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Vehicle safety record

2021 GMC Acadia Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 2021 GMC Acadia with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (40) and the engine & cooling (32). Those complaints describe 8 crashes and 4 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in September 2022 for the camera. For comparison, the 2020 has 107 and the 2022 has 52.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical Acadia year, for its age

#41 most complained-about 2021 vehicle

Complaints
156
Recalls
2
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Deaths
0

Most common 2021 GMC Acadia problems

Share of all 156 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2021 GMC Acadia recalls 2

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Back over prevention: camera

22V70900095,231 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the coaxial cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222378380.

Fuel system: hoses, lines / piping, and fittings

21V422000572 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
Improperly attached and seated fuel supply lines may loosen or separate, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix
Dealers will inspect and replace fuel supply lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212335590.

What owners say

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156 complaints about the 2021 GMC Acadia

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 7.

Electrical system

Vehicle stalled several times. Check engine light and many code came up. Crack sensors replaced. Veh still stalls. Dealer and independent dealer believes it might be cpu. All wires from cpu checked with no issue found. When veh stalls if you manipulate the wire veh will start and run with demished power and demished steering control. Rpm go to off mode. Has happened on highway and side road. Very scary with 3 kids in car on highway.... not able to resolve issue. Veh has a little less then 60k

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11774480
SteeringEngine & cooling

Car was running great and mins later I get an error stating steering assist is reduced -Drive with care. Vehicles temperature gauge is stuck at cold and fans turn on after turning off the vehicle. I had the vehicle serviced at Dave White on Alexis Rd in Sylvania almost exactly a year ago for the same reason. Was told by the service manager the issue was a computer update and not the thermostat and proceeded to charge for the "update" no issues with vehicle until now.

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11773562
Electrical systemAirbagsDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, traffic stopped abruptly, and the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate while the Forward Collision Avoidance warning feature activated with a red warning light on the instrument panel. The contact attempted to steer off the road to avoid a collision; however, the vehicle crashed into the vehicle ahead, resulting in a three-vehicle collision. The air bags did not deploy upon...

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impact. Another driver involved claimed unknown injuries, and the contact sustained whiplash but did not seek medical attention. Police were called, but a police report was not filed at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11771675
Other & unknown

The magnetic chest clip does NOT latch. It can easily be pulled apart by hand. It compromises my child's safety tremendously by allowing the harness straps to slip off of her shoulders in event of a crash leading to a projected infant. Upon doing further research and posting in my moms group on facebook i've found countless reports dating back to 2023 where this magnetic chest clip is a terrible design and idea. Many consumers reported to the manufacturer and received multiple replacements and regretted buying the $360+ car seat. It needs recalled and removed IMMEDIATELY before they have an ejected child lawsuit or many.

Filed Incident Chest clip, buckle, harnessNHTSA 11771605
Fuel system

exhaust flex pipe is cracked. Causes fumes of gas to be released through the crack. inspected by GMC Repair shop Vibrating noise started, then a few days later the smell of gas, and now yes the Engine light is on. This has been on going for about 3 weeks.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11771296
Steering

My 2021 GMC Acadia steering wheel dangerously stiffened while I was turning off the road into a busy shopping parking lot making it difficult to continue my turn. Having to put on my brakes sharply as to not collide with the out going traffic. There was no warning prior to the incident and had to make a quick safety judgement call and hoped the steering wheel would turn. Only after does the warning come on saying there is an issue with the steering assist and to drive carefully! The following morning I took it to...

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Eagle Buick/GMC. There the tech experienced the same. I was told the parts for the repair would take around a week with an estimated cost of $1604.25. I had to carefully drive back with traffic and unable to continue my days work. As I look up this issue I am finding other GMC vehicles with the same dangerous issues that should not wait until it causes an accident, injury or even death. Please make this an important priority as the occurrence has no warning and after it gives only a drive carefully?

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11770938
Fuel system

My 2021 GMC Acadia that has 63,768 miles on it was idling Wednesday 9/30 when it died and would not start back we had to have it towed to a shop to get it checked out and it was throwing the P023F code for the fuel pump control module that has a recall bulletin for the same thing make model problem and under their 80,000 miles but recall not on my vin number and GM is refusing to pay for it. It's going to cost me 937.27 to get it fixed.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11768954
Electrical systemFuel system

While driving home from work the car displayed a "No Fuel" warning, despite having a full tank of gas. Within seconds of the display showing the car stalled out and stopped right in the middle of the road. It would not go into neutral and I had to be towed from the middle of the road to a mechanic close by. Upon reading forums online it looks like this is a known and common issue affecting the fuel pump sensor and system in these models. There are no open recalls but being this is known and happens so often I am...

