2012 GMC Acadia Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, after pressing the liftgate button the liftgate raised and crashed down independently after several seconds. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,352.

NHTSA ID

11754818

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

Mileage

189,352 mi

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while reversing, the liftgate unexpectedly opened, even though the liftgate was properly closed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11733369

Incident

Mar 13, 2026

Mileage

125,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the liftgate independently unlatched and fell midway down, and then independently closed and latched. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.

NHTSA ID

11693365

Incident

Oct 11, 2025

Mileage

187,000 mi

The back seat driver's side door shut with such impact as to amputate the finger from an adult. Vehicle was parked on incline when front driver's side door shut, the back door also shut. There were no safety features to protect fingers from the hinge side of back door. The force of the door slamming and lack of any space between the hinge side of the door and its frame caused my middle finger from the top knuckle up to be cut off completely thus amputated from hand.

NHTSA ID

11676183

Incident

Jun 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the liftgate lamp detached from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the adhesive had severely deteriorated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11569486

Incident

May 15, 2022

Mileage

175,000 mi

Incomplete recalls

NHTSA ID

11506882

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated the rear hatch door would close independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11460646

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mileage

114,000 mi

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway and the contact and his wife were taking groceries out of the vehicle, the rear liftgate suddenly fell and hit the contact’s wife on the back of the head. The contact’s wife had a severe headache with dizziness. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the liftgate struts failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11432833

Incident

May 2, 2020

Mileage

97,000 mi

The power liftgate suddenly collapsed while I was standing underneath it. It dropped on top of my head pretty hard as it was a sudden drop of the liftgate. My safety was/is at risk and has caused injury to my head. Currently experiencing headaches. As condition progresses, I will be seeking medical attention. It is available for inspection. I have recorded a video of the problem. The problem is recurring and reproducing. I have not taken it to a dealer or independent service center today (9/13/2021 date of incident) as the weather is bad in my area (experiencing high rain and winds from a tropical storm). I will have it taken in on 9/14/2021. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning indicators or other symptoms prior to the initial collapse.

NHTSA ID

11432824

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

THE BACK LIFE GATE DOES NOT STAY OPEN. IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WITH PRESS OF BUTTON: HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT STAY OPEN AND WILL FALL DOWN FAST WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11353728

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

TAILGATE FALLS DOWN AFTER OPENING. WILL NOT STAY UP WITHOUT HOLDING.

NHTSA ID

11349848

Incident

Aug 16, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

OUR 2012 ACADIA LIFTGATE SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED WHEN MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE LIFTGATE, COMING DOWN TOWARDS HIS HEAD WITH SPEED AND FORCE. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY GET HIS HANDS UP BEFORE IT CRASHED DOWN ON HIS HEAD. HAD THIS BEEN A CHILD, SOMEONE WITH SLOWER REFLEXES, OR HAD HIS REFLEXES FAILED HIM HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE BEEN AN RN FOR 15 YEARS, 6 OF WHICH I SPENT ON A TRAUMA UNIT CARING FOR PROBLEM WITH CLOSED HEAD INJURIES AND SO I UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS FIRST HAND. THE PHYSICS TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE ARE ELEMENTARY. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO DEALERSHIP THE DAY WE TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD BASIC WEAR AND TEAR. NO NOT A SPONTANEOUS ISSUE LIKE THIS THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR DEATH. I OPENED A CASE WITH GMC AND THROUGH GMC FACEBOOK MESSENGER ONLY TO BE CONTINUOUSLY CORRALLED BACK TO THE DEALER. GMC MUST DO BETTER FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. DATE OF ISSUE WAS FALL OF 2019. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK WITH GMC TO NO AVAIL AND NOW BELIEVE I MUST TAKE THIS ISSUE FURTHER AS I DO NOT WANT ANYONE ELSE'S INJURY ON MY CONSCIOUS AND GMC CLEARLY HAS NO CONCERN FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID

11298605

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

THE LIFT GATE OPENS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY FALLS. IT HAS HIT ME IN THE HEAD A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE LIFT GATE CAN ONLY BE HELD UP IF IT IS PUSHED UP AS HIGH AS IT CAN GO. I AM SHORT SO THAT IS HARD FOR ME TO DO. I ALSO CAN'T LOAD/UNLOAD GROCERIES IF I'M HOLDING THE LIFT GATE UP. I LET THE LIFT GATE CLOSE PART WAY, HOLDING IT WITH MY BACK AS I TRY TO LOAD/UNLOAD GROCERIES, BUT NOW THE MOTOR IS PULLING IT CLOSED ON ME AND HAS TRAPPED ME UP AGAINST THE BUMBER! THE CAR IS ALWAYS PARKED WHEN WE OPEN/CLOSE THE LIFT GATE.

NHTSA ID

11176552

Incident

Feb 11, 2019

Mileage

122,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE DID NOT OPEN INITIALLY, BUT LATER SLAMMED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FELL DOWN ON THE DRIVER AND KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11139956

Incident

Jul 10, 2018

Mileage

43,000 mi

LIFTGATE STRUTS DID FAIL AND THE LIFTGATE FELL DOWN UNCONTROLLABLY. IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V415000 BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET.

NHTSA ID

11102998

Incident

Jun 8, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE ELECTRONIC REAR LIFT GATE, THE LIFT GATE WOULD OPEN AND SUDDENLY CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER ZIEGLER GMC OF LINCOLNWOOD, IL WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

11081350

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE POWER LIFTGATE, IT STARTED TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT HAD TO PHYSICALLY LIFT THE LIFTGATE OFF OF THE PASSENGER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC (18475 5TH AVE, JAMESTOWN, CA 95327) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,735.

