YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Acadia Airbags Problems

The 2011 GMC Acadia has 19 airbag complaints to NHTSA, about 7% of all complaints for the year, tied to 3 crashes and 2 injuries. Two related recalls (14V118000 and 21V246000) cover corroded wiring harness connections and improperly attached side curtain airbags.

Airbags complaints
19
7% of 269
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
56,355 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbag warning light stays illuminated even after dealer repairs, with owners told the airbags may not deploy while the light is on.
  • Air bags failed to deploy during a crash, resulting in reported neck and shoulder injuries requiring medical attention.
  • Corroded or loose crimps in the seat-mounted side impact airbag wiring harness connectors triggered repeat recall notices, sometimes duplicated in error.
  • Owners report delays getting recall parts from dealers even after being notified that repairs were available.
  • Water intrusion from a clogged AC evaporator drain tube shorted out the airbag system, disabling airbag function entirely.
  • A driver-side crash into another vehicle caused no airbag deployment at all, despite a police report being filed.

When 2011 GMC Acadia airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 6, 2012, latest Mar 18, 2025.

2011 GMC Acadia airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2012Apr 2014Aug 2014Aug 2015Aug 2017Aug 2019
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2012 to Mar 2025; peak May 2017 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 GMC Acadia

  1. NHTSA 21V246000Apr 8, 2021Airbags108 vehicles

    Air bags:critical fasteners

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

    Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

  2. 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.

Airbags complaints by Acadia model year

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

  1. 201016 (5%)
  2. 201119 (7%)
  3. 201233 (11%)
  4. 201329 (21%)
  5. 2014246 (53%)
  6. 2015108 (44%)
  7. 2016130 (55%)
  8. 201776 (11%)
  9. 20181 (0%)
  10. 20193 (1%)
  11. 20203 (3%)
  12. 20219 (6%)
  13. 20222 (4%)
  14. 20232 (5%)
  15. 20241 (2%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2011 GMC Acadia have?
NHTSA lists 19 airbag complaints for the 2011 GMC Acadia, which is about 7% of the 269 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2011 GMC Acadia?
Yes. Recall 14V118000 addresses increased resistance in wiring harness connections affecting airbag deployment, and recall 21V246000 covers side curtain airbags that may not be properly attached.
Did the 2011 Acadia's airbag issues cause any injuries?
NHTSA data shows 2 injuries and 3 crashes linked to airbag complaints for the 2011 GMC Acadia.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2011 Acadia?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2011 GMC Acadia is 56,355 miles.

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.