NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 296 owner complaints for the 2012 GMC Acadia.
Recalled components: air bags, body structure, seat belts, and visibility. Most-described problem: liftgate or tailgate problems (24 complaints, 8%). Most-reported area: steering (46 complaints, 16%; median mileage when it happened: 73,100).
Fewer complaints than a typical Acadia year
The 2012 drew 36 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 40 for a typical Acadia year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2017 and 2018; best years: 2016, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles.
Snow or ice buildup on the windshield or on the wiper may restrict the movement of the wiper arm, causing the wiper arm to loosen and cause the wiper to become inoperative.
Risk: If this occurs, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 20, 2012.
Gm's safety recall campaign number is 12036. Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 chevrolet traverse, buick enclave, and gmc acadia vehicles currently registered in alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, north dakota, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming and the district of columbia.
NHTSA listing: ACADIA. GMC campaign 12036.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations that name the 2012 GMC Acadia; both are closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Outboard front seat belt anchor cable failure
Engineering analysis EA20002Closed Aug 30, 2024 (opened Aug 31, 2020)
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003.
Recall query RQ19003Closed Aug 31, 2020 (opened May 28, 2019)
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front… NHTSA's full summary
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. A recall query is a review of whether a recall covered the right vehicles or whether its fix works. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Acadia. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Liftgate or tailgate problems24 · 8%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Shaking, shuddering or vibration23 · 8%
Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling21 · 7%
Median 75,500 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Power steering problems or locked steering20 · 7%
Median 75,000 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Check engine light18 · 6%
Headlight or exterior light problems17 · 6%
Median 71,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode14 · 5%
Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)14 · 5%
Median 73,100 miles at failure, from 39 reports with mileage
Powertrain43 · 15%
Median 98,300 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Body structure42 · 14%
Most named: body (24); body, hatchback/liftgate (9) · Median 62,400 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Electrical system41 · 14%
Median 84,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Engine35 · 12%
Median 95,500 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Air bags33 · 11%
Median 81,000 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system22 · 7%
Median 60,000 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Unknown or other39 · 13%
Median 92,000 miles at failure, from 25 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
GMC Acadia recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2012 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2017 Acadia drew the most (229) and the 2012 drew 36.
Owner complaints
2012: 296 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, GMC Acadia
Model year
Complaints
2010
343
2011
269
2012
296
2013
135
2014
462
2015
243
2016
236
2017
704
2018
396
2019
386
2020
105
2021
149
2022
49
2023
43
2024
61
2025
65
2026
9
Safety recalls
2012: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, GMC Acadia
Model year
Recalls
2010
4
2011
5
2012
5
2013
3
2014
6
2015
4
2016
4
2017
4
2018
2
2019
2
2020
6
2021
2
2022
3
2023
4
2024
0
2025
0
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 296 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 GMC Acadia, the problems described most are liftgate or tailgate problems (24), shaking, shuddering or vibration (23), and steering rack problems such as sticking, play or pulling (21). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2012 GMC Acadia safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2012 GMC Acadia earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2012 GMC Acadia?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2012 GMC Acadia. It lists 2 closed ones; the most recent closed on Aug 30, 2024.
How do I check if my Acadia has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at GMC dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: ACADIA.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.