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Engine & cooling

2010 GMC Acadia Engine problems

Owners have filed 84 complaints about the 2010 GMC Acadia's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 24% of all its complaints, most recently on June 18, 2026. They describe 0 crashes, 4 fires and 5 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
84
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
5
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & coolingFire4 injuries

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact became aware of white smoke coming from the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact and minor children exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, there was fire coming from underneath the hood. The Fire truck arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The...

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vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle had liability coverage, and the insurance company declined to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure had occurred while the contact's minor children were seated in the rear seat of the vehicle. The contact and the children sustained smoke-related injuries. The contact and the children later received medical treatment for the smoke-related injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer declined to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11744975
Engine & coolingFire1 injury

The contact owned a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, white and black smoke had leaked into the interior cabin through the air vents. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had caught on fire under the hood. The contact pulled over to the side of the road when the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The local fire department arrived on scene and extinguished the fire. The source of the fire was unidentified. A police report was filed. The contact sought medical...

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attention for smoke inhalation. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot via the insurance provider. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The local dealer was not contacted. In addition, the contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign that was previously repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11685628
Engine & cooling

Shift to park issue known recall issue in other GMC Acadias ... Vehicle will not lock into park and can NOT remove key anymore electrical still runs in vehicle causing the battery to drain ... Now have to force vehicle to shift into Park as best as possible but still does not fully lock into Park gear anymore ... I was shifting into Park.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11678396
SteeringEngine & cooling

Check Engine Light. Faulty timing chain. Rack and pinion repairs needed. Examined by two automotive locations: LaFontaine Automotive GMC of Ann Arbor (Michigan) and Mazur's Total Automotive in Pinckney, MI

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11493190
Engine & cooling

Timing chain and gears

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11487993
Engine & cooling

The car completely stopped while driving. Upon towing it to the shop, they stated the timing chain cause the engine to not work. This is a safety hazard due to anyone could of gotten hurt or this could have cause an accident due to I was not able to steer or do anything.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11456086
Engine & cooling

Timing chain was replaced on 11/26/2019 and failed again on 02/09/2022. Needs to be a manufacturer defect that gets fixed for free. So dangerous.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11452008
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that the failure was due to the timing chain and rod bearings. The failure mileage was approximately 133,208.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11440897
Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to idle rapidly and smoke was exiting the hood. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road for approximately an hour before driving to her residence. The contact never saw a fire while examining the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the timing chain to be replaced along with an oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11427724
Engine & cooling

In 2013 gmc sent a letter that the engine coolant may leak from the water pump shaft seal and results in water pump failure. They said do not take your vehicle in unless you think you have a leak. They also said if this condition occurs within 10 yrs of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service or 120,000 miles they will cover repairs. However, at the end it says all work has to be completed by october 31, 2014. By july 2019 before the 10 yrs and the 120,000 my vehicle failed on the highway. The...

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coolant leaking on the transfer case/axel from the water pump caused it to fail and needed to be replaced. They did not honor reimbursement and made the terms of their warning confusing and difficult to participate in. While driving on the highway the vehicle began to shake and black smoke spilled out from the hood.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11397740
Engine & cooling

I purchased this vehicle on june 25 ,2020 and on august 19,2020 it broke down on the expressway while I was transferring from one hospital to another hospital with me I'll 3 year old .I replaced the battery and starter it still would not crank I sent it to buick gmc in morrow and they told me that the motor was completely gone. I paid my car note up until february 5,2021 and I don't have a vehicle because it needs a new motor.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11384452
Engine & cooling

My check engine light was on so I took it to my mechanic because I need an inspection sticker. Found out today after I took it to a gmc dealer that I now need to replace my timing chain. I've only owned the car a year and a half. I bought an extended power train warranty but doubt its covered. This should be covered by the recall, it seems to be an issue for more than just me.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11321899
Engine & cooling

Car would not start after putting gas in it. We took it to the mechanic that replaced the timing chain and he said the engine went out of timing caused the engine to be out of time, combust, and destroy the engine.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11319158
Engine & cooling

Check engine light came on. Took it to check the codes and mechanic says that my timing chain in stretched. There is only 114,[redacted] miles on it. It's going to cost a lot to get it fixed.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11311758
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 gmc acadia. While driving, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided case number:[[redacted]]. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000. *Mp ('parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*Jb

