repaired · 2023 Q1
Air bags: critical fasteners
Risk. Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
2011 GMC AcadiaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 269 owner complaints about the 2011 GMC Acadia, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-246 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 10, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 GMC Acadia has problems
269 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
64Steering
52Engine2 crash/fire/injury
47Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
38Exterior lighting5 crash/fire/injury
33Power train5 crash/fire/injury
19Air bags
16Electronic stability control (ESC)
13Vehicle speed control
10Service brakes
6615 other systems8 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 64 | 0 |
| Engine | 52 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 47 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 38 | 5 |
| Power train | 33 | 5 |
| Air bags | 19 | 3 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 16 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 66 | 8 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2011 GMC Acadia recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Seat belts
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.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags: side/window
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.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: linkages
Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with GMC.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
63kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 54 steering complaints. 74% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles40under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
16 owners mentioned a cost$1,550median
Middle half: $1,200 – $1,735
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Acadia year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Acadia median. How we score
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 GMC Acadia safety ratings
2011 GMC Acadia SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 GMC Acadia, and the recalls they led to.
- Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureLed to recall 21V-245
- Seat Belt Anchor Cable FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Acadia owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Looses power while driving. Cannot jump the battery it needs to be recharged every time. Power steering stops working while driving( low rpm and when stopped) dangerous for merging or lane changes. Engine shudders when trying to accelerate. TCM/ ECM replaced 2020. Problem still persists. Whining…
POWER STEERING RACK & HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING LINE. IF THIS FAILS WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY YOU WILL LOSE POWER STEERING CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO THE TIMING COVER IS LEAKING. BOTH OF THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH ALL GMC ACADIA SUV'S YET THE NHTSA HAS NOT…
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Acadia. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he used his knowledge of vehicles to depress the accelerator pedal, which raised the RPM and caused the…
Own a 2011 Acadia?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.