10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
60,599 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2011 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #44

Jul 272021

Acadia

  • miles

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

On July 27 at 400 pm I arrived home and my daughter went to take out the trash and I heard her scream daddy the car is on fire. I rushed outside and flames were 6 ft tall I called 911. After putting the fire out he stated th car was running doors locked so they couldn-€™t open the hood

- Carrollton , TX, USA

problem #43

Nov 012020

Acadia

  • miles
The car it's equipped with a power liftgate and gas struts that hold the power lift gate when the rear trunk gate is opened, in my car the struts close prematurely an the open liftgate suddenly closes and causing injury

- Deer Park, NY, USA

problem #42

Mar 012020

Acadia

  • 75,000 miles
This all began at about 75000 miles. It first started with the stabilization/traction light coming on while driving once this happened you could not accelerate the car. I once was on a highway in the middle lane when it happened I could not accelerate and had to try to get over to the break down lane. This happened several times but then turned into a completely different problem. While driving the battery would start to die with no warning. When this happens you can not jump the car you have to bring the battery to be charged on a charger. Although the car won't start the other things like lights, radio, etc will still work. This happened several times but once the weather was warm it ran perfect for 4 months. The first day it was extremely cold the battery died while driving. I also had a headlight go out on the drivers side and about 3 weeks later it came back on and stayed on. I have brought it to several places but nobody has been able to figure out the problem. I can't keep spending money to get it diagnosed with no results. After researching online it seems to be a very common problem in the Acadia.

- Florence, MA, USA

problem #41

Sep 222020

Acadia

  • 138,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start due to water leaking in from the windshield or the firewall from the front passenger's side onto the floorboard underneath the fuse box. The contact also stated that when the key was removed from the ignition, the engine remained running. The check engine warning light illuminated indicating there was no communication with the keyfob. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The contact stated that he was a certified mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called carl black Chevrolet Buick GMC (11500 E. colonial dr, orlando, fl 32817), and informed them of the failure. The contact was informed that a fee would be assessed for a diagnostic test to be performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #40

Sep 012017

Acadia

  • 80,000 miles
It stalls while driving. Looses power, max speed 20mph. Won't start.

- Providenceforge, VA, USA

problem #39

Dec 202019

Acadia 6-cyl

  • 9 miles
It has happen to me when my vehicle is in motion and when I go above 65 miles ph. The GMC starts to heat up and sends a message on the display saying transmission is hot a lot of smoke comes out and the speed decreases completely I have to come to a complete stop and park in the street until it cools off what is dangerous is that it has happen when I'm in the high way putting me at risk to crash I made some fixes one time the mechanic charged me about $500 dollars to fix it now is doing it again and they want to charge me about a $1000 dollars more I have been having a lot of issues with the GMC since I got it and I only have like between 9 to 11 months with the GMC hopefully I could get help so they could fix it by the company at no extra charge.

- San Fernando, CA, USA

problem #38

Mar 092020

Acadia 6-cyl

  • miles

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

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 #37

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 #36

Mar 142020

Acadia

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the coolant sensor was replaced however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was diagnosed by two additional unknown mechanics but not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #35

Sep 052019

Acadia

  • 166,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. While driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle stalled and all the gauges on the instrument panel went to zero and the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who located eighteen different error codes. The vehicle was towed to moore Buick GMC (2445 N marine blvd, jacksonville, nc 28546), but they were not able to diagnose the failure. The contact stated that fuses blew out every time the key was turned in the ignition switch. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and was still at the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.

- Pickens, NC, USA

problem #34

May 012019

Acadia

  • 127,987 miles

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

Ignition when shut off engine remains running.to get engine to shut off ignition fuse and relay have to be removed. Been ongoing issue for months. GMC dealership can't identify what is causing

- Rembert, SC, 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

problem #32

Mar 152019

Acadia

  • 82,000 miles
While driving 70 mph, I was just about to pass a semi when the engine quit, as if I turned off the key, no power steering...nothing. I notice the "traction control" light come on for a second. I pulled to the side of the road. I attempted to restart and the "check engine" light would just flash yet the engine was not turning over. The vehicle was towed to GMC dealer and preliminary reports (incomplete) was it was computer/electrical related. I also noticed the rear lift gate would not open (although this has happened once before two years ago and GMC dealer found "fretting at the lgcm terminals." Possibility related, my wife told me only the passenger door window would roll down a few days before but only happened one time. She said she turned off the car and restarted a few minutes later all windows rolled down fine...just another electrical issue with this vehicle. This vehicle also has been having radio issues for years. 1/2 of the radio screen randomly disappears (left). Tapping it sometimes helps and sometimes is flickers wildly on and off. GMC dealer told us the radio needs replacing...like that's going to happen.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

problem #31

Oct 182018

Acadia

  • 99,900 miles
My son was driving down hwy 281 and all of a sudden locks started going up and down like crazy, traction control, stability track, engine light all came on and car would not accelerate. Thank goodness my fianc was with him and they managed to get home safely. The next day all the same things above plus backup camera not working and when it park, the box around P kept flashing on and off. Now car won't accel hardly at all. This is very dangerous when your out on roads. There's needs to be a recall and GMC needs to take care of their customers before someone gets killed! I have seen several posts with the same issues so what is taking GMC so long to fix their problems on vechicles?

- Johnson City, TX, USA

problem #30

Sep 172018

Acadia

  • 53,000 miles
Wife complained the A/C suddenly stopped flowing from the dashboard vents while returning from a shopping trip. I started the engine and was switching the air flow direction from floor to dash when I started smelling smoke and saw smoke coming from the glove box area. I immediately turned the A/C off, removed the glove box, turned the A/C back on and saw smoke coming from an one of the A/C "actuators" up behind the glove box area. Removed actuator, was warm to the touch. Waiting for new replacement part T3983001.

- Germantown Hills, IL, USA

problem #29

Jun 202018

Acadia

  • 98,000 miles
Under 100K miles and engine just blew up with out warning only had the car for 3 yrs prior when we first got it we had issues with the dvd cd player had to replace it and after 1 yr it went out again. Had issues with headlight bulb being replaced then blowing out. The big problem now is the engine and the car not running

- Cherokee, IA, USA

problem #28

Dec 222016

Acadia

  • miles
I purchased this vehicle about a year and a half ago and have been having problems starting the car every time that I put gas. The dealership that I purchased the vehicle from stated that the vehicle only had one previous owner but refused to give me a carfax report. They stated that they did a full vehicle inspection, and stated there were no defects, but no inspection report was in the car what so ever. I am ready to file an arbitration complaint if this situation doesn't get resolved because I am still making monthly payments on the loan.

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #27

Aug 052018

Acadia

  • 48,197 miles
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. While attempting to turn the vehicle off, the gear shifter would not shift into the park position. As a result, the ignition key could not be removed from the ignition, causing the engine to keep running. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The local dealer (bill crispin Chevrolet, 7112 E Michigan ave, saline, mi) was notified, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 48,197.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #26

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 #25

Sep 022017

Acadia

  • 100,000 miles
I was driving my 2011 GMC Acadia and all of a sudden the car started to decelerate. I pulled over and turn the car off and then the car would not start again. I had it towed to the dealership. The dealership is saying there is an issue with the timing chain. The dealership said that the timing chain failed. Upon doing research, I see that this is a common issue with GMC models, especially the Acadia model. The dealership is saying that the repair is going to cost me $7500. Given that this is well-known issue with the Acadia model, I feel that this issue should be recalled for the safety of consumers.

- Kershaw, SC, USA

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