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2009 Gmc Acadia

The Verdict

40 Proceed with Caution

The 2009 Gmc Acadia has 332 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (128 complaints) and engine (83 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 40/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Gmc Acadia, consider the 2023 model year which has 88% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2023 has 88% fewer complaints

View the 2023 Gmc Acadia dashboard →

40

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2007111410065151
200819921249152235
20091282658354
20101594628637
20111087826419
20121325715834
2013291612521
20146562387129
20157141192419
20165041101317
20171663120171212
2018119156838147
201988117556140
2020255223311
20213018305313
20221419183
2023928127
20241321794
20251135552

By Category

Body
128
Engine
83
Electrical
65
Transmission
54
Brakes
2

By Severity

1
150
2
150
3
11
4
21

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

There was a recall for gmc premature timing chain engine recall. This recall was complete in 2011 but it did not fix the problem. The timing chain keeps breaking off the cam shaft sensor and needs to be replaced.

12mo ago
Body 1

The vehicle tire system lights came on the air bag sensor light Car did not fill safe driving no control on the road unstable on turns car was sold one lug muissing front tire ,returned car several times last time I took the vehicle was due to drivesrs back wheel wobbling so bad , Someone followeing said it looked like tire was coming off . the owner said it was fine , put it on the rack let me drive off , I drove it and it was very unstable to drive and took it to Nor cal Tires Ukiah Ca they informed me it was not safe to drive .

27mo ago
Engine 1

The stabilizer/traction control keeps going off and it will stay off.i can turn,hit a bump or start it up and the traction control/stabilizer system is off.i almost had a accident on the freeway in the rain because it turned off out of nowhere and I almost lost control. Also I was going down the road and all of a sudden my vehicle died and I had little control over vehicle. Once it came to stop it would not start again and when attempting it sounded like something was stuck in my fan or something because of the way it rattled and sounded and was rough sounding. Vehicle was inoperable and had to be towed. Upon investigating it was the timing chain kit that had failed suddenly for no apparent reason. Vehicle was well maintained and kept accordance with running policies and practices required and suggested by manufacturer. Still the failing caused engine damage that is well in to the several thousands of dollars and engine must be replaced due to this issue failing and I have noticed several thousand people having this same very issue and rendering them a foot and vehicle less due to the high cost of fixing without any warning or engine light or code suggesting of the timing chain kit failing or about to fail before stranding a person wherever and whenever unexpectedly and suddenly without any warning or check engine light at all. No OEM code to validate the issue either. Manufacturer should be held liable for the exact same issue occuring in so many of the multitude of people experiencing the same exact issue causing financial turmoil and risk of disaster or collision and harm when the timing chain kit fails suddenly. This is a huge and vast problem I have found with multitude of Acadia owners and should be addressed because to not honor a issue of so many experiencing the same issue occuring should be reconciled and corrected at the manufacturer cost due to it being their liability in making the faulty part of device to begin with causing vast financial hardships.

29mo ago
Transmission 2

The stabilizer/traction control keeps going off and it will stay off.i can turn,hit a bump or start it up and the traction control/stabilizer system is off.i almost had a accident on the freeway in the rain because it turned off out of nowhere and I almost lost control

32mo ago
Body 1

When it rains the drainage holes in the sunroof of the vehicle do not drain properly. The water runs down the side of the passenger side window in the front and on the circuit/fuse box in the front. When this happens, the water effects the driving. The vehicle will get sluggish and eventually cut off when the circuit/fuse box gets wet. The vehicle had a recall in approximately 2015 and I took it to be serviced. I think the problem is reproduced. I had no warnings of this type of issue. This just happened in April 2023 when I was caught in a storm.

36mo ago
Electrical 1

Airbag light keeps flashing had it checked at a dealer said it needs new module on passenger side. Airbag won’t deploy if there’s a crash.

37mo ago
Electrical 2

Stabilitrak system in 2009 gmc Acadia randomly acts up disabling abs system and traction control. Also randomly get a low oil pressure warning light but oil level, temperature is fine and no noises smoke or performance decline. Used different scan tools to read codes and the vechile has none listed. Changed numerous sensors and the problem is never resolved

38mo ago
Body 1

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia equipped with Dean tires, Tire Line: Back Country Touring H/T, Tire Size: 255/65/R19, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the tire retailer for snow tire replacement, the technician informed the contact that the rear driver's side tire had three slashes along the sidewall. The technician confirmed that the tires could not be replaced due to the tires no longer being manufactured. The tires were not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,712.

38mo ago
Engine 2

Got code po0008 crank sensor/cam did resurch said timming chain replaced complete chain still noisey changed cam phasers and sensors still making noise it is so frustrating bee going on 3 weeks I'm disabled not easy to work on myself being I'm a master technician and this has really been mind boggling

39mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after purchase of the vehicle, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled while driving at 45 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. Despite the failure, the contact was able to coast the vehicle to a stop as the vehicle failed to restart after multiple attempts. The contact's husband inspected the engine and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact's husband replaced the crank shaft position sensor, purge valve, high pressure tank, fuel pump, and battery; however, the failure persisted. The contact then towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it diagnosed with engine failure due to the timing chain, and a cylinder #1 and #5 defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle related to the engine. The vehicle remained in possession of the mechanic unrepaired. The failure mileage was 194,726.

