Gmc Acadia 2017–2023

2nd generation · GM C1XX · 2,529 complaints, 958 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 32,900 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 23.8% of complaints (603 reports, 307 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,000 and 56,500 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 19.5% of complaints (492 reports, 190 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 31,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,009 and 43,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 17.9% of complaints (452 reports, 141 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 29,840 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 40,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 8.7% of complaints (220 reports, 58 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 35,020 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 17,300 and 48,900 miles.

The steering accounts for 5.1% of complaints (129 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 48,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,792 and 78,000 miles.

The brakes account for 3.8% of complaints (97 reports, 42 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 28,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 41,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2017 model year drew the most — 954 complaints — while 2023 drew the fewest at 66. The median year sits at 215.

That makes 2017 an outlier: roughly 4.4 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 18 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the transmission and driveline (4), the fuel system (4), the airbag system (3). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 2,529 complaints filed against this generation, 71 reported a crash; 12 reported a fire; 81 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.8% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 16,000 and 48,000 miles, with a median of 32,900. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 31,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (18)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Gmc Acadia 2007–2016
• Gmc Acadia 2024–2025