2012 GMC Acadia Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 48 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 GMC Acadia, 16% of that year's 296 total complaints — the highest share of any model year. Most center on the power liftgate slamming shut unexpectedly, and one related recall (15V415000) addresses the liftgate actuator software.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 48
- 16% of 296
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 11
- Median mileage
- 62,368 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Power liftgate opens partway, shudders, then suddenly slams down without warning, in some cases striking the person unloading cargo.
- Liftgate closes on its own while the vehicle is parked, with the failure recurring multiple times for the same owner.
- Driver seat shifts or tilts backward on its own while driving, sometimes accompanied by an unusual noise, making the seat feel unbolted.
- Owners who received the liftgate recall notice (campaign 15V415000) report the repair part was unavailable, delaying the fix.
- A plastic air deflector's center tie fractured at highway speed and struck the windshield.
- Chrome trim on the dashboard reflects sunlight in a way that briefly blurs the driver's vision.
When 2012 GMC Acadia body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 15, 2012, latest Aug 4, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2012 GMC Acadia
- 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.
Structure & Body complaints by Acadia model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Structure & Body complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 GMC Acadia?
- NHTSA lists 48 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Acadia, which is 16% of that year's 296 total complaints — the highest percentage among all Acadia model years shown.
- Is there a recall related to these complaints?
- Yes. Recall 15V415000 covers the power liftgate actuator motor control unit; GM's remedy is a software update, and it is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
- What is the most common structure or body problem reported?
- The most frequently described problem is the power liftgate slamming down unexpectedly or closing on its own while parked.
- At what mileage do these issues typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2012 Acadia is 62,367.5 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Were there any injuries linked to these complaints?
- NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2012 Acadia shows 11 injuries and 1 crash reported.