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shocked GMC has not taken ownership to recall and correct this issue. If I had not been on a slower road I could have gotten into an accident and, as I said, the car would not go in neutral so I couldn't even safely get off the road.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11764031
AirbagsCrash

On 9/08/2026 I was driving and almost got a wreck but I was able to get out and was going less the 25 and lost control of the vehicle and barely hit the curb and the two air bags went off and I was sent to the hospital

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11763308
Brakes

While driving the brake vacuum pump exploded leading to catastrophic brake failure. My husband was driving and was able to stand on the brakes to get the car to stop, but had i been driving, I am not strong enough to have stopped the car. I have 3 children with my youngest being 1. If this had happened with me and my kids, we could have had a major wreck and/or DIED! GM is aware of the brake vacuum pump issues but does not have a recall on the part. The braske assist light did not come on the dash until brakes were lost.

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 11759335
Steering

No incident but steering assisted reduced could cause an issue. Also the fix is to reset the computer by detaching the negative pole on the battery. This could be an issue due to the heat in the car someone could get burned.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11754182
Fuel system

I have seen numerous complaints for this same issue. My 2021 Acadia with 31,600 miles failed to start when parked in garage. It turned over just fine but wouldn't fire as if it wasn't getting any fuel. I had it towed to my regular mechanic. He troubleshot it and told me it was the "Fuel Pump Power Control Module". He said he could replace it but it would have to be programmed by a GM dealer as he didn't have the equipment to do that. So I had it towed to the local GMC dealer. Two tow bills equal $360. ...

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There is a recall for this issue. It is called "Emission Recall N252516900, Fuel Pump Power Control Module". part number 13554820 I have yet to receive a recall notice. I have seen mentioned in several of the other complaints that I have read that many of the service employees say that this has been an ongoing issue for several of the GM vehicles. Hopefully I will get a recall notice soon and be able to get reimbursed for the cost of the repair.

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11751305
Brakes

My brake pedal got stiff when I was driving. I had zero control of my brakes. I was informed by a GMC dealership that my BRAKE BOOSTER blew up causing my brakes to stop working and metal shrapnel to be sent into my engine. My 2021 vehicle is a complete loss. GMC has done NOTHING to help me.

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 11746671
Suspension

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was unintendedly drifting to the right. The vehicle was taken to Dally Tire Company, where it was diagnosed with rear links failure and misalignment. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer scheduled an appointment and provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,200.

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 11745670
Brakes

I was driving and all of a sudden my break pedal was inoperable. It was stiff and unable to be used. Luckily I was only going 40 MPH. I pulled into a parking lot and my car started shaking and apparently the metal parts from the vacuum pump blew into my engine, which completely wrecked my engine. I nearly could have died and now my 2021 car is completely destroyed.

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 11743108
SteeringElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Display suddenly says "Steering assistance reduced, drive with care" Temp gauge goes to C and stays there. Radiator fans speed up and stay on after the car has been turned off. Dealer unable to find a diagnostic code for the problem.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11741035
SteeringDriver assistance

My thermostat failed in my car, my temp goes out and reads at 0° then my steering assist says it's reduced. There are many forums online regarding this issue.

Filed Incident Steering · Lane departureNHTSA 11740094
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

This is a very known issue that has been reoccurring with GMC Acadia. The torque converter slipping. That cost alone is over $7.000 for the transmission. I am still making monthly payments for my 2021 Acadia. With rising cost above the board GMC could have resolved this issue before releasing this vehicle to the public for purchase. Only had this vehicle for 2 years and already a new transmission is needed. Other individuals i personally know have the same issue. From my research GMC is aware and fails to do a recall on this issue.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 11737300
Engine & cooling

I am submitting this complaint regarding ongoing mechanical and electrical issues with my 2021 GMC ACADIA that have been occurring intermittently for approximately the past year and a half. The primary issues involve the coolant temperature sensor, thermostat system, engine cooling fan, and dashboard warning messages. The vehicle repeatedly experiences problems related to the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat. During these episodes, the engine cooling fan continues running even after the vehicle has been...

