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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering148
  2. Engine74
  3. Electrical system45
  4. Power train43
  5. Exterior lighting24
  6. Air bags17
  7. Engine and engine cooling10
  8. Suspension10
  9. Structure9
  10. Vehicle speed control8
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)7
  12. Seat belts6
  13. Service brakes5
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
201010
201113
20128
201337
201477
201536
201649
201731
201822
201933
202013
20219
20226
20230
20240
20252
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2022Steering, EngineODI 11493190

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2026EngineFire reportedODI 11744975

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11266885

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2021Power trainODI 11440036

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2020Power train, Exterior lightingODI 11361368

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2020Air bagsODI 11352549
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.