Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 GMC Acadia problems
Owners filed 348 complaints about the 2010 GMC Acadia with NHTSA between Dec 2009 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is steering (148).
Complaints
348
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering148
- Engine74
- Electrical system45
- Power train43
- Exterior lighting24
- Air bags17
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Suspension10
- Structure9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
- Seat belts6
- Service brakes5
- Seats4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
10
13
8
37
77
36
49
31
22
33
13
9
6
0
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 77 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2016 | 49 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Steering
148 reports3 crashes
“Check Engine Light. Faulty timing chain. Rack and pinion repairs needed. Examined by two automotive locations: LaFontaine Automotive GMC of Ann Arbor (Michigan) and Mazur's Total Automotive in Pinckney, MI”
Engine
74 reports4 fires
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact became aware of white smoke coming from the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact and minor children exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, there was fire coming from underneath the hood. The Fire truck arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle had liability coverage, and the insurance company declined to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure had occurred while the contact's minor children were seated in the rear seat of the vehicle. The contact and the children sustained smoke-related injuries. The contact and the children later received medical treatment for the smoke-related injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer declined to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.”
Electrical system
45 reports3 fires
“I NOTICED BOTH OF MY DRIVING LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND WENT TO REPLACE. THEY ARE THE HID HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND THE DRIVING LIGHT SOCKETS AND BULBS MELTED TOGETHER RESULTING IN CRACKING THAT REFLECTOR/PROJECTION IN THE ASSEMBLY.MY VIN IS NOT THE "VIN SPECIFIC" INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL RECALL 14283, BUT I HAVE THAT EXACT ISSUE.”
Power train
43 reports
“power train came up on a computer check witch looks like the same problem that is already on here my engine light is on as long as my abs and track control light stable light is on”
Exterior lighting
24 reports2 fires
“THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE IT SOMETIMES STARTS IN THE WRONG GEAR AND NEEDS TO BE SHUT OFF AN RESTARTED, OTHERWISE IT RUNS ON TOO MANY RPM. AT TIMES WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS, AFTER A STOP AT A LIGHT, IT DOES NOT MOVE FOR A WHILE. WHEN IT DOES MOVE IT JERKS AND ABRUPTLY STARTS. THE RUNNING DAY HEAD LAMP OVERHEATS AND BURNS OUT THE LIGHT BULB, CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE.”
Air bags
17 reports1 related recall
“VEHICLE WAS BACKED INTO A CONCRETE PORCH IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED. SIDE AIRBAGS NEAR THE FRONT SEATS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, SEPARATING THE PLASTIC AND RELEASING SMOKE/POWDER INTO VEHICLE WITHOUT DEPLOYING THE AIRBAG AND LOCKED THE SEAT BELTS SO TIGHTLY IT BROKE THE PLASTIC BASE OF THE SEAT BELTS.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.