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2023 GMC Acadia Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 2026
Ryan Davis
2023 GMC Acadia Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary

The 2023 GMC Acadia has 45 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve electrical system and engine.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

7.4/ 10

Based on 45 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

7 15.6%

ENGINE

7 15.6%

POWER TRAIN

7 15.6%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 8.9%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 4.4%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for 15.6% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 22 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2023 GMC Acadia

The 2023 GMC Acadia has 45 owner complaints in this dataset. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the most common complaint category, representing about 16% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2023 GMC Acadia are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7), ENGINE (7), POWER TRAIN (7).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 23 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2023 GMC Acadia?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2022 Acadia complaints2024 Acadia complaints2021 Acadia complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 22 of 22 systems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

7 Reports16% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Purchased Vehicle Oct.21 2022. In first week, vehicle left my wife stranded twice, and myself once. When error occurs, vehicle goes into limp home mode and cluster illuminates all lights, says serivce brakes, transmission, engine, fuel tank reads "E" (when is was just full), PRNDL buttons are flashing and will not allow park, does not respond to throttle inputs... only way to be not stranded as the vehicle will not restart is to disconnect battery or wait 15-20 minutes as the vehicle seems to incorrectly "heal" its errors and allow the engine to restart. I noticed this when the tow truck came to pick it up, and he "drove" it on to the flat bed. 45 Diagnostics showed up on the scan tool, all relating to CAN bus communication. My concerns are the following: 1. How can a 2023 vehicle with <400 miles leave some one stranded 3 times because of a CAN bus comm error? There is an electrical gremlin (likely from lack of quality control) causing to leave a customer to having to limp to the side of the highway. 2. Why is the error able to incorrectly "Heal" itself, ie. the fault reactions seem to debounce and allow engine to restart (as mentioned prior) after a certain amount of time. This only leads to potentially putting the customer back at risk as they just were. 3. GM dealer is yet to start troubleshooting, its been 2.5 weeks. Claim is that they "need a transmission guy to look at it since the codes causing the check engine light are transmission module". Although, the vehicle has approximately 45 active codes, relating to many different modules and all pointing to CAN bus error. The vehicle has an electrical issue, causing my wife to get stranded. first warning on cluster before being stranded : "Service: Transmission Now Unable to shift Soon. " What does this even mean???? this does not tell me, what the problem is, and what I should do about it. I am an experienced OBD Engineer from an auto OEM and this does not follow best practices. Please help.

11/19/2022

The contact’s daughter owned a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated the seats were previously repaired at the local dealer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, the vehicle caught fire. The fire had extinguished on its own. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or police reports filed. The contact called the local dealer who referred her to the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company informed her the failure was due to the electrical system and deemed it a total loss. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

6/14/2023

5 more complaints are available in this category.

ENGINE

7 Reports16% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Purchased Vehicle Oct.21 2022. In first week, vehicle left my wife stranded twice, and myself once. When error occurs, vehicle goes into limp home mode and cluster illuminates all lights, says serivce brakes, transmission, engine, fuel tank reads "E" (when is was just full), PRNDL buttons are flashing and will not allow park, does not respond to throttle inputs... only way to be not stranded as the vehicle will not restart is to disconnect battery or wait 15-20 minutes as the vehicle seems to incorrectly "heal" its errors and allow the engine to restart. I noticed this when the tow truck came to pick it up, and he "drove" it on to the flat bed. 45 Diagnostics showed up on the scan tool, all relating to CAN bus communication. My concerns are the following: 1. How can a 2023 vehicle with <400 miles leave some one stranded 3 times because of a CAN bus comm error? There is an electrical gremlin (likely from lack of quality control) causing to leave a customer to having to limp to the side of the highway. 2. Why is the error able to incorrectly "Heal" itself, ie. the fault reactions seem to debounce and allow engine to restart (as mentioned prior) after a certain amount of time. This only leads to potentially putting the customer back at risk as they just were. 3. GM dealer is yet to start troubleshooting, its been 2.5 weeks. Claim is that they "need a transmission guy to look at it since the codes causing the check engine light are transmission module". Although, the vehicle has approximately 45 active codes, relating to many different modules and all pointing to CAN bus error. The vehicle has an electrical issue, causing my wife to get stranded. first warning on cluster before being stranded : "Service: Transmission Now Unable to shift Soon. " What does this even mean???? this does not tell me, what the problem is, and what I should do about it. I am an experienced OBD Engineer from an auto OEM and this does not follow best practices. Please help.

