RoadVitals

2013 GMC Acadia Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
13
Latest Dec 12, 2023
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.
10%
of 134 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.
2
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 GMC Acadia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 12, 2023

At 35-40 and 55-65 mph, the car slips/ pulls back. I took it to the dealer, my rep said it is a known issue and GMC issued a bulletin but will not recall it because it's too expensive. There are thousands of reports online. Please investigate.

NHTSA ID
11559683
Incident
Nov 26, 2023
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 4, 2022

The original side detection system is not an enclosed system. Allowing water, snow, sleet, and salt can penetrate the system. Once, there is penetration and corrosion in the system it effects the entire automobile's electrical system and instrument cluster. Causing the vehicle to come to a complete halt.

NHTSA ID
11477690
Incident
Mar 21, 2018
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 20, 2022

On 02/10/2022 my side warning detection monitors are both activated/lit up intrmittently while parked or driving indicating faulty operation and therefore replacement. The vehicle has around 120K miles so out of any warranty. But this will be the third or fourth time ( not original ow er so dealer has records) that this has happened. Last time in December 2020 I had an extended warranty that covered the passenger module but was not the "improved" module with some type of casing to address the corrosion causing the failures as they wanted an extra $3-400 for that part. Why they still manufacture the bad part is interesting since they have recognized they have a pro lem with the older part. Have seen other complaints that not fixing these can result in other electrical failures that can be dangerous even an electrical fire was reported from this. Obviously I feel the issue is widespread enough for a blanket recall beyond the one issued for 6 y3ears or 80K miles.

NHTSA ID
11453076
Incident
Dec 19, 2020
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 5, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CEASED ON THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WHITESIDE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (50714 NATIONAL RD E, ST CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH PRODUCT LIABILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. *DT THE CONTACT HAS FILED A SAFETY REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID
11406500
Incident
Mar 30, 2021
Mileage
99,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 3, 2021

THE SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM HAS APPEARED IN THE DIC DUE TO WATER INTRUSION IN THE SENSORS. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED PER THE TSB16-NA-178 IN APRIL OF 2019. THE ISSUE HAS SINCE RE-OCCURRED 2/18/21 WHILE DRIVING, WHICH JEOPARDIZES MY SAFETY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ENTER LIMP MODE.

NHTSA ID
11398958
Incident
Feb 18, 2021
Mileage
57,980 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 16, 2021

DRIVER SIDE DETECTION BLIND ZONE, INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON, THEN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS JUST STOPPED WORKING, I REPLACE THE BLIND ZONE MODULE LOCATED UNDER REAR BUMPER, IT WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK AND THEN SHOWS SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, AND BOTH SIDES BLIND LIGHTS ON MIRRORS DON'T WORK, ALL THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING

NHTSA ID
11396535
Incident
Jan 23, 2021
Mileage
51,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2019

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENTIRE DASH BLACKED OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN WOULD GO THRU CHECKS AS IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THE MORNING I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THE PROBLEM STOPPED. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. TWO DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING VERY SLOW (MAYBE 10 MPH) IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE DASH BEGAN GOING THRU ITS CHECKS AGAIN. I STOPPED AND WENT INTO A GAS STATION FOR A COUPLE OF MINS, RETURNED AND COULD NOT UNLOCK THE FRONT DOORS WITH MY KEY FOB. GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START, NOR DID IT CRANK (NO SOUND). AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES, IT DID START. O'REILLY AUTO PARTS CHECKED IT AND SAID THAT MY STARTER WAS BAD. THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK. I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND WHEN IT FINALLY STARTED, THE RADIO DID NOT COME ON. AFTER A FEW RE-STARTS, THE RADIO DID COME ON. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND A VIDEO ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT MENTIONED A RECALL. CHECKED MY VIN, NO RECALL, BUT VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIND THE ISSUE AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11189674
Incident
Mar 16, 2019
Mileage
96,700 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2018

MY CAR WILL FLASH ENGINE WARNING SIGNS THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL IS OFF. THE CAR THEN LOOSES POWER AND MUST BE SHUT OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (25 MPG, 65 MPG) AND WHILE STOPPED. LIGHTS SAY SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE POWER REDUCED.

NHTSA ID
11157043
Incident
Dec 2, 2018
Mileage
69,890 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Jul 7, 2018

I PURCHASED A 2013 GMC ACADIA FROM CAR MAX ON FEBRUARY 16TH OF THIS YEAR. AFTER 3 WEEKS THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BUT CAR MAX REIMBURSED THE COST TO REPLACE. FAST FORWARD TO MAY 24TH...AS I TRY TO LEAVE FROM WORK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DASH DISPLAYED SEVERAL MESSAGES: REDUCED ENGINE POWER, STABILITRAK OFF, AND BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TIRE KINGDOM AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD FUEL PUMP/FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE PART WAS REPLACED AND COMPUTER RESET. ALL WAS WELL FOR 3 DAYS AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED INCLUDING A DEAD BATTERY! I DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY THREE MORE DAYS BEFORE THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FROM JUNE 5TH- JUNE 12TH AND EVEN THOUGH THEY RECEIVED 6 ERROR CODES, THEY STATED IT WAS THE BATTERY (THE SAME ONE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY AND WAS RECHARGED A WEEK PRIOR). I WAS SURE THAT WASN'T THE ONLY PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE CONFIDENT IT WAS. I HAD TO PAY $508 OUT OF POCKET FOR BATTERY/ DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE DIAGNOSTIC WITH REPAIRS. ALL SEEMED WELL FOR 3 DAYS. THIS TIME AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND REACHING MY DESTINATION THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHUT OFF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED GMC (CEL ILLUMINATED) AND AFTER 10 MINUTES THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THEM THE NEXT DAY AND THEY STARTED IT HAD A BAD FUES BLOCK. THEY REPAIRED IT, BUT 8 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AGAIN! ON JULY 2ND IT WAS TAKEN TO A SHOP FOR THE 6TH TIME! THIS TIME THEY ARE SAYING IT IS THE ECM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND'S 2003 GMC YUKON HAS 286,000 MILES AND LITTLE THINGS ARE STARTING TO GO. IRONICALLY IT HAS BEEN MORE RELIABLE THAN THIS 2013!! I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS/DEDUCTABLES. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!