NHTSA ID

11063764

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

60,735 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V415000 (STRUCTURE). AFTER OPENING THE LIFTGATE, IT FELL WITHOUT WARNING. THE LIFTGATE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND KNOCKED HIM UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 07/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10986009

Incident

May 11, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

BACK LIFTGATE DOESN'T HOLD AND DROPPED ON MY HEAD. IT NEVER DID HOLD SINCE I GOT IT BUT IT WOULD SLIP DOWN SLOWLY NOW IT DROPS HARD AND FAST.

NHTSA ID

10979456

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

AS MY GMC ACADIA IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE I PULLED ON THE LIFT GATE HANDLE TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. CONFIDENCE THAT IT WAS GOOD TO STEP IN AN PUT MY BABY'S STROLLER I PROCEEDED TO STEP IN AS SOON AS THE LIFT GATE GOT TO IT'S PEEK THE STRUT GAVE IN AND THE GATE CAME DOWN ABOUT TWO FEET OR SO STRIKING ME ON TOP OF MY HEAD. I MANAGED GET DOWN AS TO NOT GET HEART THE LIFT GATE SEEMS TO BE OUT OF SERVICE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN IT AND HAVE IT STAY OPEN. IT JERKS AND THEN IT CLOSES ITSELF.

NHTSA ID

10969128

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

Mileage

73,100 mi

BACK IN JANUARY 2017 I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE POWER LIFTGATE RECALL WORK DONE AT MY DEALER. ON 3/1/17 IN THE EVENING, WHILE LOADING GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF MY CAR THE POWER LIFTGATE FELL FULL-FORCE RIGHT ONTO MY HEAD AND PUSHED DOWN ONTO MY NECK (AND IT IS A VERY HEAVY LIFTGATE!). THANKFULLY I DID NOT PASS OUT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY SERVICE GUY TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I ALSO BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THE VERY NEXT DAY. AFTER NOT FEELING WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE, I WENT URGENT CARE, WHO IN TURN SENT ME TO THE ER FOR A CT SCAN OF MY HEAD. I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIFTGATE HAS BEEN SOLVED AND THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR SIGNS OF A FAILURE. I CONTACTED GM WHO HAS OPENED A CASE AND SAID THEY WILL BE CONTACTING ME. QUITE FRANKLY I WANT TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION. I THINK ALL ACADIA OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW SERIOUS IN FACT THIS ISSUES IS. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE UNTIL I READ ARTICLES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON THE WEB. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING ALL OF MY PAPERWORK TO BE SCANNED AND WILL BE FILING A LAWSUIT IF GM CANNOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH ME. I WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD TO YOU ANY DOCUMENTATION YOU DESIRE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10958877

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

27,000 mi

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A POWER LIFT GATE IN 2012. IT HAS ALWAYS WORKED FINE UNTIL ONE DAY RECENTLY I WAS HOLDING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER PUTTING A PACKAGE IN THE TRUNK WHEN IT SUDDENLY REVERSED ITS MOTION JUST AS IT WAS ALMOST FULLY OPEN AND CAME SLAMMING DOWN ON BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND I HITTING ME, THANKFULLY NOT MY DAUGHTER RIGHT IN THE HEAD. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS DOOR-THE SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WOULD MAKE IT GO BACK UP IF SOMETHING WAS IN THE WAY WAS DEFECTIVE AT THIS POINT AND NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT THAT WOULD CAUSE ME TO BELIEVE THE DOOR WAS BEGINNING TO BREAK. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT AS WELL WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND IT CONTINUED TO TAKE PLACE AND FORCEFULLY SLAMMED THE DOOR DOWN. WE IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE POWER LIFT GATE; HOWEVER, IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL TO OPERATE THE DOOR MANUALLY BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY UP ON IT'S OWN AND HAD TO BE HELD OPEN. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND HAVE A OPENED UP A CLAIM WITH THEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT REPORTED THAT THERE ARE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON THIS CAR PART. WE ARE VERY UPSET AND THANKFUL THAT MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTER WASN'T HURT WORSE ( I DID SUFFER A HEADACHE FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY). I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS DOOR FORCEFULLY AND ERRATICALLY BEING BROUGHT DOWN ON MY HEAD. WE HAVE PAID SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THIS POINT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND FIX THE LIFT GATE. I HAVE SAVED MY RECEIPTS. THE PICTURE BELOW IS OF THE PART THAT BROKE.

NHTSA ID

10938822

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION NEAR AN INTERSECTION AND APPROACHING THE LIGHT TO TURN. ( NEAR AIRPORT IN RALEIGH NC) THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTAL LOSS AND MINE HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS TOTAL LOSS. THERE ARE PERSONAL INJURIES. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND ACCIDENT REPORT.

NHTSA ID

10925628

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,535. ...UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10887762

Incident

Jul 14, 2016

Mileage

70,535 mi

TAKAT RECALL-I HAD MY RECALL DONE ON THE LIFTGATE IN 2015. YESTERDAY MY WIFE WAS GETTING BAGS OF CAR AND IT FELL ON HER HEAD. SHE FELT IT AND SLIDE QUICKLY FROM UNDER. SHE ALREADY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HER HEAD FROM OTHER THINGS..

NHTSA ID

10861170

Incident

Apr 24, 2016

Mileage

69,000 mi