Steering

GMC Acadia Steering problems by year

815 complaints filed with NHTSA about the GMC Acadia's steering. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Steering complaints by model year

'07 '08 '09 148'10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 '26

Year	Steering complaints	Crashes	Injuries
2025	4	0	0
2024	1	0	1
2023	4	0	0
2022	4	0	0
2021	18	0	0
2020	20	0	0
2019	33	0	0
2018	24	2	5
2017	35	1	0
2016	26	1	0
2015	33	1	0
2014	26	2	3
2013	8	0	0
2012	46	1	1
2011	64	0	0
2010	148	3	2
2009	112	3	0
2008	133	6	3
2007	76	2	0

Latest Acadia steering complaints

2022 GMC Acadia Steering Engine & cooling Driver assistance

Received message dash stating "Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care". The AC turned off and temp gauge went to "C". Noticeable difficulty steering at both highway speeds and on city streets. While driving to auto shop the message disappeared, AC turned on and temp went back to normal. About and hour later while diving on the interstate it happened again and steering was difficult again. This first occurred on August 24, then again on September 12 and October 21 and again on October 25. No consistency as...

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for time of day or outside temp. Lasts for a few hours then goes back to normal but when it happens randomly it does pose a safety issue with difficulty steering and no lane assist.

2021 GMC Acadia Steering Engine & 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.

2017 GMC Acadia Steering

Warning light "steering assist is reduced, drive with care" pops on, check engine light comes on, thermostat gauge does not work, full on coolant, cruise control does not work when this populates. Steering is different and does not feel safe.

2023 GMC Acadia Steering

My 2023 GMC Acadia has a toe link issue in the rear suspension. This is according to the GMC Service Department in Marquette MI. Is this a possible safety issue, I really don't know. It does make a horrible clunking sound when I steer sharply which vibrates the car. So I definitely believe this does affect the steering. No question I will have to get this fixed ASAP.

2021 GMC Acadia 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?

2020 GMC Acadia Steering

Thermostat housing failed. Got the message of "Steering Assist Is Reduced - Drive With Care". Have seen this numerous times in message boards. Has been reproduced. Safety is put at risk with the steering assist reduced. Mine happened on an highway.

2020 GMC Acadia Steering Engine & cooling

Engine thermostat not functioning properly, therefore the display stayed on cold and would not show temp. It also cause the fan to run fast to cool engine. The AC would not cool and reduce power steering assist error message comes on. This is a known problem by GM and there is a recall for this issue on many of these vehicles, other GMC and Cadillac vehicles. Our vehicle should be added to the recall list!

2017 GMC Acadia Steering

Bad thermostat causing power steering to go out and lose AC.

2024 GMC Acadia Steering1 injury

The contact owns a 2024 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after an oil change, while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became inoperable. The contact became aware that the top of the steering wheel was cracked and had popped out of place. The contact stated that while driving, the failure caused a cut on the hand. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was confirmed. The contact was informed that the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer...

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for assistance, and a case was opened. The contact believed the failure might be related to the leather on the steering wheel, which had deteriorated due the changes in the weather. The contact was concerned that the damaged steering wheel posed a safety risk while operating the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000

2019 GMC Acadia Steering Engine & cooling

I am submitting this complaint to request that NHTSA investigate a potential safety defect involving the engine coolant temperature monitoring system, thermostat/engine coolant temperature sensor system, and its relationship to reduced steering assist in 2019 GMC Acadia vehicles. My 2019 GMC Acadia, currently at approximately 91,500 miles, has experienced the following symptoms: • The engine temperature gauge remains flat or reads abnormally low/cold. • The cooling fans run continuously at extremely high speed,...

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creating a loud "screaming" fan noise. • The vehicle displays the warning message "Steering Assist is Reduced - Drive with Care." • The vehicle has a history of diagnostic trouble code P0128, "Engine Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature." I am concerned that these symptoms are related and represent a potential safety defect rather than an isolated thermostat or cooling-system repair. GM has issued bulletin PIT5967, "Service Steering Message With P0128," which applies to GMC Acadia vehicles from model years 2017 through 2023. The bulletin states that when P0128 is present, the ECM may be reading coolant temperature incorrectly and that a "Service Steering Message" may be displayed to protect the steering gear in the event of an undetected overheating condition. GM instructs technicians to diagnose and repair P0128 first. GM bulletin 17-NA-158 also describes a relationship between P0128, an invalid coolant-temperature signal, and the "Steering Assist Reduced, Drive With Care" warning. The bulletin explains that the steering module relies on valid coolant-temperature information to provide additional steering assistance under cold conditions. Also will not register when put in park. Getting error message "shift to park" take multiple restarts of the vehicle and shifting gear back and forth for it to register.

