2009 Gmc ACADIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
331 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
75,417 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 281 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 331 complaints (32.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 109 | 32.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 63 | 19.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 5.7% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 109 |
| Power Train | 70 |
| Engine | 67 |
| Electrical System | 45 |
| Exterior Lighting | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 14 |
Steering: 109; Power Train: 70; Engine: 67; Electrical System: 45; Exterior Lighting: 38; Unknown Or Other: 17; Air Bags: 15; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 75 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 61 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 75; 75,000 to 99,999: 61; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 15
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (75). 50 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 92 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 17; 2012: 19; 2013: 33; 2014: 92; 2015: 45; 2016: 27; 2017: 16; 2018: 17; 2019: 22; 2020: 14; 2021: 5; 2022: 4; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 109 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 63 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10389624 · 2011-03-09 (March 9, 2011)
I OWN A 2009 GMC ACADIA FWD SLT-1, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. WE HAD MINOR ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND UNTIL RECENTLY, WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE BUILD QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, AND THE VEHICLE OVERALL. WHILE EN-ROUTE TO PICK UP OUR KIDS, THE POWER STEERING APPEARED STIFF. THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST OF THE STEERING AT LOW / IDLE ENGINE SPEEDS, WHICH MADE SLOW MANEUVERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POWER STEERING BECAME WORSE AND WORSE, TO THE POINT WHERE MY WIFE FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS UNCOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395354 · 2011-04-09 (April 9, 2011)
POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE TURNING AT RED LIGHT IF YOU REV UP ENGINE YOU CAN TURN AT IDLE NO POWER STEERING PUMP JERKS AND SPITS FLUID OUT ORDERED NEW PUMP CALL GM THEY SAY THEY KNOW BUT ITS NOT THERE PROBLEM WHEN ARE GOING TO FIX THERE PROBLEM WHEN SOME ONE GETS KILLED THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 43,000 ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 42,845 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295904 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
OUR 2009 GMC ACADIA, WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE. THIS PAST WEEKEND IT ROLLED BACKWARD HITTING MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. HE WASN'T INJURED BUT WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD, APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT IN DISTANCE, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, IN DRIVE, AND WHEN ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365906 · 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)
POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERATIVE AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK INTERMITTENTLY. LOCKING OCCUPANTS INSIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF, ISSUE RESETS ITSELF WITH PROPER POWER DOOR LOCKS OPERATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294449 · 2009-12-03 (December 3, 2009)
PURCHASED A NEW 2009 GMC ACADIA, THE NAVIGATION, RADIO AND DVD SYSTEM FAILED. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 405 MILES ON IT. I NOTED THAT THERE WERE 4 ELECTRICAL FAILURES DOCUMENTED IN NHTSA REPORT ON THE ACADIA. THE NAV. RADIO AND DVD ARE POWERED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS IS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND FOR THIS REASON I HAVE CONCERN THAT A COMPUTER FAILURE MIGHT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILED SYSTEM NOR DID THEY EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368047 · 2010-11-28 (November 28, 2010)
THE BATTERY HAS DIED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AFTER BEING DRIVEN THE NIGHT PRIOR. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE SHOP ONCE WHERE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THE BATTERY WAS LOW, THEY CHARGED IT. THE SECOND TIME (A WEEK LATER) I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY COULD NOT KEEP A CHARGE SO THEY GAVE ME A NEW ONE. NOW THREE MONTHS LATER, IT DIES AGAIN. WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO NOW. I CAN'T IMAGINE A CAR THAT IS A YEAR OLD CAN GO THROUGH TWO BATTERIES, NEEDING A THIRD.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,691 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452872 · 2012-03-24 (March 24, 2012)
WHILE AT WYATT JOHNSON DEALERSHIP TO BUY CAR, SALESPERSON, [XXX], STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC PIECES ATTACHED TO FLOOR MATS. STATES HE NEEDS TO ORDER THEM AND BRING CAR BACK IN. LESS THAN WEEK LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEY KEPT CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS BECAUSE THEY STATE THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IN. FINALLY PICKED UP CAR TO REALIZE THERE WAS SO MANY MILES ON IT THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS NOT THE ACADIA WE BOUGHT, OR THEY SET IT UP ON A DOLLY TO LET TIRES ROTATE TO HIKE THE MILES. THEY KNEW WE WERE MOV…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550842 · 2013-11-04 (November 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373406 · 2010-12-30 (December 30, 2010)
I BELIEVE I HAVE SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE. I STARTED TESTING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS SUCH AS THE DRIVER SEATBELT. I PURPOSELY DROVE SEVERAL MILES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE SEATBELT OVER ME, BUT NOT ENGAGED AND THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ONE FOR SERVICE, THEY SERVICED IT, IT CAME BACK ON, THEY REPLACED A SEATBELT COMPONENT, THE LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT CAME BACK ON, THEY DID ANOTHER REPLACEMENT AND THE LIGHT IS NOW OFF. MY FRONTEND WAS MAKING FUNNY NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS, THEY REPLACED MY RACK AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10373406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456307 · 2012-04-24 (April 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BREAK PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE RPMS ABNORMALLY INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER CONTINUALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,830 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513156 · 2013-05-22 (May 22, 2013)
BOUGHT USED 2009 ACADIA IN 2011 WITH 55000 MILES AND NOTHING BUT HEADACHE 1) 60K MILES: LIFTGATE CAME CRASHING DOWN MY WIFE'S BACK WHILE GETTING THE GROCERIES. THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME SAFETY MEASURES TO STOP THE GATE FROM CRASHING. 2) 70K MILES: TRUCK WONT START IN DRIVE WAY. TOWED TRUCK TO DEALER AND THEY CHANGED FUEL PUMP. 3) 70K MILES: ENGINE MISFIRE CODE. REPLACED ONE COIL. 4) 76K MILES: COOLANT ALWAYS LOW. DEALER CHANGED WATER PUMP. 5) 76K MILES: TRUCK HESITATE AND FEEL A MISFIRE BETWEEN 45 AND 55 MPH. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513156 at NHTSA ↗