10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,967 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.

2012 GMC Acadia electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

Aug 302023

Acadia

  • miles

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

I HAVE A 2012 GMC acadia denali with about 147,000 miles on it and the "Service Air Bag" light is on I brought it somewhere to have the code read and the said there is about 5 different codes popping up for the issue... I've called auto shops around me locally and can't find anyone that is willing to look at it. I just want to know what my best options are as to getting this issue resolved. As I have never been in an accident so I don't know why the air bag light is on.

- Gardner, MA, USA

problem #33

Aug 122023

Acadia

  • miles
No warning light when transmission went out. Traction control/stabiltrac service light came on, doors locking and unlocking, not stating what gear acadia was in. Check engine light eventually came on, after it stalled twice on highway. Vehicle is at gmc dealership service department and they are saying its not communicating and are checking wiring harness wires. I have replaced transmission and torque converter and now i dont know what to expect now. Only had it for 3 years so far. I almost got rear ended when it stalled twice before backfiring and a rough swift shift.

- Bluefield, WV, USA

problem #32

Jun 012022

Acadia

  • miles
The automatic passenger side window does not work anymore, it went out a couple months after I bought it. I have always done maintenance on my vehicle, oil changes, tires, etc. and the timing chain went out on it for some unknown reason. Very pricey to fix. I would hate to be stranded with my 6 grandchildren with. With all the complaints on the timing chain, this should be a recall.

- Embarrass, MN, USA

problem #31

Aug 092022

Acadia

  • miles

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

The car stalled, cut off while pulling into traffic

- Belzoni, MS, USA

problem #30

Feb 202021

Acadia

  • 144,000 miles
Instrument cluster malfunctions while driving. All gauges stop responding and automatic controls become disabled. All dashboard gauges become disabled and unresponsive and looses information. The dashboard light brightens to day mode. Automatic light system, cruise control, automatic lock system, blinker indicator, radio, dvd player, seat belt signal, driver door buttons, and holographic display become disabled. Information reads park assist off, service air bags, check gauges and all fault lights display. Issues occur while driving and relatively. The onset, frequency and duration of issues fluctuate at random.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #29

Feb 062020

Acadia

  • 87,110 miles
On 2/6/20 after getting into my vehicle and turning on the ignition vehicle wouldn't start so the same day I had my vehicle towed to a certified dealer in union. At the dealer they first stated the ground wire to starter was chewed up so they replaced the starter and then a few hours later they stated no comunication with ECM & BCM. They then stated theyfound water intrusion on passage side fuse block that shorted out the ECM and BCM. At dealer they replaced fuse block, ECM and BCM. Well after $2027.05 later they was able to get my vehicle running again but now the car radio and my onstar in vehicle don't work, also traction control, ,stabilitrak, ABS & airbag service lights are on. Two weeks later my car battery died so I replaced dead battery with a new one. My thing is this if all these are issues that people all over are complaining about I truly think all these issues should be addressed and fixed a.S.a.P. before someone gets hurt or killed. By the way I just brought 2012 GMC arcadia on Nov.27,2019 and I shouldn't have to be going out of my pocket trying to get all these issues fixed.

- Roselle, NJ, USA

problem #28

Dec 252019

Acadia

  • 100,000 miles

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

While driving my GMC Acadia the car started loosing power, it then gave a message that said traction control off/on it also had stability track message.

- Wheeling, IL, USA

problem #27

Sep 162019

Acadia

  • 113,000 miles
Water collects inside the electrical connections between the doors and body. Eventually causes no sound from all speakers except the small tweeters on the a pillars. Then the warning beeping from backup sensor cannot be heard. This puts pedestrians in danger especially when it first happens and drivers are not aware of the problem yet. They are expecting it to beep if someone like a child suddenly crosses behind the vechile. This is a common problem on all GM lambda models since 2008. Here are links to forum discussions from many other owners. Https://www.acadiaforum.net/threads/2008-Acadia-back-up-sensors-not-working.10541/#post-191925 https://www.traverseforum.com/threads/2009-traverse-no-sound-from-speakers.3662/ https://www.traverseforum.com/threads/multiple-electrical-issues-with-2009-traverse.5015/ https://www.acadiaforum.net/threads/water-in-the-door-harness-connectors.13448/https://www.acadiaforum.net/threads/left-side-speakers-not-working.8902/#post-163142

- Great River, NY, USA

problem #26

Nov 212019

Acadia

  • 71,000 miles
Daytime running lights constantly need replaced, melting/shattering/cracking on headlight assemblies (both) most likely electrical issue causing it to heat

- Doylestown, OH, USA

problem #25

Jun 132018

Acadia

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that water seeped into the vehicle through the windshield and damaged the amplifier that controlled the electrical system. There was no warning indicator illuminated. Also, the radio occasionally made popping noises. The contact called balise Chevrolet Buick GMC at 413-233-4668 (located at 440 hall of fame ave, springfield, MA 01105) where it was determined that there was no recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #24

Apr 102017

Acadia

  • 90,000 miles

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

My windows will roll down on their own while going down the road. I can only roll the windows up and down intermittently while parked and in motion. While driving stability control will turn itself off and blow some sort of gas through the air conditioning vents in the car, then it will start shuddering and slowing down the car to the point I have to pull over. After that issue started, my A/C will only work intermittently as well.

