Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 GMC Acadia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 75 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 75, in the owner's own words
There was a recall for gmc premature timing chain engine recall. This recall was complete in 2011 but it did not fix the problem. The timing chain keeps breaking off the cam shaft sensor and needs to be replaced.
The stabilizer/traction control keeps going off and it will stay off.i can turn,hit a bump or start it up and the traction control/stabilizer system is off.i almost had a accident on the freeway in the rain because it turned off out of nowhere and I almost lost control. Also I was going down the road and all of a sudden my vehicle died and I had little control over vehicle. Once it came to stop it would not start again and when attempting it sounded like something was stuck in my fan or something because of the way it rattled and sounded and was rough sounding. Vehicle was inoperable and had to be towed. Upon investigating it was the timing chain kit that had failed suddenly for no apparent reason. Vehicle was well maintained and kept accordance with running policies and practices required and suggested by manufacturer. Still the failing caused engine damage that is well in to the several thousands of dollars and engine must be replaced due to this issue failing and I have noticed several thousand people having this same very issue and rendering them a foot and vehicle less due to the high cost of fixing without any warning or engine light or code suggesting of the timing chain kit failing or about to fail before stranding a person wherever and whenever unexpectedly and suddenly without any warning or check engine light at all. No OEM code to validate the issue either. Manufacturer should be held liable for the exact same issue occuring in so many of the multitude of people experiencing the same exact issue causing financial turmoil and risk of disaster or collision and harm when the timing chain kit fails suddenly. This is a huge and vast problem I have found with multitude of Acadia owners and should be addressed because to not honor a issue of so many experiencing the same issue occuring should be reconciled and corrected at the manufacturer cost due to it being their liability in making the faulty part of device to begin with causing vast financial hardships.
Got code po0008 crank sensor/cam did resurch said timming chain replaced complete chain still noisey changed cam phasers and sensors still making noise it is so frustrating bee going on 3 weeks I'm disabled not easy to work on myself being I'm a master technician and this has really been mind boggling
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after purchase of the vehicle, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled while driving at 45 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. Despite the failure, the contact was able to coast the vehicle to a stop as the vehicle failed to restart after multiple attempts. The contact's husband inspected the engine and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact's husband replaced the crank shaft position sensor, purge valve, high pressure tank, fuel pump, and battery; however, the failure persisted. The contact then towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it diagnosed with engine failure due to the timing chain, and a cylinder #1 and #5 defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle related to the engine. The vehicle remained in possession of the mechanic unrepaired. The failure mileage was 194,726.
Engine jumped out of time driving down the road
1.)What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A.) To start with i went in to the dealership for a timing chain recall they said the work was performed. This was never done all they did was replace ECU from an older car so that the code would not come back (REPLACED WITH A 2002 ECU) to get rid of the timing chain recall code. this code never existed in 2002..Complete negligence these SUV could hurt or kill someone B.)Huge Electrical issue suv stops on its own while driving. Sometimes does not start at all. can not pass emission for the life of it .. new codes all the time i have replaced just about Every sensor and switch there is.. . this is a money pit and death trap.. C.) The Investigation NHTSA should have included the Lambda Frame it's the same design flaw they're trying to fix one problem with an old problem. The ones on these have this fixed tie rods, lateral arms and upper control arms the bushings will wear out eventually and repeat the bouncing up and down rocking back and forth rear end barely staying on the ground it's a very dangerous ride and you see these vehicles on the expressway on a daily basis you look at them for what you know now I get really nervous seeing these vehicles. Arcadia rollovers Call it what you will it's the same problem the needs a total redesign it's defective anyway you look at it. Just looking to how many Roll over there are with this body frame and suspension it's got its own self-contained pit maneuver. I believe GM is aware of these issues that's why they're giving everybody a hard time to fix it they run and say something else. Looks like we're getting back to too big to fail. D.) What makes this vehicle even more unsafe and very dangerous is the fact that the reluctor wheel can slip. This will sundown false DTC codes thinking that problems exist other places spending lots of money an unnecessary work when along GM knew about this problem once again.
