2021 GMC Acadia

Typical pattern

10.1% of complaints about the 2021 GMC Acadia came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (38 complaints), typically at 4.5 yr or about 4,800 miles.

Complaints: 217
Median age at failure: 4.2 yr
Median mileage: 27,792 n=32
Crash / fire / tow: 10.1% of reports
Safety recalls: 2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Electrical system

38 reports · 4,800 mi

4.5 yr

7.9%

Engine

28 reports · 36,970 mi

4.5 yr

10.7%

Fuel / propulsion

24 reports

3.8 yr

Other

20 reports

4.5 yr

10%

Service brakes

18 reports · 26,000 mi

2.6 yr

5.6%

Power train

17 reports · 4,063 mi

4.5 yr

11.8%

Steering

15 reports · 27,792 mi

5.0 yr

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

22V709000 2022-09-22

Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently.

An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V422000 2021-06-03

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel supply lines may be improperly attached and seated.

Improperly attached and seated fuel supply lines may loosen or separate, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 2 mo in service

CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING

Electrical system 500 mi 7 mo in service

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW MID-MARCH 2021 AND IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED.

Electrical system mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service crash / fire / tow

I got into an accident because my back up crap camera did not warn me that a car had turned behind me. Also when and backing up and a car is coming it doesnât indicate the car is coming until itâs behind me. Iâve taken it to the dealer and they say thereâs nothing wrong with it. Also there is no break when you come too close to something in front of you.

Steering mileage not reported 2 mo in service

CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING

Other Acadia model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.