RoadVitals

2012 GMC Acadia Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
12
Latest Feb 2, 2024
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.
4%
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.
0
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 12 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 visibility

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

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 2, 2024

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
Visibility
Filed Oct 26, 2020

FRONT BLOWER MOTOR FOR DEFROST/HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. SEEMS TO STOP WORKING MORE OFTEN IN RAIN, SNOW, AND COLD. HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK AND WINDSHIELD FOGS UP. VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. BELIEVE THAT SOME OLDER ACADIA MODEL YEARS HAVE A RECALL ON THE BLOWER MOTOR BECAUSE IT GETS WET DURING RAIN AND SNOW AND NO LONGER WORKS. THE 2012 ACADIA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. POTENTIALLY GETTING WET THROUGH A FAULT IN THE SUNROOF?? (08312020REAR BLOWER CONTINUES TO WORK.)

NHTSA ID
11366455
Incident
Aug 31, 2020
Mileage
138,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 25, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR STARTED TO CHANGE COLOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIRROR WAS DISCOLORED FROM THE BOTTOM TO HALFWAY UP THE MIRROR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GROPPETTI AUTOMOTIVE FAMILY VISALIA BUICK GMC (1313 E. MAIN ST. VISALIA, CA 93292; (866)248-5241) WHO STATED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID
11361141
Incident
Aug 1, 2020
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 24, 2018

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULB AND THE DAY LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES SINCE JANUARY. EACH TIME I REPLACE ONE THE OTHER GOES OUT AND IT DOES'T LAST LONGER THAN A FEW WEEKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL AS THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING HOME TWO NIGHTS AGO AND THE ROAD THAT I TAKE TO GET HOME IS VERY DARK. ALSO, I HAD TO REPLACE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH (WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH DUE TO IT ONLY WORKING ON HIGH SPEED) IN JANUARY. I'VE NOTICED MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM AS BUYING BULBS ARE BECOMING EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THEM REPLACED CAN BE LENGTHY.

NHTSA ID
11089983
Incident
Apr 22, 2018
Mileage
72,282 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 6, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORKED AT THE HIGHEST SETTING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID
10970985
Incident
Mar 24, 2017
Mileage
62,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningVisibility
Filed Mar 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INITIALLY, BUT LATER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO TURN ON AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE AIR CONDITIONER LINE HOSE DUE TO THE HOSE RUBBING UP AGAINST THE POWER STEERING LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID
10969041
Incident
Mar 20, 2017
Mileage
101,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 15, 2016

EXACT PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER OWNER...WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON AND AND THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS STOP WORKING. TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN OR TURN OFF THE TURN SIGNAL. IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT VISIBILITY OR USING MY DIRECTIONAL. NOW WIPER WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH 6 MOS LATER

NHTSA ID
10855661
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Visibility
Filed Mar 23, 2016

EXACT PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY OTHER OWNER...WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON AND AND THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS STOP WORKING. TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN OR TURN OFF THE TURN SIGNAL. IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT VISIBILITY OR USING MY DIRECTIONAL. NOW WIPER WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH 6 MOS LATER

NHTSA ID
10851294
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
43,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 12, 2016

WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON AND AND THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS STOP WORKING. TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN I HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ALL THE WAY OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN OR ACTIVATE THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT VISIBILITY OR USING MY DIRECTIONAL. NOT A GOOD CHOICE TO HAVE TO MAKE.

NHTSA ID
10819829
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 26, 2015

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INCONSISTENTLY. VISIBILITY CAN BE LOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10721427
Incident
Apr 18, 2015
Mileage
61,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 18, 2014

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CONDITIONS CONSIST OF VERY HEAVY RAIN. PASSENGER WIPER BOLT CAME LOOSE AND CAUSE THE WIPER BLADE TO TANGLE UP WITH DRIVER WIPER. DRIVER WIPER NOW BENT, PASSENGER WIPER NOW STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER WIPER NOW DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION BECAUSE IT WAS BENT TO CLEAN THE WINDOW ADEQUATELY. I DO REMEMBER A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM GMC TO TAKE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER. I DID TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 2012 THEY SAID THEY ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. I ONLY GO TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAD A SMALL WRENCH AND WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BOLT UP ON THE PASSENGER WIPER. THE REASON I AM SUBMITTING THIS IS BECAUSE THE FIX GMC SUGGESTED DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK. I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. I HOPE THE FIX WORKS THIS TIME. SEEMS THE SOLUTION OF USING A LOCK BOLT OR LOCK TIGHT WOULD STOP THE BOLT FROM COMING LOOSE. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I HOPE THIS IS FURTHER INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10583517
Incident
Apr 15, 2014
Mileage
50,200 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 10, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MIRROR DID NOT ALLOW HIM TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE BLIND SPOTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,100. UPDATED 11/13/12 *CN UPDATED 11/27/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10479610
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
1,100 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 .