Common Problems with the 2019 GMC Acadia

Powertrain, Transmission Issues:

“Vehicle has been bucking and jerking when trying to accelerate. Going up a hill is scary (especially with my kids in the car) because it slows the car down trying to find a gear. Dealership says it's a torque converter but since so many Acadia's are being recalled for transmission issues, we feel ours should be included as well. Dealership is making us pay for a transmission flush which doesn't make sense because if it weren't for these issues, we wouldn't need to have a flush.”

“The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed however the vehicle failed to increase in speed and started to jerk. The ‘service stability track’ warning message was displayed. The failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to an auto store where there were no codes reported by the diagnostic tool. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,600.”

“The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound inside the cabin of the vehicle while driving with the windows rolled down. Additionally, the automatic emergency braking activated without driver input. The vehicle was taken to rancho grande motors located at 1404 auto park way, san luis obispo, ca 93405, where the contact was informed that the issue was common with similar vehicles. The automatic emergency braking failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 500. The consumer stated the dvd would turn on it. The dealer stated it could be due to a missing remote that was not included with the vehicle. The parking brake would activate independently. The check engine light was illuminated. The steering and engine reduced power the warning light illuminated. The headrest dvd player do not play through the speakers. The wireless phone charger was often inoperable. The second gear does the not shift properly. The dash and radio periodically lose power. The windows make a loud obnoxious noise when rolled down”

Electrical Problems:

“There have been no reported recalls yet my vehicle is on it's third battery since purchasing it? How is this possible?”

“My 2019 GMC Acadia started having the known "Shift to Park" issue that is affecting these make/models. This is a known issue and GMC has not issued a recall for it, nor are they covering any cost of repair. When the car is put into Park, the screen displays a message that says "Shift to Park". This results in being unable to turn the car off. The vehicle will not lock either when the message is displayed. On several occasions, the car would not start because of this issue. We took it to the dealer and they are fixing the issue for just over $500 USD.”

“The vehicle’s steering assist reduced, drive with care notification came on. The vehicle lost steering assist control and made it very difficult to steer. The slightest move causes a major shift in the intended direction. This is very dangerous.”

Brake Problems:

“The vehicle did not stop properly when the brakes were applied hard to avid a collision.”

“My 2019 GMC Acadia has abruptly automatically braked while driving between 10- 15 mph and without any cars near the vehicle. It slams on the brake like it's the parking brake and makes a grinding noise.. this has occurred on 2 different occasions. After the 1st time the service parking brake light came on. The dealership said it was related to a faulty battery because I received an onstar notice about my battery.. it occurred again after having the battery replaced.”

“The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the brake pedal was applied but failed to slow the vehicle down. As a result, the contact rear ended a Chevrolet Tahoe. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The contact sustained soreness to the body and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop for structural damage. The contact stated that after the vehicle was in her possession the safety restraint system service message was displayed. The fuel gauge went from full to empty in seconds and the engine stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the brakes were bleed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 33, 717.”

Engine Problems:

“Thermostat gets stuck, generally in open state. AC also is disabled in this condition, soft code (no MIL) mentions "limited steering available" and temp gauge on dash goes to 0. Hard code eventually comes (solid Check Engine light on the dash). Code, MIL, and temp gauge can be cleared and fixed by disconnecting battery negative terminal and reconnecting it, and it will run consistently for a while, though it will return. Online there are no thermostat modules for this engine available (3.6L V6, also in Cadillac XT6, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse) showing that thermostat replacement is widespread. Online forum searches also describe widespread thermostat issues for this engine, at roughly $1200 per fix. A reliable thermostat is critical for long-term engine functionality, and should not need replacement at half of design life (~75-80k miles). Though this one tends to fail open instead of close, overcooling of an engine still could have its own issues, and failing closed could lead to engine overheating.”

“While driving the temperature gauge shuts down completely to C - the check engine light comes on and a message appears on the dash saying "Steering Assist Reduce Drive With Care". Any air conditioning goes from cold to hot and the fan under the hood goes to high automatically and wont shut off. We have been informed that this is a known error that has existed for a long time now, with no recalls to date. I cannot schedule my vehicle for repairs yet because I do not have the money to pay for the repairs. They are saying that the placement of the thermostat and sensor, which need to be replaced in order to fix this problem, are located in a very difficult spot to get to. Saying that it will take upwards of 4-5 hours to get everything fixed, which increases the amount of money to fix this issue. My 2019 GMC Acadia just started doing this about 2 months ago and I have 54000 miles.”

“During takeoff with moderate acceleration around 1500-2000 RPM there is an exhaust droning/buzzing sound forward of the front passenger area. Vehicle has been to dealer twice, the first time they replaced the entire exhaust system, but after 6 months the same sound returned. The second time they tried to loosen and retighten the exhaust but the sound returned immediately afterward. The droning sound is more likely to occur after exhaust is warmed up.”

Exterior Lighting Problems:

“The headlights barely light up enough roadway to be of any use at night. Obviously can't drive with high beams constant. The only help is to use the fog/driving lights. However, that only lights up about 30 feet in front of the vehicle. Driving at night is hazardous to one's health as you cannot see far enough down the road to avoid anything that is imminent on the side of the road, you can not see to avoid anything on the side. PLEASE HELP. Also, the manual is explicit about not using aftermarket headlamp bulbs to try to correct the problem.”

“Headlights are so dim that it makes driving difficult and unsafe, particularly in rain and on rural, unlit roadways. Virtually unnoticeable change in lights when changing from dim to bright, and no side lighting whatsoever to allow visibility of deer/wildlife, etc. in ditches. Even turning from a highway onto a side road in rural areas is difficult and dangerous. I have found numerous complaints from others regarding this model, but no recalls or solutions.”

“I have a 2019 GMC Acadia that has had no vehicle damage and less than 29K miles. The vehicle has condensation in the headlamp on the right front. No damage at all to the vehicle. Clearly a defect in the seal. Doesn't even have to rain and moisture will be apparent in the headlamp. GMC has offered to pay 60% of the repair costs of a $400 part and $1200 labor bill. This clearly needs to be investigated since they have had issues in the past of headlamps issues in the Acadia models and others.”

Sources: www.nhtsa.gov, carcomplaints.com

California Lemon Law and How Valero Law Can Assist

The California Lemon Law provides protection for consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles that have significant defects that the manufacturer or authorized dealership cannot repair after a reasonable number (two or more) of attempts. If you have a 2019 GMC Acadia that experiences persistent problems covered under warranty and the manufacturer or dealership has been unable to fix them, you may be eligible for relief under the California Lemon Law.

At Valero Law, we specialize in providing support to individuals facing challenges like those encountered with the 2019 GMC Acadia. Possessing an in-depth understanding of the intricacies involved in Lemon Law cases, we are well-equipped to expertly navigate you through the legal process. Whether it involves skillful negotiation with the manufacturer to secure a buyback or replacement, or initiating a legal claim to safeguard your rights, we are dedicated to championing your interests. If the persistent issues with your GMC Acadia are diminishing your driving experience, it's advisable to seriously consider leveraging our expertise to explore your options and pursue a resolution through the California Lemon Law.