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turned off, sometimes for an extended period of time. In addition, the dashboard frequently displays the warning message: "Steering Assist is Reduced - Drive With Care." These warning messages and symptoms occur off and on without consistent resolution. The vehicle has already undergone repairs, including replacement of the radiator, yet the problems continue to return. Despite previous service attempts, the underlying issue has not been permanently corrected. The recurring nature of these problems raises concerns about the reliability, safety, and dependability of the vehicle, especially considering the steering assist warning and possible overheating or electrical system concerns connected to the cooling system malfunction. The repeated failures have caused significant inconvenience, concern for safe operation of the vehicle, loss of confidence in the vehicle's reliability, and ongoing disruption due to repeated repair needs. I am requesting a thorough diagnosis and permanent repair of the coolant temperature sensor, thermostat, cooling fan system, and any related electrical or control module issues contributing to these recurring problems.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11736741
Engine & cooling

Bought the acadia in june of 2021, in december of 2022 had to have the radiator replaced due to it leaking. This was found on routine maintenance and was not having any issues whatsoever. I received no alerts on my dash such as a check engine light. Fast Forward to March 2026, I received a message of "steering assist reduced. drive with care." The engine seemed like it was still running despite the car being off. This was happening intermittently and definitely not every time I drove. I made an appointment for the...

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regular oil change and to have this message investigated. Initially they told me it was the temperature regulator, however, they put a new regulator on and tried to re-pressurize the system. The system failed to re-pressurize due to the radiator leaking AGAIN. Of course, there was a 2 year warranty on the radiator after it was replaced initially and now we are about a 1.5 years outside the warranty.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11736208
Electrical system

The camera system has failed. The screen is black and there is an exclamation point and a camera on the screen.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11735258
Other & unknown

Rear view camera won't display when out in reverse. Also, when the camera does come on, it'll flicker off and on

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11730224
BrakesDriver assistance

On March 27, 2026, I experienced a complete brake failure while driving a 2021 GMC Acadia in a school zone at approximately 3:00 PM. When I pressed the brake pedal, the vehicle did not respond. I attempted multiple times, including using the emergency brake, which did not activate immediately. The vehicle remained in motion for several minutes in an area with children and parents present. The emergency brake only engaged after approximately 30-45 seconds of repeated attempts. I was forced to steer off the road to...

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avoid a collision. The vehicle had been inspected at a GM dealership on March 16, 2026, just eleven days prior, where the brake system was evaluated and no issues were identified. After the incident, the dealership diagnosed a leaking vacuum pump, which is a component that supports the brake booster system. This failure occurred without warning and created a dangerous situation. I am concerned this may indicate a broader safety defect.

Filed Incident Service brakes · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11728151
Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the coolant fan was running after the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone to be diagnosed due to the check engine warning light being illuminated. The contact was informed that DTC: P1098; was retrieved, which indicated a fault with the coolant control valve. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the coolant...

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control valve had failed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact related the failure to the Manufacturer Recall Number: N252508341. However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11725820
Steering

My vehicle's steering became dangerously stiff while driving on the highway, nearly causing my wife to be involved in a serious accident. While she was traveling on I-95 in Miami, Florida, the steering suddenly got so hard that she could barely control the vehicle and was unable to turn the wheel properly. This created an extremely dangerous situation and put her life, as well as the lives of others on the road, at risk. She was thankfully able to get off the highway, and I had to come take over the vehicle to...

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make sure she got home safely. This was terrifying and completely unacceptable. A failure like this should never happen while a vehicle is in motion. When I took the vehicle to the dealership, I was told I would have to pay over $3,500 for the repair. That is outrageous for such a serious safety issue. I also found information online showing recalls for similar steering problems in GMC Yukons, yet GMC Arcadias do not appear to be included. That is deeply concerning, especially since this same dangerous defect is clearly affecting my vehicle. This issue could have caused a major crash, severe injuries, or even death. GMC needs to take responsibility for this problem instead of forcing customers to pay thousands of dollars for a dangerous defect that should be addressed as a safety recall.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11722994

GMC Acadia: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
202569010BrakesC
202463030BrakesB
202350431Engine & coolingB
202252341Electrical systemA
2021156280Electrical systemC
2020107640Engine & coolingB
2019389262Transmission & drivetrainD
2018399281Transmission & drivetrainD
20177074112Transmission & drivetrainF
All Acadia years

2021 GMC Acadia vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2021 GMC Acadia

Does the 2021 GMC Acadia have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 GMC Acadia: camera (September 2022); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (June 2021). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Acadia?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (40), engine & cooling (32), fuel system (30).

How many complaints has the 2021 GMC Acadia had?

156 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 24, 2020 and the latest on October 29, 2026. Of these, 8 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 2021 GMC Acadia a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 55 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical GMC Acadia year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which GMC Acadia years have the most complaints?

2008 (858), 2017 (707), 2014 (468). See every GMC Acadia year compared.

What should I do if my 2021 GMC Acadia has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

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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