YearToAvoid

2010 GMC Acadia Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 91 engine complaints for the 2010 GMC Acadia, 27% of all 342 complaints filed for that model year, the highest share of any Acadia year shown. Median mileage at failure is 95,000 miles, and there are 5 fires and 5 injuries reported, but no related recall is listed.

Engine complaints
91
27% of 342
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
95,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power or stalling while driving at speed, sometimes with a check engine light and gasoline in the tank.
  • Multiple complaints describe white or black smoke coming from the engine bay or entering the cabin through the vents, in some cases followed by the vehicle catching fire under the hood.
  • Some owners report excessive black or blue smoke from the exhaust at startup or idle, with dealers stating the vehicle 'functioned as designed'.
  • Several complaints describe rapid idling or rough running accompanied by smoke, forcing the driver to pull over.
  • One owner reported sudden acceleration while parking that led to a crash, with the vehicle towed to the dealer.

When 2010 GMC Acadia engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 13, 2011, latest Jun 18, 2026.

2010 GMC Acadia engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter82011 Q12013 Q32015 Q22016 Q32017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22022 Q1
91 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q1 (8).

Engine recalls for the 2010 GMC Acadia

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Acadia model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201091 (27%)
  2. 201162 (23%)
  3. 201245 (15%)
  4. 201325 (19%)
  5. 201453 (11%)
  6. 201522 (9%)
  7. 201615 (6%)
  8. 201771 (10%)
  9. 201838 (10%)
  10. 201961 (16%)
  11. 202033 (32%)
  12. 202137 (25%)
  13. 202215 (31%)
  14. 202313 (30%)
  15. 202412 (20%)
  16. 20257 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2010 GMC Acadia have?
NHTSA lists 91 engine complaints for the 2010 GMC Acadia, which is 27% of the 342 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 GMC Acadia engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2010 GMC Acadia.
At what mileage do 2010 Acadia engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on the 2010 Acadia is 95,000 miles.
Are the 2010 Acadia engine problems dangerous?
NHTSA records 5 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 crash among the engine complaints for the 2010 GMC Acadia, including reports of smoke entering the cabin and under-hood fires.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.