2015 GMC Acadia Driver assistance Problems

Issue: Repeated failure of safety‑critical module Description: The Side Blind Zone Alert system on my 2015 GMC Acadia has failed multiple times over the life of the vehicle. The system becomes inoperative and displays “Side Detection System Unavailable.” A local GMC dealer has diagnosed the issue as a failure of the SBZA module due to loss of communication. This failure has occurred repeatedly, approximately every two years, despite prior repairs and replacement of the module at my own expense. This is a safety‑critical driver‑assist feature, and the repeated failure pattern suggests a defect in the design or durability of the module. The system is unreliable and cannot be depended on for safe lane‑change operation. GM Customer Assistance has declined to provide support or escalate the case further, despite the safety implications and documented repeat failures. I am reporting this because the failure affects safe operation of the vehicle and appears to be a recurring defect affecting multiple owners of this model.

NHTSA ID

11733153

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

I was curious about recalls because I totaled my 15 Acadia SLT2 and when I hit the impact didn’t deploy airbags and I had no idea until after my accident that they were recalled!!! This incident totaled my Acadia caused my face to be slammed into my steering wheel, cutting me in 2 places and shattering my eye glasses. I now have a scar that looks like a 2nd chin from my impact to hitting the steering column! What should I do? I wasn’t or hadn’t received anything from GMC about this recall until recently and damage has already been done and I’m at a loss of tremendous amounts because my air bags could have saved $300+ glasses and doctors appointments etc…

NHTSA ID

11611112

Incident

May 5, 2024

I have a 2015 Acadia Denali with 95000 miles. I am getting the "service side detection system" message whenever I start my car, and the blindspot lights, cross-traffic detection etc. do not function at all. A"nationwide" problem I was told. I was also told that it would cost $800+ to replace if/when the part was available. I am really frustrated with this and was wondering a) whether this malfunction is a part of a service recall (given it is apparently a "nationwide" problem); b) whether the $800 replacement cost is accurate given that the part appears to be available for under $200 online; and c) whether purchasing this part will even fix the problem given that other forum members have stated that once this issue comes up, it continues to malfunction, even after the part is replaced. Very disappointed right now, particularly since this issue has been recurring on a number of GMC vehicles for at least 5 years.

NHTSA ID

11563270

Incident

Sep 5, 2023

A warning light is coming on telling to have the side detection module serviced. Brought it to a dealer and was quoted a cost of $1274 to repair. It is a complicated repair and if not repaired will affect other safety systems of the vehicle because all sensors are linked. I did some research and this issue is common for this make, model and year GMC Acadia. I would like some help getting assistance for payment of this issue - one that is common and represents a safety problem if not repaired. Issue is described as Side Detection Modules and Harness. If this is a common occurence and is a safety issue, a recall or other means of satisfaction should be offered by GM. Thanks, Brad Nylander 218 343-8780

NHTSA ID

11533004

Incident

Jan 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the parking brake, TPMS, and the stabili-trak warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an undisclosed dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired. The air bag warning light then illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11530738

Incident

Jul 6, 2023

Mileage

132,000 mi

Side Object Detection Indicator failure. This was a recall in 2019 after my system failed causing the entire electronic dashboard to go black while driving on the highway. I had no indication of speed while driving. Once I pulled safely off the road and turned the vehicle off, it would not start and needed to be towed. I had it fixed and within months GMC recalled the module kit due to poor design resulting in failure to protect the module from expected weather exposure. The module was replaced in 2019. Again, in 2023, exactly 4 years again, the Side Detection Indicator has failed, due to expected weather exposure which resulted in corrosion. GMC denied replacement because I have already had it replaced. GMC is unable to confirm the module kit placed on my vehicle was an improved design and was the same kit design that has been known to fail. GMC engineers need to reassess for a second recall as the issue is not resolved and could lead to devastating injury or death.

NHTSA ID

11508737

Incident

Jan 2, 2023

Today I encountered a problem with my vehicle that not only put myself at risk but my children. This problem came out of no where since I have not had any problems with my vehicle before today. When going to leave I turned my car on to have it stall and die. I had someone come out and look at it and got it to work by pushing down on the gas pedals. Said nothing looked wrong since there were no check engine light or any codes coming up on the dash. So I proceeded to leave and go get gas. When going to start my car again it stalled yet again and showed a check engine light. The car then started to smell like smoke and gas to where I immediately turned to car off and had my kids get out. I then tried to start my vehicle again and thankfully was able to get it to work with the check engine light showing. I called the car dealership that I go to for my oil to let them know I’m coming and that it stalled again with the check engine light showing. I made it to the shop and they ran diagnostics on it to show that it was a time change in the engine that was messing up. They then proceeded to let me know that I would have to go to a GMC shop because they can’t do the work at their shop. He then proceeded to tell me not to drive in this because the car will stall in motion and will not go faster than 45 without dying or shutting off. Which to me is a major safety concern since I have to drive it to the shops and let along home with my children in the car. So the whole way I couldn’t go over 45 without my car starting to stall and shake. Thankfully it didn’t shut down with my kids in the car on a main road.

