Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 GMC Acadia problems

Owners filed 280 complaints about the 2011 GMC Acadia with NHTSA between Nov 2010 and May 2026. The most-cited component is steering (64).

Complaints
280
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering64
  2. Engine52
  3. Electrical system47
  4. Exterior lighting38
  5. Power train33
  6. Air bags24
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)16
  8. Vehicle speed control13
  9. Service brakes10
  10. Structure9
  11. Seat belts7
  12. Suspension7
  13. Fuel/propulsion system7
  14. Visibility/wiper6

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 28, 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
20101
20116
20124
201314
201447
201546
201634
201732
201826
201916
202023
20219
20228
20236
20243
20254
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

64 reports
“Looses power while driving. Cannot jump the battery it needs to be recharged every time. Power steering stops working while driving( low rpm and when stopped) dangerous for merging or lane changes. Engine shudders when trying to accelerate. TCM/ ECM replaced 2020. Problem still persists. Whining noise upon start of the vehicle. Auto start will not work. traction control light, check engine airbag and”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2022Steering, Power train, EngineODI 11485397

Engine

52 reports2 fires
“I had issue with the timing chain an have check engine light is on I have heard other people having problems with there timing chain. It starts hard. I've had it looked at multiple times. I feel like this is a safety concern. It has low miles on it”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2024EngineODI 11582730

Electrical system

47 reports2 fires
“The relay for the fan at the top of the fuse/relay box on the right side when facing the front of the vehicle. (under the hood) Gets hot and blows the relay and melts the spot where the relay prongs plug in. Causing the need for a new fuse box and circuit problems within the fuse box connectors. The fans, specifically the a/c fan does not kick on when turning on the a/c and the low speed fan does not kick on at all until the secondary temp fan kicks on after the temperature raises past the normal operating range. Which an overheating engine is bad for all parts of the engine which can and sooner or later will lead to a catastrophic failure putting the operator and other motorists life's at risk.This time it created a small fire that was extinguished only because the fuse box cover was off and I was looking at it as it happened, putting the cover back on extinguished the fire. This is the third time it has happened with the exact same problem. You tube is full of videos with the exact same problem.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2026Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11736860

Exterior lighting

38 reports5 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11458225

Power train

33 reports3 crashes1 fire
“2011 gmc Acadia slt gear shift does not lock causing it to slip into neutral with slightest bump of shifter or sudden hard breaking Also passenger seat belt does not.lock at all when breaking and driver side seat belt never unlocks there are safty recalls on these issues for this model but.says mine has zero unfixed recall also defrosting and mirror defrost does not work properly causing me to have very bad visibility I had a close call when driving in Houston a week ago when I had to slam breaks due to a crazy driver who did not see me.and cut me off the lane my gear shifted into neutral causing me to not be able to accelerate after breaking to avoid the next speeding car fortunately I was lucky and was able to quickly shift back into drive and go there are electrical issues as well and there has only been one other owner and well maintained so I don't know what to do next my passenger nearly hit dash during this that's when I realized passenger seat belt does not lock”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Seat beltsODI 11517785

Air bags

24 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“My air bag light keeps coming on saying to service it. I saw the recalled issues before with the other Acadias and was thinking maybe my year model would need to be looked into as well. I haven't ever had a wreck for them to come out but the light comes on frequently.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2025Air bagsODI 11648922
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.