What sets the Acadia apart from the competition is in the details. It’s more upscale than some of its competitors, focusing on the business class of buyers. Being that desirable step between a full-size SUV and a soccer-mom minivan helps too.
Despite being a popular model, there are GMC Acadia issues. Over the years, there have been nagging problems that have stripped some of the shine, and potentially hurt sales too. We’ll take a look at some of the GMC Acadia problems through the years, especially motor issues and blown engines. And selling a car with a blown engine is notoriously difficult, so you lose a lot of value when it happens.
Since the initial 2007 model year, GMC Acadia recalls have shown up regularly. That’s not to say they aren’t great vehicles, just that manufacturing flaws have been addressed. Most recalls have been relatively minor, focusing on seat belts, airbags, the fuel system, brakes… actually, those seem to be serious safety systems. It’s a far cry from the recall trouble that other GM models have experienced like the GMC Sierra and the GMC Terrain.
The first year is always the troublesome year, right? That proved to be the case for GMC Acadia issues, that’s for sure. While many cars have minor problems that need kinks worked out, the Acadia had some big trouble in the first release. The transmission proved to be a truly weak point with this wave of Acadias. The transmission would completely give out for the Acadia, needing a full replacement. If it wasn’t under warranty any longer, it cost customers around $4,000 to replace the faulty gearbox. It was so widespread, there wasn’t enough stock to keep up with the demand for new transmissions.
That wasn’t the only issue, however. A GMC Acadia blown engine was not exactly unheard of, typically starting with a loss of power and turning into dead cylinders. There’s also a commonly-found leak from the timing chain cover. When many engine problems compound the cost of engine rebuild or replacement is usually too high to be worth doing.
Things got worse before getting better for GMC Acadia reliability. The 2008 model year saw even more transmission problems that required the exact same attention as the 2007s. Once again, it took nearly forever to get a replacement transmission in stock from General Motors with the backorders.
Engine issues gained steam too. Customers reported their GMC Acadia shutting off unexpectedly while driving. Timing chains became a sore spot with broken chains causing complete engine failure. And still, there was the loss of power situation GM had yet to rectify. If the engine was blown, then you'd have to start asking questions like if you can trade in a non running car. The answer is likely not.
BY the 2009 model year, the common Acadia problems were finally being resolved at the manufacturing level. The transmission was much more reliable and the engine leaks and failures were under control for the most part, which put a stop to much of the necessary engine problem diagnosis in previous models.
Other situations came up that still hurt GMC Acadia ratings. The steering system, for example, sprung leaks from hoses or the power steering gear (rack and pinion). While not as serious as a blown engine, it’s still a costly repair.
Know the term ‘holding pattern’? That’s what it was like for GM in 2010. All the same old stuff continued from the 2009 model – steering leaks and stretched timing chains predominantly.
From all appearances, the 2011 GMC Acadia problems were much fewer and farther between than ever. More Acadia models were sold and fewer coming back for repairs – that’s a recipe for success.
Aside from the occasional loss of power complaints and blown Acadia engines within the realm of normal, it looked like GMC figured things out.
It's simple and it takes less than 90 seconds... click the button below to get started and find out how much your junk vehicle is worth!
Vehicle Pick-up is FREE Nationwide. No Haggle. No Fees. We are A+ rated business at BBB.
Change of pace in 2012. The most frequent concerns for the GMC Acadia turned to secondary systems. The air conditioning system became a weak point, likely due to a manufacturing change. In fact for 2012, engine complaints were rare.
For used vehicle shoppers, the 2012 GMC Acadia is a great choice due to the low number of concerns, and the relatively low severity of those 2012 GMC Acadia problems.
From 2013 through 2015, the GMC Acadia looks like it had everything figured out. That is, aside from being one of the more dated crossover SUVs on the market. 2013 GMC Acadia problems continued to be almost unworthy of mentioning. There was next to nothing for engine issues in a list of 2015 GMC Acadia problems either.
Enter a whole new generation. The 2017 GMC Acadia is a complete redesign, top to bottom. With the redesign comes a new engine with cylinder deactivation. Like any new technology, it takes a year or two to figure it our in real-world testing.
Customer complaints include a nasty vibration when driving at a constant speed. Fortunately, it isn’t a blown engine or a fatal flaw, but an issue that’s corrected by software.
New Acadia models, from 2017 to current, don’t seem to have any inherent engine issues. In the first generation, though, it’s a different story. Until 2010, you could expect to have some sort of engine problem with the 3.6-liter V6 motor, whether it’s stretched timing chains, an oil leak, or a seized engine. If you have an interest in other makes or models of cars with engine issues, we have a detailed guide on blown engines, and all kinds of engine problems. Check it out if you want to learn more about various engines.
Keep in mind that routine maintenance, like always, plays a huge factor in preventing engine issues. But should you have a debilitating and costly blown engine on your Acadia, you have an option.
Instead of paying thousands to fix your GMC Acadia blown engine, sell it to CarBrain. We’ll make you an offer for your Acadia in as-is condition. If you like the offer and accept it, we’ll pay you fast and pick it up at no charge to you. Sound easy? That’s because it is. So get your offer for your vehicle now.