About average for the Acadia
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Acadia year. The main thing to watch is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 73,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Acadia years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Acadia. The most reported problem area is the steering (46, 16% of complaints), followed by the transmission and drivetrain and the body, doors and structure. That ranks 5th of 13 Acadia years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 5 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2012 GMC Acadia before you buy.
Steering
46 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
About 1 month ago While making a slow speed turn from a parking lot to a street the steering seemed to lock for no reason. After a brief moment the steering resumed normal function. I inspected the ignition switch and found nothing abnormal. Checked power steering fluid level, it was in the operating range. Unable to duplicate the issue…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2012 gmc acadia. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle loss power steering functionality. The contact stated that the power steering failed to operate intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 100,750 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
43 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 98,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The transmission has all the symptoms of a broken wave plate and/or torque convertor as reported in the first generation T75 transmission service bulletin. This started occurring at 120K. I know the service bulletin was for the 2007-2009 models but the 2012 had the same exact transmission and waveplate. The car feels like it's going to…Owner complaint, filed 2025
I noticed shuddering while driving my car and when I took it to my mechanic upon test driving and inspecting it he realized the torque converter is not strong enough for the size of the car. He informed me driving it with the improper size will cause it to shudder and accelerate or not accelerate correctly while driving and cause…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Body, doors and structure
43 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (24), Body: hatchback / liftgate (15).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, after pressing the liftgate button the liftgate raised and crashed down independently after several seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 189,352 miles
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while reversing, the liftgate unexpectedly opened, even though the liftgate was properly closed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 125,000 miles
Electrical system
41 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 84,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The car shutdown mid-driving do due to a power system issue, which was dangerous on the highway. I had the car battery and the alternator replaced and it did the same thing again 8 months later. Says the battery system needs servicingOwner complaint, filed 2024
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.…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 113,000 miles
Engine and cooling
37 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 96,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact’s wife stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 172,000 miles
The timing chains went on the engine at 148,000 miles. Which is known for 3.6l engines. Gm needs to own up to their faulty manufacturing on these engines. I need this vehicle for my children. This is the second time I have to put another engine in this truck. Thankfully when I purchased this vehicle it had a warranty but it only cover so…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Air bags
33 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 81,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
This vehicle is showing on dash that ( service air bags) why would this take place? It has 175,238 miles.is this a recall or what? --- please advise -- this come up about two weeks ago.Owner complaint, filed 2021
The side curtain airbags deployed coming up my driveway. There was no collision and my vehicle was traveling only 8 miles per hour. I have asked for explanation from the [VIN] on how the airbags deployed if they did not malfunction. They refuse to provide an explanation or proof my vehicle was tested.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 160,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
32 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 67,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
Daytime Running light bulb and housing failure. Some 2012 Acadia models recalled under now expired recall for bulbs and deformation of surrounding housing. Apparently the above recall was excluded from this recall and should have been included. Both DRL on this vehicle have failed and surrounding housing has been damaged . Subsequently…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The headlights in this make and model go out frequently. I've owned my vehicle for 2 years and have put 5 headlights in it.Owner complaint, filed 2022
Fuel system
24 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
My 2012 GMC Acadia has had numerous issues that all lead to the fuel pump assembly. Three separate times, my cars ignition has just shut off while driving. When trying to accelerate from a stop, the car will struggle to move then jump forward nearly hitting the car infront of me. Stabilitrak warning comes on. Car randomly jerks while…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The contact owns a 2012 gmc acadia. While the vehicle was at a red light, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic who…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 107,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
19 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 89,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The brakes on the vehicle have failed 5-7 times within the past year and a half. By "failed" I mean that the pedal was touching the floor of the vehicle and did NOT engage. Mechanic was unable to replicate the failure any of the three times we took it in to get it looked at. The brake pads, rotors, and fluid lines have all been checked…Owner complaint, filed 2021
