RoadVitals

2012 GMC Acadia Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest May 22, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 296 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 GMC Acadia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed May 22, 2025

I was driving along [XXX] . I stopped at Walmart and shopped for about 2 hours. I was Leaving Walmart and was stopped at a red light at the exit from Walmart [XXX] and traction control light comes on and a message came up and stated traction control off and to service stability control and the vehicle loses power right at the light. I checked everything I could and dis connect the battery for about 30 minutes and connected the battery back up vehicle still would not start. After sitting there for 3 hours the vehicle starts up. A week later the same thing happens again. I had to go through all the steps again so after a couple of hours. The vehicle started up. A few days later it happens shin but this time I'm at a stop sign on a busy road. I called Road side service for a tow. No one showed up so I went through Ll those same steps of disconnecting the battery and hooking it back up after a couple of hours and it stated up. I drove it home and started doing some research and found something saying to change the brake pedal position sensor so I done that and it worked for a few days and started doing the same thing all over again. S week later I drive it to the store and got almost home and the vehicle shut down again and would not start back up. I had it towed to my uncle shop Nd he done a diagnostic on it and got about 4 or 5 codes. All of those things are very expensive to purchase. I just ran the Vin to check for recalls on the vehicle but couldn't find any but it should have been a lot of recalls because there are so many of these vehicles the exact same model and year with trouble with stability control ND brake and traction control issues. All the issues they hD on this car thT I have should not have been sold to anyone except the manufacturer. I wish I could just get my money back that I paid for it. $4700.00 not included in the work I had done like the cv axles replace on both sides in the front. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11662691
Incident
May 21, 2025
Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2021

The brakes on the vehicle have failed 5-7 times within the past year and a half. By "failed" I mean that the pedal was touching the floor of the vehicle and did NOT engage. Mechanic was unable to replicate the failure any of the three times we took it in to get it looked at. The brake pads, rotors, and fluid lines have all been checked multiple times and are all in good condition. The master cylinder was replaced and the brakes worked well for about 6-7 months. Approximately 3 weeks ago, the brakes failed entirely, yet again, this time driving on a highway at 70mph. The emergency brake had to be used in order to get the vehicle to slow down. The vehicle was then dropped off at a local dealership, who has kept it for about 2 weeks and states that they cannot replicate the problem when they take it for a test drive. We have 2 young children and this has been our primary family vehicle. There has not been a check engine light or any other warning lamp AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11432366
Incident
Aug 24, 2021
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 25, 2021

Driving at 55mph, suddenly the Traction Control blinks on & off, the vehicle starts skipping. Next, Service Stabilitrack System appears and I almost come to a complete stop, Engine Running at Reduced Power appears. I barely made it to the side of the road, traffic was heavy at the time. This is apparently a common issue with other Owners and could be a number of different sensors, parts malfunctioning.

NHTSA ID
11430560
Incident
Aug 25, 2021
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 27, 2017
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. *AS

NHTSA ID
10968620
Incident
Mar 12, 2017
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Apr 20, 2016

SUNROOF LEAK DRIVING DURING RAINSTORM WATER BEGAN POURING IN ON THE DRIVER SIDE FROM THE PARKING BRAKE. CAUSED MOLDY SMELL, PARK BRAKE ON/OFF INDICATOR LIGHT AND BRAKE ON WARNING ALARM NOW NOT WORKING. ADVISED BY GLASS CO. AND DEALERSHIP THAT SUNROOF IS CAUSING LEAK FROM CLOGGED DRAIN LINES AND FAULTY SEALS. NO RECALLS OR TSB'S BUT HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE FROM 2008-2013 MODELS. NTSB SHOULD DEMAND THAT GMC ADDRESS THIS FAULTY PRODUCT. PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED DURING CAR WASH FOLLOWING RAIN STORM. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER, NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. GMC WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
10860485
Incident
Dec 10, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE AND BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMITTED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,614. UPDATED 10/29/14*CN ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE BRAKE BOOSTER DID NOT AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKES, UPDATED 03/03/15

NHTSA ID
10638152
Incident
Sep 19, 2013
Mileage
20,614 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 15, 2014

THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO FIX THEM BRAKES ARE WEARING DOWN T THE METAL, BRAKE SLIDER STICKING OPEN , THE LAST TIME IT WAS TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 2, 2014 I WAS TOLD BREAKS ARE AT CURRENT STANDARDS FOR MEASUREMENTS WITH LAW, TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MORE BREAKS BECAUSE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT THEY PUT NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE ON, NOW THEY ARE GRINDING AGAIN, BUT HAVE TO WAIT TO CALL AND SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM 4 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES TO BE FIXED AND THEY ARE NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610703
Incident
Mar 20, 2014
Mileage
23,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND ENGINE FLUID LEAKED ON THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE TUBE, PIPES, THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BEGAN VIBRATING AND SHAKING. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,505. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,454. ...UPDATED 07-29-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND THE GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT REGISTER GAS BEING IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/01/13

NHTSA ID
10520817
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
2,505 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .