2021 GMC Acadia

2021 GMC Acadia recalls (2)

• FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

  General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel supply lines may be improperly attached and seated.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace fuel supply lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212335590.

• BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the coaxial cables, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222378380.

2021 GMC Acadia safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2021 GMC Acadia owner complaints (15)

• SERVICE BRAKES

  While driving the brake vacuum pump exploded leading to catastrophic brake failure. My husband was driving and was able to stand on the brakes to get the car to stop, but had i been driving, I am not strong enough to have stopped the car. I have 3 children with my youngest being 1. If this had happened with me and my kids, we could have had a major wreck and/or DIED! GM is aware of the brake vacuum pump issues but does not have a recall on the part. The braske assist light did not come on the dash until brakes were lost.

• STEERING

  No incident but steering assisted reduced could cause an issue. Also the fix is to reset the computer by detaching the negative pole on the battery. This could be an issue due to the heat in the car someone could get burned.

• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I have seen numerous complaints for this same issue. My 2021 Acadia with 31,600 miles failed to start when parked in garage. It turned over just fine but wouldn't fire as if it wasn't getting any fuel. I had it towed to my regular mechanic. He troubleshot it and told me it was the "Fuel Pump Power Control Module". He said he could replace it but it would have to be programmed by a GM dealer as he didn't have the equipment to do that. So I had it towed to the local GMC dealer. Two tow bills equal $360. There is a recall for this issue. It is called "Emission Recall N252516900, Fuel Pump Power Control Module". part number 13554820 I have yet to receive a recall notice. I have seen mentioned in several of the other complaints that I have read that many of the service employees say that this has been an ongoing issue for several of the GM vehicles. Hopefully I will get a recall notice soon and be able to get reimbursed for the cost of the repair.

• SERVICE BRAKES

  My brake pedal got stiff when I was driving. I had zero control of my brakes. I was informed by a GMC dealership that my BRAKE BOOSTER blew up causing my brakes to stop working and metal shrapnel to be sent into my engine. My 2021 vehicle is a complete loss. GMC has done NOTHING to help me.

• SUSPENSION

  The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was unintendedly drifting to the right. The vehicle was taken to Dally Tire Company, where it was diagnosed with rear links failure and misalignment. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer scheduled an appointment and provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,200.

• SERVICE BRAKES

  I was driving and all of a sudden my break pedal was inoperable. It was stiff and unable to be used. Luckily I was only going 40 MPH. I pulled into a parking lot and my car started shaking and apparently the metal parts from the vacuum pump blew into my engine, which completely wrecked my engine. I nearly could have died and now my 2021 car is completely destroyed.

• STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  Display suddenly says "Steering assistance reduced, drive with care" Temp gauge goes to C and stays there. Radiator fans speed up and stay on after the car has been turned off. Dealer unable to find a diagnostic code for the problem.

• STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE

  My thermostat failed in my car, my temp goes out and reads at 0° then my steering assist says it’s reduced. There are many forums online regarding this issue.

• POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  This is a very known issue that has been reoccurring with GMC Acadia. The torque converter slipping. That cost alone is over $7.000 for the transmission. I am still making monthly payments for my 2021 Acadia. With rising cost above the board GMC could have resolved this issue before releasing this vehicle to the public for purchase. Only had this vehicle for 2 years and already a new transmission is needed. Other individuals i personally know have the same issue. From my research GMC is aware and fails to do a recall on this issue.

• ENGINE

  I am submitting this complaint regarding ongoing mechanical and electrical issues with my 2021 GMC ACADIA that have been occurring intermittently for approximately the past year and a half. The primary issues involve the coolant temperature sensor, thermostat system, engine cooling fan, and dashboard warning messages. The vehicle repeatedly experiences problems related to the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat. During these episodes, the engine cooling fan continues running even after the vehicle has been turned off, sometimes for an extended period of time. In addition, the dashboard frequently displays the warning message: “Steering Assist is Reduced – Drive With Care.” These warning messages and symptoms occur off and on without consistent resolution. The vehicle has already undergone repairs, including replacement of the radiator, yet the problems continue to return. Despite previous service attempts, the underlying issue has not been permanently corrected. The recurring nature of these problems raises concerns about the reliability, safety, and dependability of the vehicle, especially considering the steering assist warning and possible overheating or electrical system concerns connected to the cooling system malfunction. The repeated failures have caused significant inconvenience, concern for safe operation of the vehicle, loss of confidence in the vehicle’s reliability, and ongoing disruption due to repeated repair needs. I am requesting a thorough diagnosis and permanent repair of the coolant temperature sensor, thermostat, cooling fan system, and any related electrical or control module issues contributing to these recurring problems.

• ENGINE

  Bought the acadia in june of 2021, in december of 2022 had to have the radiator replaced due to it leaking. This was found on routine maintenance and was not having any issues whatsoever. I received no alerts on my dash such as a check engine light. Fast Forward to March 2026, I received a message of "steering assist reduced. drive with care." The engine seemed like it was still running despite the car being off. This was happening intermittently and definitely not every time I drove. I made an appointment for the regular oil change and to have this message investigated. Initially they told me it was the temperature regulator, however, they put a new regulator on and tried to re-pressurize the system. The system failed to re-pressurize due to the radiator leaking AGAIN. Of course, there was a 2 year warranty on the radiator after it was replaced initially and now we are about a 1.5 years outside the warranty.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The camera system has failed. The screen is black and there is an exclamation point and a camera on the screen.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Rear view camera won’t display when out in reverse. Also, when the camera does come on, it’ll flicker off and on

• SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  On March 27, 2026, I experienced a complete brake failure while driving a 2021 GMC Acadia in a school zone at approximately 3:00 PM. When I pressed the brake pedal, the vehicle did not respond. I attempted multiple times, including using the emergency brake, which did not activate immediately. The vehicle remained in motion for several minutes in an area with children and parents present. The emergency brake only engaged after approximately 30–45 seconds of repeated attempts. I was forced to steer off the road to avoid a collision. The vehicle had been inspected at a GM dealership on March 16, 2026, just eleven days prior, where the brake system was evaluated and no issues were identified. After the incident, the dealership diagnosed a leaking vacuum pump, which is a component that supports the brake booster system. This failure occurred without warning and created a dangerous situation. I am concerned this may indicate a broader safety defect.

• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the coolant fan was running after the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone to be diagnosed due to the check engine warning light being illuminated. The contact was informed that DTC: P1098; was retrieved, which indicated a fault with the coolant control valve. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the coolant control valve had failed. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact related the failure to the Manufacturer Recall Number: N252508341. However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.