After filling up with gas the vehicle failed to start. My husband jumped the car off and once started the check engine light came on with an error code of p062f. Now, it happens randomly but is becoming more frequently in last week' it will fail to start then the check engine light will appear with the same error code, while driving at…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 121,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
12 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 52,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The springs inside plastic seat belt retractor p/n 19301109 have pushed through and broken the plastic housing on the male end of the buckle. My dealer says it is not covered by warranty or recall but that it should not have happened. I'm sending you a picture to consider making a special claim as this is a safety issue. Green buick/gmc…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 39,017 miles
The contact owns a 2012 gmc acadia. The contact stated that the positioning of the seatbelt in the middle of the third-row could not be buckled without hurting the passenger. The contact stated that to avoid the discomfort, the seat belt was never buckled. The [VIN] was made aware of the failure and informed that the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 58,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
10 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2012 gmc acadia. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the stability control warning light and the idle mode light illuminated on the instrument panel. The speed reduced rapidly to 15 MPH. The contact pulled over to shut off and restart the vehicle and the vehicle functioned normally. The vehicle was taken to the…Owner complaint, filed 2012, at 11,000 miles
Was waiting on dealership to catch up to bring in for a transmission problem. I know it is transmission related due to not wanting to shift properly and the fact my friend has same make and model only about 100000 more miles than mine does was doing same symptoms and she took to 3 or 4 mechanics and all said nothing wrong..no codes show…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Suspension
6 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 68,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
Replaced headlights - drove down the road my vehicle started bouncing mechanic took it back in the struts failed when the tires were removed and the vehicle was upOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 7 miles
While driving at speeds of 68-80mph there is a vibration in the front. It goes away after 80mph. I have had tires replaced, re mounted and balanced, and new drive shaft. It still continues to happen. The mechanic said we can try replaced the rear axles. I can not afford to replace part after part.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 65,000 miles
Wheels and tires
4 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
Rear driver side cast aluminum knuckle/hub assembly fractured. The rear wheel partially separated from the suspension with uncontrolled toe, camber, & caster. Wheel impacted suspension linkage causing fracture of rear driver side rotor. Vehicle is available for inspection. Incident caused driver to lose control of vehicle and go into…Owner complaint, filed 2023
I discovered a flat tire and called aaa to put on my spare. They said the spare "donut" had dangerous rust on the bolt holes and refused to mount the rim on my vehicle.they cited a case in a prior week where they mounted a rim like this and it fell off the car.these rusty rims are mounted under the vehicle and represent an unsafe…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 24,000 miles
GMC Acadia complaints by year
Compare the 2012 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2012 midsize SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 GMC Acadia | About average | 5 |
| 2012 Toyota Highlander | About average | 2 |
| 2012 Honda Pilot | One of the better years | 9 |
| 2012 Ford Explorer | One of the better years | 7 |
2012 GMC Acadia recalls
Air bags Critical fasteners
- Risk
- Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge.
Full recall summary
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Body and structure Hatchback / liftgate
- Risk
- If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge.
Full recall summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Seat belts
- Risk
- If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
- Fix
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge.
Full recall summary
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Air bags
- Risk
- Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge.
Full recall summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Windows, mirrors and wipers Linkages
- Risk
- If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Gm will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts, free of charge.
Full recall summary
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet traverse, buick enclave, and GMC acadia vehicles currently registered in alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming and the district of columbia. Snow or ice buildup on the windshield or on the wiper may restrict the movement of the wiper arm, causing the wiper arm to loosen and cause the wiper to become inoperative.
2012 GMC Acadia questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Acadia?
The most reported problem areas on the 2012 GMC Acadia are the steering (46 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (43 complaints) and the body, doors and structure (43 complaints).
Is the 2012 GMC Acadia a good year to buy?
About average for the Acadia. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Acadia year. The main thing to watch is the steering, which half of owners reported by about 73,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Acadia years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2012 GMC Acadia have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 GMC Acadia. The most recent, from Apr 2021, covers the critical fasteners. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2012 GMC Acadia problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the steering gave a mileage of about 73,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 98,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which GMC Acadia years should I avoid?
The Acadia years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2017. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2013, 2020 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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