2019 GMC Acadia Problems

What owners reported to NHTSA about the 2019 GMC Acadia, its recalls, and what to check before you buy one.

GMC Acadia, 2017 to 2023 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
How the 2019 compares

Worse than most Acadia years

Owners filed about 1.4 times as many complaints as a typical Acadia year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 50,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2013, 2020 and 2021.

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 388 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 GMC Acadia. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (154, 40% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the engine and cooling. That ranks 4th of 13 Acadia years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 2 recalls.

Complaints388filed with NHTSA
Recalls2for this model year
Crashes63 injuries reported
Fires2reported in complaints

1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.

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Most 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 2019 GMC Acadia before you buy.

Transmission and drivetrain

154 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 50,000 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

On XXX at 1:56pm, I took the vehicle to Jiffy Lube service center #810 for the "Quick Oil Change Service" which includes checking and filling the Tranmission/Axle fluid. Per the attached receipt the Transmission/Axle fluid was "OK", and the next service was recommended after 5,000 addtional miles from the then current mileage of 153,317.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that upon parking and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message “Action Required. Shift to Park” was displayed while the gear shifter was in park(P). The vehicle failed to turn off. The contact moved the gear shifter back and forth until the vehicle registered it was in park…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 56,757 miles

Electrical system

106 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 26,000 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

When putting the vehicle in park to turn it off, the dash indicates that I need to put the vehicle in park. But it is in park and it will not let me shut off the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2026
This vehicle has an electrical deficiency when trying to park, The console will NOT recognize that the vehicle is in park, causing bell warnings, beeping, and an INABILITY to lock the vehicle, thus draining the battery. We cannot walk away from it, nor ever leave anything of value in it. This is a recurring problem, causing stress, and…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Engine and cooling

58 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 52,000 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

I own a 2019 GMC Acadia equipped with the 3.6L V6 engine. VIN. See form above In 2025, the engine coolant thermostat failed on my vehicle and required replacement at my expense. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this may represent a recurring component problem affecting 2019 GMC Acadia vehicles and I would like NHTSA to…Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the battery low and steering assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact's minor children were occupants in the vehicle during the failure. The tow…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 81,126 miles

Steering

33 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 70,000 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

My check engine light is on there is a note that says steering assist is reduced. I took it to O’Reilly’s to get it scanned. The code that comes up is P0128 indicating that the coolant thermostat has a fault. There are other GMC‘s that have a recall for this, but apparently not mine.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The steering assist message comes on and off whenever the weather gets cold in the fall and winter. This causes my air conditioning and/or heater to not work. I have done research and the temperature sensor needs to get replaced because there is a malfunction of the temperature not reading the coolant. Everything is fine with fluids and…Owner complaint, filed 2025

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 21,000 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

• Gearshift- It is, available for inspection upon request. • You are unable to turn off Vehicle, your trapped in vehicle. Until parking gear shifts into park and you’re able to shut off the vehicle. • Independent service center. • No • NoOwner complaint, filed 2026
Getting a "shift to park" message when the car is in park. It won't let you do anything lock the car, bells going off, nothing and sometimes it takes 20 minutes or longer to keep trying to get the car into park.it would do it everytime I go to drive it.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 16,000 miles

Driver assist systems

14 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy

What to check before you buy

  • Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
  • Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
  • Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

My Temp control sensor is causing my check engine light to come on. After reviewing the problem, It seems many owners have had this same problem nation wide. I,m simply adding to the complaints by other owners that this should be a recall problem since so many owners are having this same problem. I,ve only had this car for 2 weeks & like…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Unnecessary safety feature sounds and alerts distract driver's normal driving and viewing habits. Any which could be turned off, have been. Every time the car is started, there is a message that these warnings have been turned off. The message never goes away and stays on the entire drive time unless manually turned off.] These type of…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Lights, wipers and visibility

12 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy

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

Headlights are so dim that we will not drive the car at night. Dealer's service manager says that he knows about the problem but "there's nothing I can do to fix it". I see a few similar complaints on this site, but nothing as to who to contact to get the problem solved NOR any action on this on the part of the NHSTA. Where do we go from…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The headlights barely light up enough roadway to be of any use at night. Obviously can't drive with high beams constant. The only help is to use the fog/driving lights. However, that only lights up about 30 feet in front of the vehicle. Driving at night is hazardous to one's health as you cannot see far enough down the road to avoid…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Suspension

6 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy

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

My driver side front control arm, and stabilizer bar snapped on me while on the highway without warning causing me to crash. I'm blessed to be alive.Owner complaint, filed 2026
I took my 2019 GMC Acadia in for an inspection and was informed that the toe links were loose and fail inspection. Upon researching this failure, I found that there is a recall for this, but my VIN was no included. I don't understand why not given what I'm seeing from other owners. I quote from the GMC Authority site: [XXX] "GM and the…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Fuel system