- Alvarado, TX, USA

problem #23

May 052018

Acadia

  • miles
Car make some vibration and loss power at between 2000 and 2700 RPM, when I make some aceletion on low RPM, and make some noise when transmition need change gear, up O down, on low RPM, dealer in first time, say the problem was a throttle body, and I fixed, but a problem keep going, went I returner to dealer shop, now they say it's a tramition problem.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 152019

Acadia

  • 104,000 miles
On March 22, 2019, I was driving home from work on rte. 130, again in the fast lane, I hear that famous beep again, but knew I did not require gas. My vehicle read to service stable track once again and traction control off. My truck dropped down to basically no power in the fast lane on a major highway. Thank god I said my prayers that day, and three cars that almost plowed into the back of my truck and any accidents were avoided. I was able to put on my hazard lights, once again, and make my way over to the shoulder of the highway and was able to get my truck into a shopping center parking lot. I had the gas pedal all the way down to the floor, but my truck was moving at about 10 miles per hour'. nowhere!! I was scared but relieved because it could have been worse. I could have caused a major accident, or even been hurt. I contacted my dealership T&T coast in sea girt, and expressed to them my problem. I told them I just had this stable track/sensor replaced just a year ago, I should not be facing the same issue. They made false promises, promised to get me into a more reliable vehicle, but it did not work out due to my current credit issues. I ask if they could not get me into a more reliable truck, could they at least fix the issue that I thought was just repaired by the service department. They told me no, it was my issue because of the high mileage on the car. I have learned that a stable track/sensor or traction control is supposed to last the life span of your vehicle. It should not go due to wear and tear or high mileage. I also did additional investigation on my end, and learned that GMC has been having this same issue with many other customers, along with electrical issues.

- Chesterfield, NJ, USA

problem #21

Sep 132018

Acadia

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia denali. The contact stated that the vehicle often decelerated independently and would not exceed 30 mph. Also, the doors would unlock and "service stabilizer bar and service traction device" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to autonation of laurel (500 Washington blvd, laurel, md 20707, (866) 255-2985) where it was diagnosed that a new wiring harness needed to be installed. The vehicle was repaired. Two weeks later, the repair failed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer three times for repairs and was currently waiting on another repair regarding the transmission's modular harness. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 89,000. The VIN was unknown.

- Linthicum, MD, USA

problem #20

Sep 112018

Acadia

  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the fuel gauge displayed the incorrect amount of fuel in the vehicle. When the contact filled up the fuel tank, the gauge remained on empty. The check engine, oil, and multiple unknown warning indicators illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 18,000.

- Arkadelphia, AR, USA

problem #19

Oct 022018

Acadia

  • 115,000 miles
My low beam head lights keep blowing over the past two years, I have had to replace them 5 times on the driver side and 2 times on the passenger size. Also had my head light harness replaced Oct due the blub breaking in multiple pieces. Jan of 2019, it rained and my turning signal blub broke again and the lighting component filled up with water and looked like a floating fish bowl.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #18

Feb 022019

Acadia

  • 84,000 miles
We bought this used car from a dealer drove it about 4 to 5 months and the left signal light failed, so we changed it worked for one day and then went dead again. Turning left from my street the steering was really hard and had problems turning left but I did finally on another occasion the same thing happened. Finally driving suddenly we saw a turn engine off and the engine started making loud noises and went dead in the middle of the street. So we kept gliding with no engine running and went into a parking lot. Lucky for us the car stopped right in the parking lot. Had to be towed few miles to a mechanic that told us the timing chain is broken and in need for new engine. We towed it to another mechanic and the same thing was told. So now it is been sitting at the mechanic's shop for two week waiting for new engine to come in. I can not believe that around 84000 miles this car needs a new engine and it is not cheap at all. The car has a salvage tilte but this does not have anything to do with the problems since too many people have been documenting this problem, steering, electrical and failed engine. Why GM did not recall these cars for these failure. They are putting people and families at risk and we are stuck with the repairs and the bills piling up.

- Dearborn Heights, MI, USA

problem #17

Dec 232018

Acadia

  • 150,000 miles
Wipers suddenly stopped during a heavy rain at highway speeds. My wife and three children were on board. The stud that connects the wiper linkage to the motor had broken. Upon researching this, GM had issued a recall to affected vehicles in states that received heavy snowfall, West Virginia was included and was where this vehicle spent most of its life. After calling GM they told me they couldn't do anything for me since the vehicle is now garaged in Tennessee.

- Blountville, TN, USA

problem #16

Apr 222018

Acadia

  • 72,282 miles
I have had to replace the headlight bulb and the day light bulbs 4 times since January. Each time I replace one the other goes out and it does't last longer than a few weeks. This is very dangerous and stressful as the headlights went out on me as I was driving home two nights ago and the road that I take to get home is very dark. Also, I had to replace the multi function switch (windshield wiper switch due to it only working on high speed) in January. I've noticed multiple people with the same complaints. Please fix this problem as buying bulbs are becoming expensive as well as the time it takes to get them replaced can be lengthy.

- Hornlake, MS, USA

problem #15

Mar 032018

Acadia

  • miles
I have been change many times the headlight day light of the driver side, stability control going on and stop my movement, I ave to wait for 5-10 minutes and unblock by itself, and the bottom of the rear ac sometimes are super hot.

- Miami, FL, USA

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