2010 GMC Acadia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2010 GMC Acadia has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 7th worst out of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Steering complaints (43% of all reports) and electrical fires stand out most, with 4 recalls on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #7 of 19 Acadia years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 343
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 1
Top 2010 GMC Acadia problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering148 (43%)
- Engine91 (27%)
- Electrical System60 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain43 (13%)
- Airbags16 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (4%)
- Structure & Body13 (4%)
- Brakes12 (3%)
- Other12 (3%)
- Seat Belts6 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering wheel suddenly locks up or resists turning during low-speed maneuvers like parking, sometimes leading to a crash.
- Power steering can cut out unexpectedly while driving, making the vehicle hard to control.
- Headlight bulb sockets and wiring overheat, melt, and in some cases catch fire, occasionally recurring after repair.
- A main battery cable rubbing against a frame bolt shorted the electrical system and ignited floor matting while the vehicle was in motion.
- Front suspension components have failed at highway speeds, causing vibration, popping noise, and loss of steering control.
- The engine has stalled or died without warning lights, with smoke coming from the engine bay in at least one case.
2010 GMC Acadia recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V415000Jun 30, 2015Structure & Body691,144 vehicles
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.
Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.
- NHTSA 14V266000May 20, 2014Seat Belts1,339,355 vehicles
Seat belts
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.
Risk: If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.
- NHTSA 14V118000Mar 17, 2014Airbags1,176,407 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
2010 GMC Acadia fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 GMC Acadia a good year to buy?
- It carries a Caution verdict based on NHTSA data, ranking 7th worst among 19 model years with a Complaint Index of 67. Steering problems make up 43% of its complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 GMC Acadia?
- NHTSA complaints show steering issues (43% of complaints, median failure mileage 70,000), engine problems (27%), and electrical system faults (17%), including some fires.
- Does the 2010 GMC Acadia have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 Acadia covering seat belts, airbags, and structure/body components, including a liftgate software update and a second-row seat belt shield fix.
- How does the 2010 Acadia compare to other Acadia years?
- Its Complaint Index of 67 is worse than most other years but not the worst; 2008 (100) and 2017 (94) rank as Avoid years, while 2013, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 earn Best verdicts.