2020 GMC Acadia Steering Engine & cooling

Received a power steering reduced notice when starting the car, noticed shortly after driving the temperature gauge had not moved from its resting position. A few trips later it still had not moved and the check engine light came on. Mechanic looked at it said it may be a sensor quoted $1k to fix. A few days later it randomly started working and the light went off so I did not have it fixed. About 4 months later the same code displayed on the dash with the same issues. This time I noticed the ac would not work either it only blew out hot air. Also the fan under the hood turns on as soon as the car is started. Been about 3 days and it started working again out of nowhere.

2019 GMC Acadia Steering Electrical system Engine & cooling

See attached file

2021 GMC Acadia 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.

2019 GMC Acadia Steering

I am submitting this complaint to request that NHTSA investigate a potential safety defect involving the engine coolant temperature monitoring system, thermostat/engine coolant temperature sensor system, and its relationship to reduced steering assist in 2019 GMC Acadia vehicles. My 2019 GMC Acadia, currently at approximately 61,500 miles, has experienced the following symptoms: • The engine temperature gauge remains flat or reads abnormally low/cold. • The cooling fans run continuously at extremely high speed,...

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creating a loud "screaming" fan noise. • The vehicle displays the warning message "Steering Assist is Reduced - Drive with Care." • The vehicle has a history of diagnostic trouble code P0128, "Engine Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature." I am concerned that these symptoms are related and represent a potential safety defect rather than an isolated thermostat or cooling-system repair. GM has issued bulletin PIT5967, "Service Steering Message With P0128," which applies to GMC Acadia vehicles from model years 2017 through 2023. The bulletin states that when P0128 is present, the ECM may be reading coolant temperature incorrectly and that a "Service Steering Message" may be displayed to protect the steering gear in the event of an undetected overheating condition. GM instructs technicians to diagnose and repair P0128 first. GM bulletin 17-NA-158 also describes a relationship between P0128, an invalid coolant-temperature signal, and the "Steering Assist Reduced, Drive With Care" warning. The bulletin explains that the steering module relies on valid coolant-temperature information to provide additional steering assistance under cold conditions. When the coolant-temperature signal becomes invalid, this function can become inoperative, potentially resulting in a heavier-than-normal steering feel.

2020 GMC Acadia Steering Electrical system Engine & cooling

[Symptom & Safety Hazard] While driving my 2020 GMC Acadia 3.6L V6, the Driver Information Center displayed the warning: "Steering Assist Reduced, Drive With Care" (SARDWC). Steering effort increased abruptly, the engine temperature gauge dropped to cold/zero, and the HVAC system lost air-conditioning function. The warning and reduction in steering assist presented a safety hazard and increased the risk of a crash. [Diagnostic Findings] Vehicle diagnostics identified DTC P0128 - Engine Coolant Temperature Below...

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Thermostat Regulating Temperature. A GMC Certified Dealer technician diagnosed a failed engine coolant thermostat housing assembly. [Manufacturer Information] GM documentation links DTC P0128 and invalid engine coolant temperature signals to the "SARDWC" condition. GM Bulletin 17-NA-158 states the "SARDWC" condition is caused by an invalid coolant temperature signal and the steering module relies on coolant temperature information for steering-assist compensation. GM bulletin PIT5967 directs technicians to diagnose and repair DTC P0128 when the warning message is present. In Oct 2025, GM issued N252508350 for 2021 Acadia vehicles equipped with the 3.6L LGX engine due to an engine coolant thermostat condition. My 2020 Acadia is part of the same generation vehicle platform and is equipped with the same 3.6L LGX engine. It experienced the same thermostat-related failure symptoms, including DTC P0128 and the "SARDWC" warning. [Reason for Complaint] I am filing this complaint because a thermostat-related cooling-system failure resulted in a steering-assist warning and reduction in steering assist while the vehicle was being driven. Moreover, GM issued N252508350 for 2021 Acadia vehicles equipped with the 3.6L LGX engine due to the same engine coolant thermostat condition, yet similarly affected 2020 Acadia vehicles are not included. NHTSA should investigate whether additional 2020 vehicles are experiencing the same failure sequence and resulting safety risk.

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