RoadVitals

2020 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 Sep 10, 2026
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.
8%
of 104 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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 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

Brakes
Filed Sep 10, 2026

While driving my 2020 GMC Acadia SLT AWD Turbo with my young daughters in the vehicle, the brake pedal suddenly and sporadically lost all hydraulic pressure and sank nearly all the way to the floorboard. The vehicle would only gradually roll to a slow stop. Simultaneously, the dashboard illuminated with ABS and Service ESC notifications. After turning the vehicle completely off and restarting it, the braking system temporarily reverted to normal function before randomly failing again on a subsequent drive. The vehicle was brought to a local brake shop where it was dangerously misdiagnosed, and it is currently at a GMC dealership for an emergency teardown. Previously, without any warning, the vehicle would also experience a brake failure upon backing out of my garage. Once the brake was immediately pressed again, it would work. This intermittent loss of total stopping power constitutes a severe, life-threatening manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ID
11763346
Incident
Sep 7, 2026
Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 2026

On multiple occasions the car will suddenly brake or like throw on the parking brake and stop suddenly no warning

NHTSA ID
11724282
Incident
Mar 14, 2026
BrakesFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 24, 2025

The vehicle stalls when air start kicks on so when stopped auto stop kick on and when your ready to go the go stalls to turn back on. I have also lost power to the car randomly. Power train issue on car keeps coming on with engine light. I have taken to dealer when car was under warranty and they were very dismissive to my issue. They changed some sensor under warranty And they said the issue was fixed. But the issue remains and it’s causing several issues to the car with Also a fueling code to the engine light

NHTSA ID
11650043
Incident
Mar 20, 2025
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Jan 22, 2024

The car has parking brake on unable to disable.Have to put in drive force the system to move. Same with reversing the car. Air bags not working. Seat belt restraint on when we are wearing them. Left turn signal failure. Steering limited caution sign on. ESC sign on. Engine light on. Transmission unable to shift soon light on. Traction lights on. ABS brake light on. Temp says -40 degree when 30 out. I’m finding this unsafe to drive. Call GMC that told me to start On Star diagnostic. Pull up at least 4 codes And today the transmission indicators came on. Not sure what to do. The car has low miles. But I have stopped driving as of today due to break down or serious malfunction while driving.

NHTSA ID
11567007
Incident
Dec 22, 2023
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 29, 2021

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake was applied independently. The contact mentioned that the brake was operating when there was nothing in front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired. in addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started slowing inadvertently. The contact stated that the vehicle was locked and needed to be in the park to operate however, once the accelerator pedal was depressed the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic experienced the failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000. The VIN was not provided.

NHTSA ID
11434897
Incident
May 1, 2021
Mileage
16,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 7, 2020

WHILE IN MOTION- BLIND SPOT SENSORS TURN ON WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT AND VICE VERSA. TRACTION CONTROL HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. PREDICTIVE BRAKING HAS ACTIVATED IMPROPERLY MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. CAMERAS WENT OUT AND THEN BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED. WAS TOLD FIXING BATTERY WOULD FIX VEHICLE. THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE UNTRUE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIRD TIME. REMAINS UNDER WARRANTY, AS I HAVE HAD IT THREE MONTHS. MOST RECENT DATE HAS BEEN USED BUT I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE LITERALLY THE FIRST FULL DAY I HAVE HAD IT.

NHTSA ID
11343838
Incident
Aug 6, 2020
Mileage
3,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MANUALLY RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. DEALER RUSTY WALLACE KIA LOCATED AT (300 KING AVE, MORRISTOWN, TN 37814, (800) 458-0302) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,276.

NHTSA ID
11315892
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
6,276 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 26, 2019

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2020 ACADIA DENALI. WHEN PARKING AT ANY INCLINE THE PARKING BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON. DEALER IS NOT SURE WHY, BUT NO WHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT STATE THIS IS NORMAL. TO DISENGAGE BRAKE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE TO TURN OFF. THE PARKING BRAKE SHOULD TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE BUT IT DOES NOT. DEALER IS UNSURE OF ISSUE AND HAS AN OPEN CASE WITH GMC TO INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ID
11282398
Incident
Sep 4, 2019
Mileage
20 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 .