The best Acadia years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2014 and 2017: air bag recalls and a 'Shift to Park' fault give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20202022 Years to avoid: 20142017
Every Acadia year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Acadia problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62 | - | 0 | Brakes | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 50 | - | 4 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 52 | 98 | 3 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2021 | 156 | 260 | 2 | Electrical | Average |
| 2020 | 107 | 148 | 6 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2019 | 388 | 390 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2018 | 399 | 450 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2017 | 707 | 635 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
| 2016 | 236 | 267 | 4 | Air bags | Average |
| 2015 | 261 | 271 | 4 | Air bags | Average |
| 2014 | 468 | 557 | 6 | Air bags | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 140 | 156 | 3 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2012 | 302 | 386 | 5 | Steering | Average |
About the Acadia
The Acadia is GMC's midsize SUV. The 2007-2016 first generation was a three-row SUV related to the Traverse and Enclave, with air bag recalls and StabiliTrak warnings. The smaller 2017 second generation started with a flood of 'Shift to Park' complaints. The 2020-2023 Acadia is the best of the bunch.
- 2007-2016: First generation. Air bag recalls, timing chain and StabiliTrak warnings.
- 2017-2023: Second generation, smaller. 'Shift to Park' on 2017-2019; steering assist warnings later.
- 2024 on: Third generation, too new to judge.
Acadia warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins GMC files with NHTSA. 3,569 Acadia bulletins are on file in total.
Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where coolant leaks from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Due to the industry-wide semiconductor shortage, the park assist feature is not functional on certain 2022 and 2023 model year vehicles, built beginning December 2, 2021.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the second-row center seatbelt buckle falls between the seats when the adjacent seat is tipped and slid forward.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Various vehicle makes and models listed may have a condition in which the transmission case leaks fluid due to porosity around a mount bolt hole.
Special Coverage - Certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause the evaporative emissions purge pump to fail.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Acadia
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA26006 · 2024 · opened Aug 2026
On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles.
Preliminary evaluation PE22006 · 2020, 2021 · opened Jul 2022, closed Nov 2022 · led to recall 22V709000
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22-006) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (RVC) in Model Year (MY) 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles.
Engineering analysis EA20002 · 2012–2014 · opened Aug 2020, closed Aug 2024 · led to recall 21V245
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003.
Recall query RQ19003 · 2012–2014 · opened May 2019, closed Aug 2020
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2...
Acadia vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the GMC Acadia?
2020 and 2022. The best Acadia years to buy are 2020 and 2022. Avoid the 2014 and 2017: air bag recalls and a 'Shift to Park' fault give them the most complaints.
Which GMC Acadia years should I avoid?
2014, 2017. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the GMC Acadia average.
How do I fix 'Shift to Park' on a GMC Acadia?
A worn switch inside the shifter makes the car think it is not in park. GM issued a bulletin and extended coverage on some vehicles. Replacing the shifter switch costs about $300 to $600.
Based on 3,328 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.