45mo ago
Electrical 1

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that a fuel module had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V614000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 148,000.

46mo ago
Body 1

The contact's daughter owns a 2009 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized without warning. His daughter restarted the vehicle and resumed normal driving operation. The contact stated that the failure recurred while his daughter's boyfriend was driving the vehicle later on that same evening. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a defective rack and pinion. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

49mo ago
Transmission 2

The wire harness corroded , and it caused everything in my car to stop working my back passenger window won’t go down , my back driver side cannot be put up or down from the back , my airbag light is now on and now my car will not shift while driving to allow me to drive it over 30mph .. I’ve paid the dealer almost $1400 to fix wiring. I’ve owned the car exactly a year now

50mo ago
Body 4

I’m unsure what caused my 09 Acadia to catch fire, but it burned the longest and hottest under the engine. I need help.

57mo ago
Electrical 2

The sunroof has leaked into my passanger floor making my car battery full of water legit my whole battery is under water! This is the second time the sunroof has leaked ! I still don’t understand why they would put a battery behind my passanger seat infront of the back seat on the floor this is very dangerous. Second I still have no clue why this car has no recalls because if you look this car up it has so many problems it’s a lemon car for sure I had to put a catalytic converters in my car three times the same one three times and then the last time I changed all three of them when only one needed to be changed! I have cruise control stable track and wheel speed sensors lights on my car that I have changed everything possible to fix the light won’t come of I changed all the wheel speed sensors and the light with still not come off the dash I’m still very confused on to why there are no recalls on this vechile all these problems I’m telling your are all on google that this same suv other people have have the same issues I’m having

57mo ago
Engine 1

Engine jumped out of time driving down the road

58mo ago
Engine 1

1.)What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A.) To start with i went in to the dealership for a timing chain recall they said the work was performed. This was never done all they did was replace ECU from an older car so that the code would not come back (REPLACED WITH A 2002 ECU) to get rid of the timing chain recall code. this code never existed in 2002..Complete negligence these SUV could hurt or kill someone B.)Huge Electrical issue suv stops on its own while driving. Sometimes does not start at all. can not pass emission for the life of it .. new codes all the time i have replaced just about Every sensor and switch there is.. . this is a money pit and death trap.. C.) The Investigation NHTSA should have included the Lambda Frame it's the same design flaw they're trying to fix one problem with an old problem. The ones on these have this fixed tie rods, lateral arms and upper control arms the bushings will wear out eventually and repeat the bouncing up and down rocking back and forth rear end barely staying on the ground it's a very dangerous ride and you see these vehicles on the expressway on a daily basis you look at them for what you know now I get really nervous seeing these vehicles. Arcadia rollovers Call it what you will it's the same problem the needs a total redesign it's defective anyway you look at it. Just looking to how many Roll over there are with this body frame and suspension it's got its own self-contained pit maneuver. I believe GM is aware of these issues that's why they're giving everybody a hard time to fix it they run and say something else. Looks like we're getting back to too big to fail. D.) What makes this vehicle even more unsafe and very dangerous is the fact that the reluctor wheel can slip. This will sundown false DTC codes thinking that problems exist other places spending lots of money an unnecessary work when along GM knew about this problem once again.

60mo ago
Electrical 1

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, THEN WILL STAY OFF FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN STARTS THE SAME PROCESS AGAIN. CAN BE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY AFTER PARKING, BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING.

65mo ago
Engine 2

I GO THROUGH HEADLIGHTS EVERY 6 MONTHS THIS LAST TIME, MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOT REPLACED AND TWO DAYS LATER IT WENT OUT AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I WENT AND GOT NEW BULB AND IT DID NOT WORK, AFTER INSPECTING THE THE WIRING WE NOTICED IT WAS BURNT UP AND NEED REPLACED, GMC SAID IT'S ON US. WE HAVE SPOKE WITH GMC ABOUT OUR ENGINE BURNING OIL WHICH THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF AND THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO HELP BUT GMC REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING MY CAR SEND A SIGNAL TELLING ME TO TURN OFF THE CAR OR STARTS MISS FIRING EVERY WHICH WAY AND GIVES CODES SAYING I NEED NEW COILS WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OFF SAYING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE CALIBRATION GET OFF, IT TOOK MCDANIEL'S TO FIGURE IT OUT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON ELECTRONICS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NO LONGER COMES OUT PROPERLY AND NEEDS SOMETHING REPLACED SO THAT IT WILL GO UP ON THE WINDSHIELD.

68mo ago
Electrical 4

MY FUSE BOX MELTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE

69mo ago

332 total

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