I GO THROUGH HEADLIGHTS EVERY 6 MONTHS THIS LAST TIME, MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOT REPLACED AND TWO DAYS LATER IT WENT OUT AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I WENT AND GOT NEW BULB AND IT DID NOT WORK, AFTER INSPECTING THE THE WIRING WE NOTICED IT WAS BURNT UP AND NEED REPLACED, GMC SAID IT'S ON US. WE HAVE SPOKE WITH GMC ABOUT OUR ENGINE BURNING OIL WHICH THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF AND THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO HELP BUT GMC REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING MY CAR SEND A SIGNAL TELLING ME TO TURN OFF THE CAR OR STARTS MISS FIRING EVERY WHICH WAY AND GIVES CODES SAYING I NEED NEW COILS WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF SAYING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE CALIBRATION GET OFF, IT TOOK MCDANIEL'S TO FIGURE IT OUT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON ELECTRONICS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NO LONGER COMES OUT PROPERLY AND NEEDS SOMETHING REPLACED SO THAT IT WILL GO UP ON THE WINDSHIELD.
TRANSMISSION ENGINE SEAT BELTS HEADLIGHTS NOT EVEN A MONTH INTO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT STOPPED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE LOST POWER DURING RUSH HOUR COMING HOME. LOST AT LEAST 50% POWER, VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION AND QUITE THE CHALLENGE TO MERGE OVER 4 LANES TO GET TO THE SHOLDER OF THE HIGHWAY. CODE WAS CHECKED AND CODE WAS FOR TIMING. MECHANIC PULLED TIMING CHAIN COVER AND FOUND THAT IT WAS STRETCHED. HE TOLD ME THE 3.6 ENGINE WAS WELL KNOWN FOR THIS. TWO FREAKING MONTHS AFTER WE PAID IT OFF. WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER ACADIA AND WILL STAY AWAY FROM ENCAVE AND TRAVERSE AS WELL AS THEY HAVE SAME ENGINE IN MANY. VERY DISCOURAGED THEY WOULD KNOWINGLY ALLOW THIS ISSUE TO GO ON WITHOUT BEING ADDRESSED.
I HAD TO, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.. DRIVING ON CITY STREET CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH RPM NEEDLE SHOWED MOTOR REVVING NOW WAITING ON STABILITY CONTROL MODULE THATS ON BACK ORDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE MECHANIC PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE "BLEW UP". THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
MY 09 ACADIA IS HAVING TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. JUST ABOUT EVERYONE OF THEM DOES. WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED?
I'VE HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE RADIO. EVERY SINGLE TIME IT RAINS THE SPEAKERS GO OUT. NOTICED THERE WAS WATER IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON ALL THE DOORS WHICH ALSO AFFECTED MY WINDOWS FROM GOING UP AND DOWN. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT NOW. WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE, STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I HIT THE GAS. MY CAR DIDN'T GO. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND IT STARTED TO GO, BUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT JUST KICKED REAL HARD INTO FIRST GEAR. FELT LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME. EVERY TIME I STOPPED IT KEPT DOING IT. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND APPARENTLY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TIMING CHAIN. THE CAR IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND I BOUGHT THE CAR 5 YEARS AGO FROM GUNN HONDA. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR!
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH I RECEIVED A LOW OIL PRESSURE SHUT OFF ENGINE. OIL WAS FINE SO WE TOOK IT TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THERE ARE NO CODES BEING STORED IN THE SYSTEM. EVERYONE IS GUESSING WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH IT FROM A BAD OIL PUMP OR THE PAN NEEDS TO BE CLEANED. THERE IS A FORUM A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND SPENDING THOUSANDS AND GETTING NOWHERE. SOME HAVE HAD TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. GM SAYS THERE ARE NO BULLETINS AND THEY WILL GIVE ME A 100 $ FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED BY A TECH. JUST TO BE CHECKED IS 250 $ NOT INCLUDING ANY FIXES FOR THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.
I WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. IT WAS RIDING ROUGH AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED, SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND I GOT SPARK PLUGS AND AN OIL CHANGE-STILL WAS RIDING ROUGH. I WENT BACK AND GOT A CAM SHAFT POSITION REPLACED-STILL NOTHING CHANGED. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS AN O2 CENSOR. CHANGED IT AND NOTHING CHANGED. NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG OR WHAT THE NOISE WAS. FINALLY ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY BC THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. GOT IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I WAS GETTING QUOTES FOR $2000-$2500. FINALLY ONE PLACE TOLD ME TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. I CALLED GMC. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TIMING CHAIN. THEY CONNECTED ME WITH A LOCAL GMC DEALER WHO INFORMED ME AFTER EVALUATING MY VEHICLE THAT IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND 5000 MILES OVER THE LIMIT. WELL I'M STILL PAYING FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I OWE $5000 ON IT. CLEARLY I WAS SOLD A LEMON BUT WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS NOW?
100% OF EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME CAR AS ME HAVE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK. AND THE AMPLIFIER GO OUT BECAUSE OF LEAKING THROUGH THE DOOR AND FRYING THE AMPLIFIER. SO NO SOUND IN MY CAR AT ALL.
P0017 AND P0008 ERROR CODES: MY WIFE LOVES HER ACADIA! DEALERSHIP HAS DONE RECALLS, REPLACED RACK AND PINION AND PS PUMP. I AM CLOSE TO POSITIVE THAT ECM HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO SHORTEN OIL CHANGE, TO NOT DEFINE A CHAIN POTENTIAL FAILURE THAT SENDS AN ERROR CODE, AND UPDATE SOFTWARE TO ALLOW FOR MORE "SLOP" IN CLEARANCE SPECS SO THAT CHAIN ISSUES ARE CONCEALED UNTIL A CRITICAL FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT. AT 121K I DROPPED CRADLE DOWN TO REPAIR/REPLACE WAVE PLATE. PLATE WAS GOOD AS NEW. MUST HAVE GOTTEN A "GOOD" PLATE. NOW AT ABOUT 140K I HAVE THE P0017 AND P0008 CODES. ENGINE NOT RESPONDING ACCELERATOR WISE AS BEFORE. I AM GOING BACK TO DEALER AND ASK TO SEE SERVICE RECORD OF WHAT WAS DONE TO ENGINE. I KNOW I WILL JUST BE WASTING MY TIME. TO COVER UP A PROBLEM BY MESSING WITH PARAMETERS ON AN ENGINE TO FOOL A CUSTOMER IS CLOSE TO BEING DISHONEST, AND THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CHAINS. IF ALL ELSE FAILS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SEND ME AWAY, I WILL PARK THE ACADIA IN THE GARAGE AND DO MY BEST TO REPLACE THE CHAINS AND GEARS WITH THE ENGINE IN VEHICLE. I HAVE NO WAY TO DROP THE ENGINE OUT. I CAN'T AFFORD $4000 FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO DO IT. GM, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LOYAL FAN ON YOUR VEHICLES, AND HAVE ONLY OWNED CHEVY'S AND GMC'S SINCE 1965, NEVER OWNED ANY OTHER BRAND, EXCEPT A 1947 JEEP UNIVERSAL THAT I PUT A SMALL BLOCK IN, BUT THIS ACADIA TRANSMISSION/ENGINE ISSUE MIGHT JUST TEST OUR RELATIONSHIP IN THE FUTURE. WHAT I HAVE READ ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THESE CODES ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND GM IS NOT CARING, EVEN THO THEY NOW HAVE A 10 YR/120,000 COVERAGE. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THIS ISSUE WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE CUSTOMER. DESIGN PROBLEM AND POOR BACK VALVE COVER VENTING. GM, YOU CAN DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.