5 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy

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

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the fuel gauge displayed an inaccurate fuel level. The fuel sending unit was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The contact became aware of the recurring failure while refueling the vehicle and noticing that the vehicle consumed more fuel than the fuel gauge…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 64,382 miles
-As stated on GMC Indiana Dealer Invoice: DIAG: Customer states that fuel line blew off while driving down the highway. Believes that it blew off at connector. #[XXX]: Found fuel line above fuel tank broken. Dropped tank to remove and replace fuel feed line. Reinstall fuel tank and test. Okay My vehicle is available for inspection upon…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Seats and seat belts

4 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy

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 contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated the center rear seat belt failed to extend as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 72,456.Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 72,456 miles
I'm not sure what this is but I'm not reporting damage I'm reporting the factory model. This vehicle seating is not appropriate for the body size of the front of the vehicle. I've had two other acadias and I didn't have this type of issue. The side of the vehicle where the mirror is located is so large is can cover the view of two cars.…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Body, doors and structure

4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy

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 2019 gmc acadia. The contact stated while making a left, he was unable to view any objects such as another vehicle nearby due to structure of the vehicle. The contact was concerned that it could result in a crash. The vehicle was taken to local dealer jim hardman buick gmc, inc. Located at 1592 browns bridge rd…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 23,000 miles
Park to shift issue - the vehicle did not register that I was in park, jerked hard when trying to place in gear, did not register the PROPER gear (reverse, neutral, drive), would NOT unlock doors to let passengers out even if it were an emergency. Seems to be triggered on inclines but have also been having issues on flat ground. Other…Owner complaint, filed 2026

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

After roughly 7000 miles of use the 235/55R20 102V Goodyear Assurance Weatherready tire has a bulge in the sidewall. There are no scuffs or scars on the tire to indicate an impact caused the bulge, it appears there is some sort of separation within the layers of the sidewall. I asked a Goodyear retailer to inspect the tire and they said…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The check engine light came on 12/2023. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys and AutoZone in MD, WalMart and O'Rilley in Bastrop, LA, O'Rilley in Midlothian, TX. They could not find any problems with the vehicle. I took the vehicle to GMC in Plano, TX. THey charged me for a new battery but the check engine light remained on after I picked…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Cruise control and acceleration

3 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy

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 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact also stated that while coming to a stop and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle lost motive power but…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 85,695 miles
Im a travel nurse and I was working in Vermont. As I was driving on the highway in New York on my way back home a shift to park light came on, a stabilitrak light came on, power steering light came on, ABS light came on, and my check engine light also came on. My vehicle started slowing down as I was driving and my lights on my dashboard…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Air bags

3 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy

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

I purchased a used 2019 GMC Acadia from Grieco Honda around November 20, 2023. They showed me a CarFax report indicating the vehicle had never been in an accident. Immediately after the purchase, I reported several issues and attempted to return the car under their 30-day warranty. However, the salesperson convinced me not to return it…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the brake pedal was applied but failed to slow the vehicle down. As a result, the contact rear ended a Chevrolet Tahoe. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The contact sustained soreness to the body and…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 33,717 miles

GMC Acadia complaints by year

Compare the 2019 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.

Compare with similar 2019 midsize SUVs

Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.

CarVs. its other yearsRecallsMost reported
2019 GMC AcadiaWorse than most years2Transmission and drivetrain
2019 Toyota HighlanderAmong the worst years3Transmission and drivetrain
2019 Honda PilotAmong the worst years13Electrical system
2019 Subaru AscentWorse than most years9Electrical system
Compare side by side

2019 GMC Acadia recalls

This is every recall issued for the 2019 GMC Acadia, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.

Tires

Feb 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V115000
Risk
Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

Transmission and drivetrain

Oct 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V668000
Risk
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge.
Full recall summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

2019 GMC Acadia questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC Acadia?

The most reported problem areas on the 2019 GMC Acadia are the transmission and drivetrain (154 complaints), the electrical system (106 complaints) and the engine and cooling (58 complaints).

Is the 2019 GMC Acadia a good year to buy?

Worse than most Acadia years. Owners filed about 1.4 times as many complaints as a typical Acadia year. The main thing to watch is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 50,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2013, 2020 and 2021. 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 2019 GMC Acadia have?

NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2019 GMC Acadia. The most recent, from Feb 2021, covers the tires. 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 2019 GMC Acadia problems start?

Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 50,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 26,000 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.

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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.