11/19/2022

Shortly after leasing the vehicle in December of 2022 I noticed the transmission would slip when accelerating. It also jumps when down shifting as I'm slowing down - as well as after place the car into drive. I did bring the vehicle back to GMC in early 2023 explaining the aforementioned. I was told that there was too much transmission fluid which was the causing the issues I was experiencing. They reduced the fluid levels and sent me on my way. Unfortunately their assessment and solution did not remedy the problem. I intend to bring the vehicle in again, but based on past experience, I will be told nothing is wrong. Lastly, I've done some research and it appears I'm not the only person experiencing the same issue. I'm hoping that reporting this issue will lead to an investigation of potential safety issues.

10/4/2023

5 more complaints are available in this category.

POWER TRAIN

7 Reports16% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V172000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

5/10/2023

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after his wife had driven the vehicle approximately 75-80 MPH on the highway, and was attempting to turn into the driveway, the vehicle inadvertently shut off. A message indicating a transmission failure and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer for four months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,250.

12/26/2023

5 more complaints are available in this category.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 Reports9% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The contact’s daughter owned a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated the seats were previously repaired at the local dealer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, the vehicle caught fire. The fire had extinguished on its own. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or police reports filed. The contact called the local dealer who referred her to the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company informed her the failure was due to the electrical system and deemed it a total loss. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000.

6/14/2023

Vehicle drove for over 30mins before it detected that there was no remote in the vehicle.

8/17/2024

2 more complaints are available in this category.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 Reports4% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Purchased Vehicle Oct.21 2022. In first week, vehicle left my wife stranded twice, and myself once. When error occurs, vehicle goes into limp home mode and cluster illuminates all lights, says serivce brakes, transmission, engine, fuel tank reads "E" (when is was just full), PRNDL buttons are flashing and will not allow park, does not respond to throttle inputs... only way to be not stranded as the vehicle will not restart is to disconnect battery or wait 15-20 minutes as the vehicle seems to incorrectly "heal" its errors and allow the engine to restart. I noticed this when the tow truck came to pick it up, and he "drove" it on to the flat bed. 45 Diagnostics showed up on the scan tool, all relating to CAN bus communication. My concerns are the following: 1. How can a 2023 vehicle with <400 miles leave some one stranded 3 times because of a CAN bus comm error? There is an electrical gremlin (likely from lack of quality control) causing to leave a customer to having to limp to the side of the highway. 2. Why is the error able to incorrectly "Heal" itself, ie. the fault reactions seem to debounce and allow engine to restart (as mentioned prior) after a certain amount of time. This only leads to potentially putting the customer back at risk as they just were. 3. GM dealer is yet to start troubleshooting, its been 2.5 weeks. Claim is that they "need a transmission guy to look at it since the codes causing the check engine light are transmission module". Although, the vehicle has approximately 45 active codes, relating to many different modules and all pointing to CAN bus error. The vehicle has an electrical issue, causing my wife to get stranded. first warning on cluster before being stranded : "Service: Transmission Now Unable to shift Soon. " What does this even mean???? this does not tell me, what the problem is, and what I should do about it. I am an experienced OBD Engineer from an auto OEM and this does not follow best practices. Please help.

