YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Acadia Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Owners filed 33 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 GMC Acadia, 12% of its 269 total complaints. Median mileage at failure was 71,796 miles. No related recall is listed for this component on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
33
12% of 269
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
71,796 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle rolls away unexpectedly while parked or while the driver has stepped out, even when the gear shift appears set to park.
  • Sudden loss of power while driving, with speed dropping from highway speeds to around 15-20 mph accompanied by stabilitrak, traction control, or reduced engine power warnings.
  • Delayed acceleration response of several seconds after the pedal is pressed, described by the dealer as a design characteristic rather than a defect.
  • A rear wheel locking up without warning at moderate speed, leading to loss of control.
  • An underhood fire reported while the vehicle was parked and running with doors locked.

When 2011 GMC Acadia transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 12, 2010, latest Mar 7, 2025.

2011 GMC Acadia transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2010Mar 2014Jan 2015Jun 2016Apr 2018Jul 2019Sep 2022
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2010 to Mar 2025; peak Aug 2018 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2011 GMC Acadia

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Acadia model year

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

  1. 201043 (13%)
  2. 201133 (12%)
  3. 201243 (15%)
  4. 201327 (20%)
  5. 201434 (7%)
  6. 201518 (7%)
  7. 201621 (9%)
  8. 2017235 (33%)
  9. 2018163 (41%)
  10. 2019154 (40%)
  11. 202022 (21%)
  12. 202117 (11%)
  13. 20224 (8%)
  14. 202312 (28%)
  15. 20247 (12%)
  16. 20254 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 GMC Acadia have?
NHTSA lists 33 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2011 GMC Acadia, which is 12% of the 269 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2011 GMC Acadia?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2011 GMC Acadia.
At what mileage do transmission problems usually appear on the 2011 Acadia?
The median mileage at failure among reported cases is 71,796 miles.
What kind of transmission problems do owners report?
Owners report vehicles rolling away while parked, sudden loss of power with warning lights, delayed acceleration, and in some cases wheel lock-up or fire, based on NHTSA complaints.
How does 2011 compare to other Acadia years for this problem area?
The 2011 Acadia's 33 complaints and 12% share are lower than the 2017-2019 model years, which saw complaint counts of 235, 163, and 154 and shares of 33%, 41%, and 40% in this same area.

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.