DEC 2018 MY ACADIA WAS LEFT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF WHITMORE CHEVROLET IN WEST POINT VA 23181 FOR A DIAGNOSIS. MY VEHICLE RAN WHEN I LEFT IT THERE. OVER A MONTH LATER INCLUDING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I GET MY VEHICLE BACK AND IT IS DEAD. I WOULD START MY VEHICLE AND DRIVE AWAY SOMETIME STOPPING SOON OR RANDOMLY ON THE ROAD. IT'S DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN TOO. I NEED MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND THE POSSIBLE RECALLS FIXED. I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION AND IT'S UNBEARABLE. I AM A MOTHER OF THREE WONDERFUL SONS AND WE NEED OUR VEHICLE TO RUN PLEASE!!!MY REVIEW IS IN THE PICTURES AS WELL
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES AND GOES, TOOK TO MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH P0017 CODE. CAM SHAFT PROBLEM, MECHANIC PUT NEW PART ON AND SERVICE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE PROBLEM NOW IS TIMING CHAIN AND THEN GET A NEW ENGINE ON A CAR THAT HAS APPROX 140,000 MILES. THE CAR EXPERIENCES A JITTER WHILE DRIVING AND WON'T ACCELERATE OR LAGS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED.
BOUGHT THE CAR ON FEB. 28, 2018. FOUND OUT ON JANUARY 23, 2019 THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS NOW THE 2ND GMC ACADIA WE BOUGHT IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS THAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THAT IS NOT RIGHT. WE HAVE NOW SPENT OVER $20K FOR TWO CARS WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A WORKING CAR. THE LAST CAR I BOUGHT WAS A 2010 GMC AND I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINED DIED - THERE WAS NEVER EVER WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING THAT THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE CAR. BOTH CARS HAVE THE 3.6L SIDI VG ENGINE. OUR AUTO PLACE SAID THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING THAT ENGINE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE NEED THAT ENGINE FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CAN NOT BE A COINCIDENCE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DON'T CARE.
GMC HAS A SPECIAL SAFETY RECALL ON THEIR TIMING CHAINS BUT PROVIDED NO HELP WHEN DEALERSHIPS FAIL TO NOTIFY YOU BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS OUT EVEN WHEN YOU ARE COMPLAINING. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO MOVE AND THE RPMS JUST GO UP. GMC TELLS YOU TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT FAILED TO FIND IT TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK. PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG TURNS ON WITH LITTLE WEIGHT TO NO WEIGH THERE! MC DANIALS IN MARION, OHIO WAS ABLE TO FIND THATBTHEY LOSE CALIBRATION AND NEED RE CALIBRATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000.
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG TURNS ON WITH NO ONE AND NOTHING IN THE SEAT. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT ELECTRICAL DEVICES CAN TURN IT ON BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, I CAN HAVE NOTHING IN THE SEAT AND IT TURNS ON AND DINGS WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS A DISTRACTION. AS FOR THE ENGINE, I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONE WHICH MAKES IT WHERE THE REMOTE START WILL NOT WORK. WHEN WE PULLED THE CODES IT COMES BACK TO THE THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON IT.
I LEASED MY 2009 GMC ACADIA ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO, IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I BOUGHT AS IS SO DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALLS THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH PROBLEMS. FIRST, NOT EVEN 3 WEEKS AFTER I LEASED THE VEHICLE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO GO, MY DRIVER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING, MY BACK HATCH WELL I CAN'T EVEN OPEN IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO KEY TO OPEN NOR IS THERE A BUTTON ANYWHERE THE MECHANICS SAID I NEED TO TAKE IT TO AN ELECTRICAL MECHANIC...WONDER HOW MUCH THAT WILL COST?, MY STABILTRAK SYSTEM CONSTANTLY FLASHES. THE ENGINE BURNS UP TOO MUCH OIL EVEN AFTER AN OIL CHANGE WITHIN 3WEEKS I NEED TO PUT OIL, I DO NOT DRIVE FAR NOR ALOT. TO WORK AND BACK. IT WILL COST MORE TO FIX THIS TRUCK THAN WHAT IT IS WORTH NOW I'M STUCK WITH $5,000 LEFT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS A PIECE OF POOP. WHEN I DRIVE THE TRUCK PULLS AS IF THE ENGINE CANNOT GET THE TRUCK GOING. I CAN'T TURN OFF THE TRUCK WHILE PUTTING GAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WONT TURN OVER ONCE THE GAS HAS BEEN PUT IN AND STARTED. THE MECHANIC SAID ITS THE TRANS EVAP SYSTEM. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW GMC CAN GET AWAY WITH MANUFACTURING VEHICLES LIKE THIS WITH NO CONCERN FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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