11/19/2022

I am experiencing a recurring P04FB diagnostic trouble code on my 2023 GMC Acadia, related to the crankcase pressure sensor. GM issued Bulletin No. PIP5841C, which attributes the issue to moisture buildup freezing inside the sensor. Their recommended fix is to remove the sensor, blow out any moisture, and reinstall it. However, this is not a permanent solution—the code returns within days, suggesting an inherent design flaw in the PCV system. Additionally, the replacement sensor (Part #12718935) is on national backorder, making it impossible to obtain. Many owners across multiple GM models using this engine (such as the Chevrolet Blazer and Cadillac XT4) are experiencing the same problem, yet GM has not provided a real solution. A properly designed PCV system should not allow excessive moisture to accumulate in the sensor. Instead of addressing the root cause, GM’s bulletin merely delays the issue by temporarily clearing the moisture. This approach does not prevent the problem from recurring, and it does not fix the underlying defect. If the sensor fails or provides inaccurate readings, it can affect emissions and engine performance. The fact that the replacement part is unavailable suggests GM may be restricting access to it, possibly because they know it is defective. This raises concerns that GM is quietly managing a widespread issue rather than issuing a formal recall or warranty extension. I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate this issue, as GM's current approach does not resolve the problem. Owners should not be forced to repeatedly clear moisture from a sensor that is failing due to a design flaw. If GM has internally identified a better solution, it should be made available to affected owners instead of delaying action with ineffective temporary fixes.

2/19/2025

STEERING

2 Reports4% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

I purchased my 2023 Arcadia FFWD SLT a few months ago used with 11,000 miles. During the past few months I have noticed when reaching a speed of 45-60 mph the vehicle vibrates. I took the vehicle to the dealership on 10-10-24 and they said they could not find anything but they did not do an intensive problem search. I am concerned the problem may be related to a transmission recall dated 6/23. I did a search but no recalls came up my VIN but the vehicle has a major vibration when going 45-60 mph.

10/11/2024

See attached document for complaint.

3/3/2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The vehicle then accelerated independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and drove to her nearby workplace. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that dealer personnel then drove the vehicle to their location for diagnostic tests. The dealer diagnosed that the solenoid switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,514.

1/31/2023

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Shortly after leasing the vehicle in December of 2022 I noticed the transmission would slip when accelerating. It also jumps when down shifting as I'm slowing down - as well as after place the car into drive. I did bring the vehicle back to GMC in early 2023 explaining the aforementioned. I was told that there was too much transmission fluid which was the causing the issues I was experiencing. They reduced the fluid levels and sent me on my way. Unfortunately their assessment and solution did not remedy the problem. I intend to bring the vehicle in again, but based on past experience, I will be told nothing is wrong. Lastly, I've done some research and it appears I'm not the only person experiencing the same issue. I'm hoping that reporting this issue will lead to an investigation of potential safety issues.

10/4/2023

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

When approaching on coming traffic with bright light on high beam, my car will not change from high beam to low beam , nor can I manually. change. also Right mirror has indicator of on coming traffic approaching comes on for no reason

4/19/2024

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

When approaching on coming traffic with bright light on high beam, my car will not change from high beam to low beam , nor can I manually. change. also Right mirror has indicator of on coming traffic approaching comes on for no reason

4/19/2024

AIR BAGS

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Struck a deer traveling at 65 mph & air bags did not deploy

8/13/2024

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Car's back up camera screen has gone black on several occasions. The vehicle has been in the repair shop , this is my fourth time trying to get it repaired. The screen goes black with a red circle and triangle on the screen when the car is put in reverse. This makes backing up difficult because of the vehicle size and blind spot . This problem developed in the first month of having the vehicle and again the vehicle is back in for repair the fourth time for the same issue I've had the vehicle in service for eleven months.