NHTSA ID

11466234

Incident

May 26, 2022

Service side detection system distracts me from driving causing an accident

NHTSA ID

11460709

Incident

Apr 14, 2022

2015, GMC, Acadia SLT. Rear brake calipers had to be replaced out of my pocket after rear brake calipers froze and locked the brakes in the middle of traffic. This almost caused a major accident in which lives may have been lost or severe injury sustained. The rear brake calipers were inspected by a mechanic. ABS, Traction Control and Stabiltrak warning lights illuminated. Had to have the vehicle towed four times due to rear brakes seizing. Vehicle was sold to me by Posner Park Chrysler, Highway 27, Davenport, FL who did not fulfill the promised repairs and lied to BBB but researching their submitted Used Car Inspection Sheet, they destroyed the rear brake calipers when installing rear rotors and pads and never did install the passenger side fog light assembly as promised after they claimed they had ordered it and held up vehicle delivery until the evening before my departure from Florida back to New York. They were deliver the vehicle by 11:30 am, August 17, 2021 but I did not drive away with it until 5:00pm, the clock-out time for all mechanics in Florida.

NHTSA ID

11439546

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

THE SUV STARTS TO PULL WHEN GEAR SWITCHES TO THE NEXT GEAR MAKING MY SUV NOT CHANGE GEAR TOOK IT TO A MECHANICAL THEY SAY IT'S THE ADJUST CLUTCHES IT SHOULD BE RECALL BUT IT'S NOT

NHTSA ID

11378231

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

MY CAR WHINED AND GROANED WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL SO I TOOK IT IN AND HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND NOW MY WHEEL.WONT TURN AT ALL .UPON READING MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE FOUND IT MAY BE THE RACK AND PINION I AM.GOING TO HAVE TO TOW TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC TO SEE IF THE NEW PROBLEM IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11365490

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

EVERY TIME I GO TO THE GAS STATION AFTER FILLING UP MY TRUCK WITH GASOLINE, MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY IN ORDER FOR IT TO START UP. THIS JUST STARTED RECENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329608

Incident

Jun 5, 2020

IT HAS BEEN SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ... GAS GAUGE IS INTERMITTENT AND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERTS GO OFF RANDOMLY (WITH NO TRAFFIC OR OBSTRUCTIONS) PAINT HAS HAD TO BE REDONE LEATHER REPLACED TRIM REDONE ETC... THE CAR ALMOST KILLED ME AND MY CHILDREN, I'M DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH AND SUDDENLY I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT SLOWED DOWN TO 49 THEN 25 LOST STEERING AND ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE BEFORE THE WHOLE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND I SHUT IT DOWN AS I BELIEVED IT WOULD EXPLODE (I WAS TERRIFIED) I CALLED A DEALER AND THEY ASKED IF I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN ? ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRACTION CONTROL WOULD NOT RENEGADE AND MESSAGE SAID DECREASING POWER TO ENGINE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING AND ABS LIGHT ON ... ALL FAILURES... MANAGED TO GET TO DESTINATION BUT VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND JUMPING GEARS FELT REALLY JERKY... 4TH START ALL LIGHTS DISAPPEARED AND ALTHOUGH CAR WAS STILL SLUGGISH FIGURED MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL FAULT MADE APPOINTMENT FOR DEALERSHIP TOLD IT WOULD COST ... PARKER CAR DROVE OTHER VEHICLE THEN HAD TO USE THIS ONE AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN SO TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE CODES WAS TOLD HAD BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT (SAID IT WAS ON BACKORDER AS IT'S BEEN HAPPENING A LOT) AND WAS SENT ON MY WAY TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT WEEKEND IT HAPPENED AGAIN HAD FIGURED OUT BY THEN THAT 5-7 STARTS IT WOULD ACT UP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND LEFT RUNNING SO THEY COULD SEE WHAT WAS WRONG (FAILED TRANSMISSION, STEERING COLUMN BLOCK PUMP SENSOR ETC REPLACED. WAS GIVEN A RENTAL GMC BY HERTS AND YOU GUESS IT SAME THING ON FREEWAY ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH START LIGHTING UP FAILED TRACTION EAS AND BREAKS (SUPER SCARY BRAND NEW ONLY 600 MILES ON THAT CAR) SWITCHED OUT VEHICLE FOR A SAFER CAR (TOYOTA) I'M UNABLE TO CHECK MORE BOXES BUT SPEED AND CONTROL WERE ALSO AFFECTED