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11287120
Engine & cooling

TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. FAILED TENSIONER. 114,00 MILES

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11258413
Engine & cooling

The vehicle started with a miss in the engine and took it to our local gmc dealership and they told us it would need a new engine because of the timing belt and being out of time, said it would be $5000. So we wanted a second opinion and had it towed to my mechanic which is a ase certified mechanic and he said the same thing but he said he could just replace the timing belt and get it going and he replaced it but its still out of time and it cost $3250. The gm dealership knew of the problem and said it was a common...

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problem with them and that the 2009 model was covered under the engine recall but not 2010 or newer even though they know about it. Had to end up buying another vehicle and still have the other one parked in the shed and cant drive it.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11256838
Engine & cooling

I own a 2010 gmc acadia. The code that was being thrown was p0008. I had to have the chains and actuators replaced in the engine. After paying for that the check engine light is back on again, so the vehicle is back at the shop again. There is a service bulletin out for 2007-2012 however, the extended warranty is only for 2007-2009. This is a known issue that gmc needs to take care of. Seems to me that the lemon law may apply as I am seeing more and more people having this same issue. Maybe we should contact an attorney to get gmc to take care of this issue.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11210213
Engine & cooling

Owned the car for about a year with a 5 year, $20,000 loan attached to it. The car randomly started smoking and all kinds of warning lights went off on the way back from the store (about a mile away). I immediately pulled over and walked home, went back after a couple hours to let it cool down and it wouldn't start. I had it towed to the repair shop and it was deemed my car with around 80,000 miles on it had a blown engine due to something with belt (same issue 2009 model was recalled for) and it was going to cost...

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out of my own pocket $7500 to replace it with a used engine with no guarantee that the replacement engine won't have the exact same issue. In the 3 weeks it took us to decide on if it was even possibly to come up with that much money, engine prices had rose another $500 because they are in such hot demand. Ended up having to let the bank repo it, ruining my credit, no vehicle to take my newborn twins to their doctor appointments, or anyway to get to work. Gmc needs to be held accountable for not promptly responding to this defect instead of turning a blind eye. I cannot wait for the day a class action suit is filed.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11190408
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 gmc acadia. While driving at an unknown speed, the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to nye buick gmc (located at 1421 genesee st, oneida, ny 13421, (315) 363-2200) where it was diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000. *Tt consumer stated timing chains were replaced.*Jb

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11186799
Engine & coolingFire

I was driving the car on the highway and smoke started coming out of the engine. Later it was determined that the engined died - there was never ever warning lights or warning that there was trouble with the car. It is a 3.6L sidi vg engine. It was very unfortunate as we haven't even owned the car for a year before it was completely dead. The cost was way too high too fix so we ended up giving it to a salvage place and bought a 2009 gmc acadia. Not even a year into that car and it also needs a new engine. Same...

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engine, a 3.6L sidi v6 engine. Our auto place said they are having a hard time finding that engine because many people need that engine for the exact same problem. Can not be a coincidence. I have contacted gmc and they don't care.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11184600
Engine & cooling

My acadia is throwing p0008 code. It began having power issues not being able to accelerate and pulling up the smallest hills. All of this started going 70mph down the interstate. Not a good spot or time to decelerate. Also started having a very rough idle. It is at a gmc dealer now and am being told timing chain will have to be replaced. Was told this is a known problem and should report it since it is the same problem on the 2009 and those were covered under warranty }:(

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11183155
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 gmc acadia. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated. The contact was able to safely maneuver the vehicle over to the shoulder without power steering or braking ability. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 130,000. The vin was unknown.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11182638
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 gmc acadia. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to hendrick buick gmc cary (115 team hendrick way, cary, nc 27511, (919) 234-7784) where it was diagnosed that the timing belt needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,366.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11182279
Engine & cooling

Check engine light is on. Vehicle is showing a p0008 code with 92,000 miles this is a crankshaft misalignment that I was told means the timing chain will need to be replaced. This is apparently a widespread issue amongst gmc acadia owners.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11174873

GMC Acadia engine complaints by year

Acadia engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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