As the bulletin states this is a safety issue as the blind spot indicators do not function and the issue may result in failure of other driver interface functions. My issue is the result of the same cause, water and corrosion, not because I have more miles. It is very unfortunate this special coverage is limited to miles, when caused by the same conditions. Can this coverage be extended to repair my vehicle?

- O Fallon, IL, USA

problem #12

Jul 172020

Acadia

  • 115,500 miles

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

My 2013 GMC arcardia slt model burst into flames on its own on the morning of Friday, July 17th. I came home around 9:45pm and parked my SUV in the backyard. The next thing I know is that the fire department was at my door waking me up to the SUV ablaze. The only work that was done to my vehicle was to have my oil change that Thursday morning. At which time the tech said he saw smoke and smelled gas. He didn't indicate that it was a problem and zi should get it checked. I took SUV and ran my errands and returned home. The SUV was parked from 9:45pm until said fire.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #11

Mar 012018

Acadia

  • 45,000 miles
Service side detection system problem bulletin no. 16-na-178 --- as described GM has a moisture problem getting in to the sensors-- how ever they refused to repair mine completely, in fact can not get a wiring harness to prevent this problem from re-occuring. Some song and dance about my ven is not included in this--how ever I had to have it repaired multable times"? help" a car beside you and detection does not alert you- that is why you purchased it!

- Balta, ND, USA

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problem #10

Jun 012018

Acadia

  • 95,000 miles
My transmission has been acting up since 50,000 miles A/C acting up since 70,000 miles air bag light keeps coming on dealership wants to charge me for warranty work one dealership refuse to work on my car

- Rocky Hill, CT, USA

problem #9

Apr 042018

Acadia

  • 74,000 miles

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

Side detection module/system failure due to environmental exposure caused the indicators to remain on constantly giving operator false sense of vehicle in blind spot. Issue appeared to affect other monitoring and safety systems on the vehicle causing erroneous indicators and apparent intermittent and random system resets of the BCM(?) ultimately resulting in a comple shut down of the vehicle. Although shutdown occurred while parked (even remote access would not work) it is unclear if same could occur while at highway speed.

- Williamson, NY, USA

problem #8

Jun 292017

Acadia

  • 54,000 miles
My Acadia engine light came on when I put it in drive won't go anywhere. Acadia doors keep unlocking and locking was at my house in driveway. Engine light went off everything is fine. Took it to dealership and they said it's the transmission module making car think it's in park but can't fix it unless my engine light is on when I get it to them. Question from me is if it's thinking it's in park what if I'm driving 55 and it thinks it's in park I'll wreck. I feel my family is driving in a dangerous vehicle that the dealership knows what's wrong and where the problem resides but won't fix because my engine light isn't on. That doesn't make a bit of sense to

- Vanceburg, KY, USA

problem #7

Jun 022017

Acadia

  • 50,720 miles
While driving the car it lost power, all the dash light went off, then the power steering shut down, while driving 45 miles an hr. Once able to pull over, the car shut down and could not start back up. The key would not come out of ignition. Had it towed to the local dealer the car was bought from. They reported it was the engine control module which they replaced but the car still will not turn on. Now the say it is an electrical short and can't find it.. this car is dangerous to drive as this is the second time this has happened and we feel that they are just giving us the run around. This car has been in the shop multiple times and never fixed properly

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #6

Jan 112017

Acadia

  • 29,500 miles
While on a highway using the intellilink navigation system suddenly the icons from another screen, the radio controls appeared over the top of the navigation map. I couldn't see the map anymore and didn't know when or where to turn. Nothing I did fixed it except to pull over on the side of the road and turn off the car and turn it back on again. This is very dangerous because one might turn on a one way road or in to a crime ridden neighborhood.

- Carterville, IL, USA

problem #5

Aug 152015

Acadia

  • 45,000 miles

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

I have replaced a sensor in my rear bumper twice now. The second time GMC also had to install a new "waterproof harness" to keep water from saturating the sensor. The sensor is directly related to the blind-spot monitor system. When the sensors become saturated, the system no longer works. After habitually relying on this system, it becomes a danger when you do not realize that it is not working when changing lanes or merging into traffic. The original harness should be recalled and replaced in all vehicles using it.