NHTSA ID

11268777

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

A FEW DAYS BEFORE MY GIRLFRIEND LEFT WITH THE SUV OUT OF STATE I NOTICED THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK (ONLY ON THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR) WAS BACK TO MANUAL. THAN THE SAME DAY OF TRIP IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT ON HER WAY BACK SHE CALLED ME TO SAY THE LIGHT CAME ON FOR SERVICE STABILITRAK, AND TRAC. CONTROL OFF. IT WAS ALSO EFFECTING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKING IT JERK WHILE GOING OVER 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING IT A SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER RESET JT WAS FINE, BUT VERY ALARMING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS SUV FOR YEARS TO COME KNOWING IT COULD POP UP AND SAFETY ISSUE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS NEEDS TO B ADDRESSED ASAP! SOUNDS LIKE A GROUND ISSUE. SUV IS 4 YEARS OLD, AND RUST AND CORROSION FREE. MAYBE GM MADE AN ERROR WITH INTERIOR MOUNTED MODULES. ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS COMING OUT OF A SLOWING TRAFFIC AREA ON HIGHWAY AT THE TIME (CONSTRUCTION ZONE) WHEN TRING TO CATCH BACK UP TO SPEED THE VEHICLE REDUCED POWER. (LIMP MODE) THIS SEEMS TO B A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11241625

Incident

Aug 3, 2019

Mileage

108,000 mi

IST TIME-CAR STATIONARY-STARTED CAR AND IT STARTED SHAKING-TRACTIONARY CONTROL WARNING CAME ON-TURNED CAR OFF-WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT ON AND IT WAS FINE -THE NEXT DAY AFTER DRIVIING 250 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER STOPPING FOR A TOLL BOOTH-THE CAR SHUT DOWN WITH THE SAME WARNING-AFTER TWO TRIES IT STARTED AND WE DROVE TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY

NHTSA ID

11185617

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

56,000 mi

AT JUST UNDER 1 YEAR OLD THE RACK AND PINNON WENT OUT. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN AT JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD IT WENT OUT AGAIN ON TOP OF THAT FOR THE LAST 9-12 MONTHS THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER IT WILL CHUG FOR A BIT THEN THE SENSOR STABILITRAK WARNING COMES ON THEN IT WILL SAY TRACTION CONTROL OFF THEN IT WILL SAY ITS BACK ON. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT WHERE IT WILL LOOSES ENGINE POWER AND YOU CAN BARELY GET IT TO GO WHEN PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S DONE THIS SERIES OF EVENTS ABOUT 10 TIMES. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING, WHEN IN PARK, AND WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT. BUT IT IS PRETTY UNSAFE WHEN A VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN DRIVING ANYWHERE! NOT TO MENTION THAT A RACK AND PINNON SHOULD NOT GO OUT 2XS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS LET ALONE ON A VEHICLE THAT COST 45,000+ THAT WAS PURCHASED TO ORDER BRAND NEW! THESE KIND OF COSTLY REPAIRS MIGHT I MENTION AREN'T COVERED UNDER THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, THOUGH RACK AND PINNON IS PART OF THE STEERING COMPONENT. ALSO THIS SUMMER AT LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD THE AC QUIT WORKING SO I WENT IN 90 DEGREE TEMPS WITH A BABY AND NO AC UNTIL WE HAD A CHANCE TO RECHARGE IT WITH REFRIGERANT.

NHTSA ID

11153120

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND IT ACCELERATED TO FULL CAPACITY. THE ENGINE HAD MADE CLICKING SOUNDS, AND OTHER SOUNDS WHEN IT STARTED.