8/15/2024

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Car's back up camera screen has gone black on several occasions. The vehicle has been in the repair shop , this is my fourth time trying to get it repaired. The screen goes black with a red circle and triangle on the screen when the car is put in reverse. This makes backing up difficult because of the vehicle size and blind spot . This problem developed in the first month of having the vehicle and again the vehicle is back in for repair the fourth time for the same issue I've had the vehicle in service for eleven months.

8/15/2024

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began jerking with the "Service Stabili-trak" message displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed; however, the dealer tightened the battery terminal. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000.

11/26/2024

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Whenever the vehicle's windshield washer is used the smell of the fluid enters the vehicle. This is particularly acute when the HVAC system is used at the same time. Since the label on the washer fluid container says the fluid is poisonous and the vapors are harmful and cannot be made nonpoisonous, I feel I should report this. I have had 4 GMC representatives confirm this is indeed happening. One rep was the Field Engineer Supervisor. All of this is documented as I have had this examined 4 times at the request of the GM customer service representative. Case [XXX], Status update for your 2023 GMC Acadia concern INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

12/20/2024

TIRES

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

See attached document for complaint.

3/3/2025

STRUCTURE

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that there was water and condensation inside the rear middle brake light assembly. The contact later discovered that during rainstorms, rainwater had leaked into the rear seating and hatch area of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the failure was due to a manufacturing structural error and the vehicle needed body work to be performed to correct the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,200.

7/9/2025

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. A dealer and independent mechanic were contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the brake pads wear was uneven on the driver’s side and the driver’s side front caliper needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the result was not provided. The brake pads were replaced; however, the caliper was not yet replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

7/28/2025

SERVICE BRAKES

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, violent deceleration. The emergency braking and collision avoidance systems activated spontaneously, as if the vehicle had struck or was about to strike an object. There was no obstacle, impact, or external threat present. This uncommanded braking caused significant physical stress and injury to the occupants. Critically, multiple safety systems failed during the event: The seat belts did not lock, failing to restrain the occupants; The airbags did not deploy, despite the severity of the deceleration; no warning indicators or diagnostic alerts were present before or after the incident. These failures directly contributed to physical injuries, including TBI (concussion, spinal trauma, etc.) which required emergency medical treatment and ongoing care.

8/16/2025

SEAT BELTS

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, violent deceleration. The emergency braking and collision avoidance systems activated spontaneously, as if the vehicle had struck or was about to strike an object. There was no obstacle, impact, or external threat present. This uncommanded braking caused significant physical stress and injury to the occupants. Critically, multiple safety systems failed during the event: The seat belts did not lock, failing to restrain the occupants; The airbags did not deploy, despite the severity of the deceleration; no warning indicators or diagnostic alerts were present before or after the incident. These failures directly contributed to physical injuries, including TBI (concussion, spinal trauma, etc.) which required emergency medical treatment and ongoing care.

8/16/2025

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, violent deceleration. The emergency braking and collision avoidance systems activated spontaneously, as if the vehicle had struck or was about to strike an object. There was no obstacle, impact, or external threat present. This uncommanded braking caused significant physical stress and injury to the occupants. Critically, multiple safety systems failed during the event: The seat belts did not lock, failing to restrain the occupants; The airbags did not deploy, despite the severity of the deceleration; no warning indicators or diagnostic alerts were present before or after the incident. These failures directly contributed to physical injuries, including TBI (concussion, spinal trauma, etc.) which required emergency medical treatment and ongoing care.

8/16/2025

SUSPENSION

1 Report2% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for maintenance, and the tech informed the dealer that the passenger’s side rear suspension toe link needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the passenger’s side rear toe link needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Manufacturer's recall number: N222364330; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,101.

10/15/2025

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2023 GMC Acadia?

The most reported complaint category for the 2023 GMC Acadia is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, with 7 owner reports. That is about 16% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN.

Are complaints about the 2023 GMC Acadia a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 23 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2023 GMC Acadia?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2023 GMC Acadia severe?

23 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

GMC Acadia: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
45
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

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