NHTSA ID
11109976
Incident
May 24, 2018
Mileage
44,507 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 7, 2017
Fire reported

THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY SOLD MY VEHICLE TO ME WITH PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF FAULTY "BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM". I WAS TOLD I JUST NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (WHICH WAS REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE SAME WEEK). THIS PROCESS BEGAN ON 11/12/2016. I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR ON MY DASH (BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICING) AND MY BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED JUST LIKE BEFORE ON 4/12/2017. I CONTACTED ONSTAR AND MADE AN APPT.WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MCCARTHY MORSE CHEVROLET FOR THE NEXT MORNING (4/13/2017). HOWEVER I DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE MY CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES IN MY GARAGE ABOUT 15MINS. AFTER ME AND MY CHILDREN GOT OUT OF IT!!!! OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE ADDRESSED DURING THIS 6MO. TIME FRAME INCLUDED: A/C REPLACEMENT, HEAD GASKETS AND HEAD BOLTS REPLACEMENT, TIMING CHAIN AND CAM SHAFT ACTUATORS REPLACEMENT, AND FLYWHEEL REPLACEMENT. I FEEL LIKE THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ISSUES AND DIDN'T CORRECT THEM BEFORE EITHER.

NHTSA ID
11003735
Incident
Apr 12, 2017
Mileage
101,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 19, 2017

WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS, VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL POWERS OFF. AS A RESULT, THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, AND I AM UNABLE TO STEER OR BREAK. ONCE THE CAR POWERS DOWN OR IS TURNED OFF, IT WILL RESTART. USUALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR WILL TURN ON. IT HAS POWERED DOWN AT IT'S PEAK FREQUENCY THREE TIMES WITHIN 10 MILES. THE ISSUE IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS HAPPENED OVER 8 TIMES TOTAL, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65-70 MILES PER HOUR AND ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET GOING AS SLOW AS 20 MILES PER HOUR. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES, BEGINNING IN APRIL 2017. IT IS CURRENTLY THERE NOW (THE 4TH TIME, WAS TOWED TODAY 6/19/17;). IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN OR WHERE THE CAR WILL LOOSE POWER. THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO ANYTHING WHEN THE WARNING SOUND/MESSAGE APPEARS. LITERALLY, YOU MUST PRAY THAT NO ONE HITS YOU AND THAT YOU CAN COAST TO A SAFE PART OF THE ROAD (E.G., SHOULDER). THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. I WORK IN A CITY (ATLANTA, GA) WHERE A CAR IS NECESSARY GIVEN THE DISTANCE I DRIVE FROM HOME TO WORK EVERYDAY. I HAVE LOST VALUABLE WORK HOURS AND PEACE OF MIND WITH THIS CAR. I JUST WANT MY FAMILY TO BE SAFE WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO CALLED THE CORPORATE GMC OFFICE AND OPENED A CASE.

NHTSA ID
11000110
Incident
Apr 15, 2017
Mileage
57,800 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 16, 2017

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS NOW, MY CAR HAS FLASHED "TRACTION CONTROL OFF", "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED", "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WHILE IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND HAS OCCURRED MOST RECENTLY JUST PRIOR TO A CURVE THAT CAUSED ME TO DRIVE INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN CAUSING NO CONTROL IN THE STEERING WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON. WHEN THE CAR IS AT A COMPLETE STOP, IT IS THEN PUT INTO PARK AND THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND HAS HAD NO CONSISTENCY OF IF IT WILL RESTART OR NOT. IF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL IS STILL ON THE DISPLAY, IT WILL NOT RESTART. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE GM DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM WITH SCHEDULED EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATE THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND NO CODES STORED IN THE SYSTEM FOR THEM TO EVALUATE THIS PROBLEM. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP SYMBOL WILL STAY ON OR GO OFF ON ITS OWN AT NO SPECIFIC RATE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH DOWN A STATE ROUTE AND LIMITS STEERING ABILITY WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO INTO THE OPOSITE LANE ON THE ROAD. I DID RECORD THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS AFTER THE VEHICE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP PARTIALLY ON THE ROAD WHILE STILL IN DRIVE FOR THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO VIEW THESE ON THE DISPLAY AND I ALSO HAVE THE COPY OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PAPER THAT DESCRIBES THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED DUE TO NO FAILURE DURING SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON 2/9/17. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) WAS STILL ON THE DISPLAY WHEN VEHICLE DROPPED OFF IN THE EVENING BEFORE THE SCHEDULED SERVICE. UPON PICKUP ON 2/11/17 THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DISPLAY. I AM UNABLE TO PUT THE MPH OR ESTIMATED MILES IN THE ALLOTED SPACE ON LAST INCIDENT ON 2/15/17 SO AM ADDING HERE; I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH AND THERE WAS ABOUT 98,170 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10955051
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 12, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT TIRES SPUN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. THE ENGINE STABILITY AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800.

NHTSA ID
10663966
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
1,800 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.

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