Which GMC Acadia years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as Acadia years to avoid, relative to other Acadia model years. The 2017 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and the most complaints at 703.

Which Hyundai Santa Fe years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2025 as Santa Fe years to avoid, relative to other Santa Fe model years. The 2017 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and the most complaints at 966, with Engine listed as the top problem area.

Which has more total complaints, the Acadia or the Santa Fe?

The Santa Fe has 4,726 total complaints across 16 model years versus 3,937 for the Acadia. Per model year that is 295 complaints for the Santa Fe against 246 for the Acadia, though NHTSA does not normalize these totals by sales.

How do the Acadia and Santa Fe compare on fuel economy?

The Acadia averages 20.7 MPG combined across its model years while the Santa Fe averages 22 MPG combined. Fuel cost figures range as high as $3,700 a year for the 2016 Acadia and $3,250 for several Santa Fe years.

What are the top complaint areas for each model?

For the Acadia, Electrical System complaints lead at 24% (952 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 21%. For the Santa Fe, Engine complaints dominate at 52% (2,438 complaints), far ahead of Transmission & Powertrain at 16%.

GMC Acadia vs Hyundai Santa Fe: Which Years to Avoid

GMC Acadia years to avoid are 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019; Hyundai Santa Fe years to avoid are 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2025. Acadia logs 3,937 total complaints and 31 recalls across 16 model years; Santa Fe logs 4,726 complaints and 32 recalls. Acadia averages 20.7 MPG combined vs Santa Fe's 22.

Head to head

GMC Acadia

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 3,937
Per model year: 246
Recall campaigns: 31
Years to avoid: 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best years: 2013, 2020, 2022, 2023
Top problem area: Electrical System
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 20.7
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Hyundai Santa Fe

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 4,726
Per model year: 295
Recall campaigns: 32
Years to avoid: 2013, 2017, 2023, 2025
Best years: 2011, 2016, 2018, 2021
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 22.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.6 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Acadia				Santa Fe
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Caution	342	4	19	Good	258	2	23
2011	Caution	269	5	19	Best	181	2	22
2012	Caution	296	5	19	Caution	353	1	22
2013	Best	135	3	18.5	Avoid	605	3	20.5
2014	Avoid	462	6	18.5	Caution	493	3	20
2015	Good	243	4	19	Good	254	2	20
2016	Good	236	4	17.5	Best	236	3	20
2017	Avoid	703	4	20.5	Avoid	966	6	20
2018	Avoid	395	2	22	Best	109	2	20
2019	Avoid	386	2	21.5	Good	200	2	21
2020	Best	104	6	23	Caution	213	2	23.5
2021	Good	149	2	23	Best	166	7	24.5
2022	Best	49	3	23	Good	199	5	25
2023	Best	43	4	23	Avoid	210	1	25
2024	Good	60	0	22	Caution	150	7	23
2025	Caution	65	0	22	Avoid	133	5	23

Complaint Index by year

GMC Acadia

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Hyundai Santa Fe

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which GMC Acadia years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as Acadia years to avoid, relative to other Acadia model years. The 2017 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and the most complaints at 703.
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2013, 2017, 2023 and 2025 as Santa Fe years to avoid, relative to other Santa Fe model years. The 2017 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and the most complaints at 966, with Engine listed as the top problem area.
Which has more total complaints, the Acadia or the Santa Fe?: The Santa Fe has 4,726 total complaints across 16 model years versus 3,937 for the Acadia. Per model year that is 295 complaints for the Santa Fe against 246 for the Acadia, though NHTSA does not normalize these totals by sales.
How do the Acadia and Santa Fe compare on fuel economy?: The Acadia averages 20.7 MPG combined across its model years while the Santa Fe averages 22 MPG combined. Fuel cost figures range as high as $3,700 a year for the 2016 Acadia and $3,250 for several Santa Fe years.
What are the top complaint areas for each model?: For the Acadia, Electrical System complaints lead at 24% (952 complaints), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 21%. For the Santa Fe, Engine complaints dominate at 52% (2,438 complaints), far ahead of Transmission & Powertrain at 16%.