The best and worst GMC Acadia years, by the numbers
Short answer: among GMC Acadias old enough to judge (2006–2022), the 2006, 2013, 2020 and 2022 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2008–2009, 2014 and 2017 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2008 GMC Acadia · 121.2 per 10,000 sold (3.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Automatic transmission internals, typically around 75,000 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2009 GMC Acadia · 60.8 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Power steering pump, rack and lines, typically around 68,750 miles; then wiring harness, grounds and connectors.
2014 GMC Acadia · 54.9 per 10,000 sold (1.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 76,500 miles; then body control and other modules.
2017 GMC Acadia · 63.1 per 10,000 sold (1.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Transmission control module and sensors, typically around 36,000 miles; then body control and other modules.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 GMC Acadia · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2013 GMC Acadia · 15.0 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 97,000 miles.
2020 GMC Acadia · 13.6 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 3,300 miles.
2022 GMC Acadia · 9.1 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 28,000 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical GMC Acadia year: 34.9 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the GMC Acadia?
Among GMC Acadias old enough to judge (2006–2022), the 2008 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 121.2, about 3.5× a typical GMC Acadia year. The 2009, 2014 and 2017 also stand out.
What is the best year for the GMC Acadia?
The 2006 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among GMC Acadias from 2006–2022: 0.0, against 34.9 for a typical year. The 2013, 2020 and 2022 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2008 GMC Acadia?
The most-reported problem on the 2008 GMC Acadia is automatic transmission internals, typically around 75,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest GMC Acadia years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.