2012 GMC Acadia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 GMC Acadia has a Complaint Index of 56, ranking 9th worst out of 19 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. It has 296 complaints, 5 recalls, and its top problem area is the Electrical System with 57 complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 56/100
- #9 of 19 Acadia years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 296
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 23.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2012 GMC Acadia problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System57 (19%)
- Structure & Body48 (16%)
- Steering46 (16%)
- Engine45 (15%)
- Other43 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain43 (15%)
- Airbags33 (11%)
- Fuel System24 (8%)
- Brakes19 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers11 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Daytime running light bulbs fail repeatedly, with the base and plastic harness found burnt and melted.
- Steering can pop or bump suddenly at highway speed, causing the wheel to spin left then right before the vehicle veers sharply and loses control.
- Front and side airbags have failed to deploy in crashes, including one where the vehicle went through a garage door while braking.
- Rear airbags have deployed while front airbags did not, even during a tire blowout that sent the vehicle into a ditch.
- Transmission shifts improperly and resists engaging, with no diagnostic codes found by technicians.
- Accelerator pedal disengagement causes RPM to rise without the vehicle actually accelerating, requiring a dealer computer reflash.
2012 GMC Acadia recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
2012 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.
2012 compared with other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 GMC Acadia reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Acadia has a Complaint Index of 56 and ranks 9th worst out of 19 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It is not among the worst Acadia years but also not among the better ones.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Acadia?
- NHTSA complaints point to the Electrical System as the top problem area with 57 complaints (19% share), followed by Structure & Body with 48 complaints and Steering with 46 complaints.
- Does the 2012 GMC Acadia have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Acadia, covering airbags, structure and body, seat belts, and visibility and wipers components.
- What year GMC Acadia should I avoid instead of 2012?
- Among Acadia years, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017, and 2019 carry Avoid verdicts with higher Complaint Index values than the 2012 model's 56.
- How many complaints does the 2012 GMC Acadia have involving crashes or fires?
- NHTSA records 8 crashes and 2 fires among the 296 complaints filed for the 2012 Acadia, with 17 reported injuries and no deaths.