- Bossier City, LA, USA

problem #4

Apr 042016

Acadia

  • 60,000 miles
Vehicle has approx 60K miles, blind spot sensor stopped working suddenly. This is a hazard as the driver comes to depend on this indicator and it goes out suddenly with the location of the sensor under the wheel well/bumper. Resulting cost to repair was over $600 (for passenger side) at the dealership. And I was told it was likely that the driver side would go out next year. The design & where this sensor is placed is particularly problematic for low temp states as the sensor is plastic, gets water in it and freezes and bursts open the plastic container. This is particularly concerning when it goes out while driving - the driver comes to depend on the sensor lighting up the mirror when someone is in your blind spot and this SUV has a particularly large area where cars can not be seen. This is a hazard and should be recalled due to the design of this. As consumers, we should not bear the cost of this repair due to a horrible design. I have the actual module that was replaced or can provide pictures upon request. I can also supply a copy of the repair bill if someone wants to reimburse me the cost of this repair.

- Mount Horeb, WI, USA

problem #3

Mar 312016

Acadia

  • 36,000 miles
I was driving 50 mph on a very busy city highway when I heard what sounded like a truck putting on air brakes but no trucks around me, I felt shuddering under my foot. Suddenly "service charging system" or something like that flashed on my dash and I lost power steering, acceleration, everything. I was able to pull hard on the wheel to get into the right lane from the center lane, there was no shoulder to pull off on. Brake was hard to depress, it felt like it was all the way to the floor. I had power from the battery, it was sitting at 12 volts. I turned the vehicle off and restarted, I couldn't hear if the engine was running as the cars going past were so loud, but the radio was on and dash lit up like it had started but it would not move. Called my insurance and they sent a tow truck. While turned off on the tow truck, the outer rim of the head lights and the main headlights suddenly illuminated and about 5 minutes later they went off. Dealer was able to start it, but not move it. I dropped it on Thursday, by Friday they still didn't have an answer and I have to wait till Monday. I had one of my children with me when this all happened. It was very scary. There are just over 36,000 miles on my Acadia. My husband also noted that the day before when he tried to start it, it didn't start right away, it paused, he left off the key and about a second later it finally started.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #2

Jul 152014

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 24,900 miles
I am not receiving cooperation from southtown motors GMC dealership at 695 highway 34 E, newnan, ga 30265 in reference to getting my recall fixed. My recall notices 10085 and 14187 require immediate attention and should not be driven without being fixed. I am currently in a lease with ally that requires 18 more months lease payments. I would like to eliminate my lease and return this vehicle as I do not feel safe having my wife, my infant, my 3 year old, and my 10 year old riding in this particular vehicle. I contacted ally and they stated I would need to pay almost $7000 to break the lease of my unsafe GMC Acadia. This is ridiculous. I cannot get it fixed nor get a different vehicle without penalty. There have been 13 known fatalities in regards to these recalls and GMC is remaining quiet. What else are they remaining silent about. I want out of this lease immediately and require some compliance from someone. This vehicle is not safe and I need your help.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #1

Nov 192013

Acadia

  • 9,000 miles
After I returned home from a short 5 mile drive in the evening on 11/19/13, I shut off my 6 month old car in the driveway and smoke began pouring out of the hood and sparks and fire were coming out below the engine. I called 911 and by the time they arrived about 5 minutes later it was a full blown, roaring fire and the entire front end was consumed. My driveway suffered burn damage as well. Thankfully nobody was hurt. GMC has been awful to deal with. They have not replaced my vehicle, not repaired my driveway and have stopped returning my calls. The fire inspector said it was their fault and thinks it stemmed from the heating element that heats the windshield fluid. They are still doing more testing to get the final results though. I feel helpless and totally ignored by GMC. I have tried everything to get through to them and simply to get my car replaced and my driveway repaired because of the faulty product they sold me. Their customer service is terrible and I will now never purchase another car from them and will spend as much time as I have sharing this incident with others considering purchasing one of their vehicles. I have a video of the whole thing I am happy to share.

- Wilton, CT, USA

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