NHTSA ID

11123881

Incident

Aug 31, 2018

Mileage

85,000 mi

ON 15 PLUS OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN THE PARKING GEAR AND RUNNING, THE FRONT END WILL START TO VIBRATE MILDLY, INCREASE IN INTENSITY AND THEN THE TRACTION LOSS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, A BLINKING ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, "SERVICE STABILITRAK" AND "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" MESSAGES APPEAR. THEN TRACTION CONTOL OFF APPEARS, FOLLOWED BY AN AUDIBLE LOUD CLICK AND VIBRATION CEASES, MESSAGES DISAPPEAR AND LIGHTS TURN OFF. ONCE WHILE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND BEING OPERATED ON A ROADWAY, I PULLED RIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION TO HAVE THIS SAME SEQUENCE HAPPEN DURING DRIVING, RESULTING IN AN ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION AND A NEAR ACCIDENT. THE SEQUENCE WAS IDENTICAL AND ONCE THE ERRORS CLEARED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND FORCEFULLY. I HAVE DOCUMENTED MULTIPLE OCCASIONS ON VIDEO WHILE STATIONARY OVER A MULTI MONTH PERIOD AND HAVE FURNISHED THOSE DOCUMENTS TO MY LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP WHICH HAS FAILED TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE AND TODAY RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO ME WITH AN APOLOGY FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THAT THE VEHICLE MUST EXHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOR IN THEIR PRESENCE TO WARRANT A FIX. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT CLEARLY COVERS THESE PROBLEMS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO EMAIL THE VIDEOS, BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THE SUPPORTED FORMAT AND LIKELY LARGER THAN 5MB.

NHTSA ID

11111074

Incident

Jul 12, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC, MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR "REDUCED POWER", 'TRACTION CONTROL" MALFUNCTION, 'STABILITRAC AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. POWER REDUCED TO 25MPH. I WAS CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WENT THERE RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST 2 TO 4 HRS BEFORE ANYONE COULD LOOK AT. MY MILEAGE WAS 36,432...432 MILES OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY...HE TOLD ME THE CHARGES FOR DIAGNOSING WOULD BE $130. I AGREED. THEN HE EXPLAINED THAT THE THE LOW HP FUEL PRESSURE/PURGE SOLENOID WAS STUCK OPEN, DIANOSE CODES WERE PO191 AND PO496, THEY REPLACED A HIGH PRESSRE FUEL PUMP, R&R INTAKE PLENUM TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND REPLACE A PURGE CONTROL SOLENOID. COST TO ME WAS $1,760.51 ($866.06 LABOR- $820.43 PARTS -$30.00 MISC.CHARGE-$82.29 MISC.DISCOUNT- TAXES OF $126.31. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY COULDN'T BE MORE LENIENT WITH MILEAGE ON WARRANTY. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THEM AND HAVE COMPLETED ALL MY SERVICE WORK THERE. THIS WAS A SCARY SITUATION IN NOON RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY ROADSIDE PULL OFF AT THE TIME. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A DEFECTION FUEL PUMP? I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE WRITER "IF YOU HAD DRIVEN ANY FURTHER MORE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ENGINE BLOCK".

NHTSA ID

11103947

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

36,427 mi

WHEN DRIVING STABLITRAC, ABS, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILS GIVING ALARMS ON THE DASH. SUV STARTS SO SHUTTER AND LOOSE ACCELERATION. IF THE CAR IS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF IT WILL CLEAR. WHEN YOU START DRIVING AGAIN IT WILL RANDOMLY DO IT AGAIN, SUCH AS WHEN YOU TURN A CORNER OR PULL OUT TO PASS SOMEONE. I HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS WORSE. I ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE IT LOST POWER. LOOKING ON LINE IT LOOKS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OTHER GMC VEHICLES HAVE A HISTORY OF.

NHTSA ID

11047312

Incident

Nov 17, 2017

Mileage

51,000 mi

APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS APPEARED (E.G. "STABILITRACK OFF", ETC.), THEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. PROPULSION STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP. LUCKILY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, ALTHOUGH IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER HAD FIXED IT, THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO US. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE IDENTICAL THING OCCURRED; SAME ERROR MESSAGES FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN, IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND A DIFFERENT PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED (WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE > 2 WEEKS THIS TIME). WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE, AND FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11022605

Incident

Jun 19, 2017

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT THEN HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DISENGAGED AND SLOWED DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,021.

NHTSA ID

10983662

Incident

May 4, 2017

Mileage

35,021 mi

SERVICE STABILITRAK--TRACTION CONTROL OFF! MESSAGE, THEN CAR RAN ROUGH AND LUNGED ON ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED AT 5,000 MILES, REPAIRED AT DEALER. AGAIN ABOUT 12,000 ON A TRIP AND RESET ITSELF. NOW, AT 20,000 MILES SAMES MESSAGE AND IS AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS.

NHTSA ID

10939090

Incident

Dec 31, 2016

Mileage

20,000 mi