YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Acadia Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 64 steering complaints for the 2011 GMC Acadia, 24% of its 269 total complaints for the year. No related recall is on file, and the median mileage at failure was 62,955.

Steering complaints
64
24% of 269
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
62,955 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Power steering fails intermittently at low speeds, such as parking, backing up, or turning into a driveway, making the wheel feel locked or extremely heavy.
  • Owners report a whining or grinding noise from the steering pump area, sometimes followed by reduced steering assist.
  • Some drivers describe the power steering cutting out in wet or rainy conditions, which they attribute to a belt losing traction.
  • Several owners had the power steering pump or steering rack replaced, in some cases before the vehicle reached 42,000 miles.
  • A few complaints describe steering locking up briefly while driving, with smoke or a burning smell coming from under the hood.

When 2011 GMC Acadia steering complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 21, 2013, latest Sep 20, 2022.

2011 GMC Acadia steering complaints: complaints filed per month5Aug 2013Jul 2014Feb 2015Nov 2015Jun 2017Jun 2018Sep 2019Jul 2022
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2013 to Sep 2022; peak Jan 2015 (5).

Steering recalls for the 2011 GMC Acadia

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Acadia model year

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

  1. 2010148 (43%)
  2. 201164 (24%)
  3. 201246 (16%)
  4. 20138 (6%)
  5. 201426 (6%)
  6. 201531 (13%)
  7. 201626 (11%)
  8. 201734 (5%)
  9. 201824 (6%)
  10. 201933 (9%)
  11. 202018 (17%)
  12. 202116 (11%)
  13. 20223 (6%)
  14. 20233 (7%)
  15. 20241 (2%)
  16. 20254 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2011 GMC Acadia have?
NHTSA lists 64 steering complaints for the 2011 Acadia, which is 24% of the 269 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2011 GMC Acadia?
No. NHTSA's data for this page shows no related recall listed for the steering complaints on the 2011 Acadia.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up on the 2011 Acadia?
The median mileage at failure among reported steering complaints is 62,955 miles.
What do owners describe when the power steering fails?
Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard or impossible to turn at low speeds, sometimes accompanied by a whining or grinding noise, with some reporting the issue during wet weather.
Did steering complaints cause crashes or injuries on the 2011 Acadia?
According to the data, the 64 steering complaints for the 2011 Acadia are associated with 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries.

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.