2020 Gmc ACADIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
9,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 99 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 25 | 25.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 16.2% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 13.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Power Train | 20 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 6 |
Electrical System: 27; Engine: 26; Power Train: 20; Steering: 18; Unknown Or Other: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Service Brakes: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 77 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 27 |
2019: 2; 2020: 8; 2021: 8; 2022: 10; 2023: 11; 2024: 11; 2025: 22; 2026: 27
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 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 11297709 · 2020-01-07 (January 7, 2020)
PURCHASED NEW 2020 GMC ACADIA DENALI IN DEC 2019. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SEVERAL DEALER ACCESSORIES INCLUDE ROOF RAIL CROSS-BEAMS. THESE WERE NOT IN STOCK AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND RETURNED AFTER 1 WEEK TO INSTALL. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE ON MY DRIVE HOME, I HEARD A WHISTLING/HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE EXTERIOR AT ABOUT 30 MPH. AS I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THE NOISE WAS DEAFENING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT HANDLE VERY WELL, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS FR…
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11445956 · 2022-01-03 (January 3, 2022)
While driving, the power steering went out and a service power steering message appeared. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few minutes and when the car was turned on it went away and the power steering came back.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11324506 · 2020-05-14 (May 14, 2020)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN MOTION, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE AND I AM LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS BACK TO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER PULLING OUT OF MY GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WHICH IS A SLIGHT INCLINE, AND ONTO A HIGHWAY. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439733 · 2021-11-08 (November 8, 2021)
I noticed for months it was downshifting hard but transmission department was backed up I scheduled in September for an appointment October 26 and that morning I received a call to reschedule because they were still behind and had another appointment for November 10th. The morning of the incident 1st it did not want to start it would only turn over. When it started the check engine light was on (I called service he asked if I could drive it and told me to bring it in). Within 10 miles of driving, the car started to slow down. When I pressed the…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11439733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282398 · 2019-11-26 (November 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11315892 · 2020-03-03 (March 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, [phone removed]) 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 ASSISTAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,276 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11343838 · 2020-08-07 (August 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11475587 · 2022-07-24 (July 24, 2022)
After driving 5 miles up the road and 5 miles back home, I put the vehicle in park and it automatically went into neutral and the neutral button started flashing! Along with that I got an alert sent to my iphone (through the GMC app) and in the car saying “shift to park”. The car wouldn’t go into park! The vehicle hadn’t had any error codes or messages before this at all! It was out of nowhere! I drove it earlier that day and it didn’t do it! We also noticed after doing the update on July 7th, 2022 that the vehicle started shifting very hard! …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11475587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375533 · 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)
2020 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOSS OF POWER AT LOW SPEEDS AND JERKING WITH BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *LD *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11375533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11509561 · 2023-02-28 (February 28, 2023)
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, and while driving at various speeds, a buzzing noise was heard coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11509561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11601198 · 2024-07-11 (July 11, 2024)
The car would not start. It would power on but would not turn over. We had it checked out by a mechanic who tested it and found that the fuel pump module was not operable. When he went to replace it, he found that the one he was removing was aftermarket so this issue had happened before, apparently, before we bought it. We bought it with only 24k miles so it needing to be replaced that early is concerning. And now at around 50k it had to be replaced again. Researching this issue, I have found many folks reporting similar situations. This needs …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11601198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11615054 · 2024-09-17 (September 17, 2024)
Once again (for the second time in a few months) the vehicle put me and my passenger in an extremely dangerous situation. We were driving down a 55mph country highway catching speed, somewhere around 45-50 mph and the car jerked so violently that it shook us even though we had our seat belts on. It then made a weird noise and felt like it was powering down so I stepped on the accelerator to try to bring it back up to speed and it sped up a little bit, jerked again (not as violently) and turned off. Luckily, since it was a country hwy and no car…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11615054 at NHTSA ↗