GMC Acadia Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The GMC Acadia is a crossover SUV that GMC introduced for the 2007 model year and is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The first and third generations are large three-row models that share their platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. The second generation was a smaller design that was also offered with five-passenger seating until 2021. This page lines up every GMC Acadia model year from 2010 to 2024 on one scale, so you can see which years drew unusual numbers of owner reports and which stayed quiet.

Why these years stand out

2020, 2022 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 106 complaints, or 146 per 100,000 sold; The 2022 drew 52 complaints, or 98 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 49 complaints, or 74 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What GMC Acadia owners report most

Transmission complaints lead for the GMC Acadia, at 21% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 35%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

1,912 GMC Acadia complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 48% were reported before 50,000 miles and 16% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.

GMC Acadia compared with other midsize suvs

In 10 of 15 model years the GMC Acadia drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the GMC Acadia scored 124 against a class average of 140. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

GMC Acadia generations

• 2007-2016
  First generation

  3.6L V6 · 6-speed automatic

  The Denali trim arrived for 2011, and a 2013 refresh updated the styling and interior.

• 2017-2023
  Second generation

  2.5L four (2017-2021); 2.0L turbo four (2020-2023); 3.6L V6 · 6-speed automatic (2017-2019); 9-speed automatic (V6 and 2.0L turbo, 2020-2023)

  The redesign made the Acadia smaller, and the 2020 refresh added the AT4 trim, a 2.0L turbo and a 9-speed automatic.

• 2024
  Third generation

  2.5L turbo four · 8-speed automatic

  The redesign returned the Acadia to a larger size and used one turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

The first-generation model continued for 2017 as the Acadia Limited alongside the new smaller Acadia. The 2009 model year brought a direct-injected version of the 3.6L V6. The 2.5L four was dropped after 2021, making the 2.0L turbo the base engine.

GMC Acadia fuel economy

The 2026 GMC Acadia is rated at 21 to 22 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the GMC Acadia these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2011: 5, 2012: 5, 2013: 5, 2014: 5, 2015: 5, 2016: 5, 2017: 4-5, 2018: 4-5, 2019: 4-5, 2020: 5, 2021: 5, 2022: 5, 2023: 5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

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