2021 GMC Acadia Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Acadia years
- Fewer complaints than other years 13th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 151 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Acadia. That ranks 13th out of 20 Acadia model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (38 complaints, 25%), typically at around 4,800 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 3 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 151owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 GMC Acadia problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 38 | 25% | 4,800 | — | — |
| Engine | 29 | 19% | 34,573 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 25 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 20 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 12% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 17 | 11% | 4,063 | — | — |
| Steering | 17 | 11% | 27,792 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 6% | 8,100 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 7 | 5% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% | 15,146 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 6 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 41,485 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 3% | 17,700 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% | 27,100 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 107,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 GMC Acadia recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: 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.
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: Improperly attached and seated fuel supply lines may loosen or separate, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear-View Camera Failure (PE22006) — opened Jul 22, 2022, closed Nov 21, 2022, led to recall 22V709000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 2021 GMC Acadia steering wheel dangerously stiffened while I was turning off the road into a busy shopping parking lot making it difficult to continue my turn. Having to put on my brakes sharply as to not collide with the out going traffic. There was no warning prior to the incident and had to…
My 2021 GMC Acadia that has 63,768 miles on it was idling Wednesday 9/30 when it died and would not start back we had to have it towed to a shop to get it checked out and it was throwing the P023F code for the fuel pump control module that has a recall bulletin for the same thing make model problem…
While driving home from work the car displayed a "No Fuel" warning, despite having a full tank of gas. Within seconds of the display showing the car stalled out and stopped right in the middle of the road. It would not go into neutral and I had to be towed from the middle of the road to a mechanic…
On 9/08/2026 I was driving and almost got a wreck but I was able to get out and was going less the 25 and lost control of the vehicle and barely hit the curb and the two air bags went off and I was sent to the hospital
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…
Other GMC Acadia years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Acadia | 9 | 1 |
| 2025 Acadia | 67 | 0 |
| 2024 Acadia | 61 | 0 |
| 2023 Acadia | 45 | 4 |
| 2022 Acadia | 49 | 3 |
| 2021 | 151 | 2 |
| 2020 Acadia | 106 | 6 |
| 2019 Acadia | 387 | 2 |
| 2018 Acadia | 396 | 2 |
| 2017 Acadia | 705 | 4 |
| 2016 Acadia | 236 | 4 |
| 2015 Acadia | 243 | 4 |
| 2014 Acadia | 463 | 6 |
| 2013 Acadia | 135 | 3 |
| 2012 Acadia | 296 | 5 |
| 2011 Acadia | 269 | 5 |
| 2010 Acadia | 343 | 4 |
| 2009 Acadia | 331 | 7 |
| 2008 Acadia | 854 | 5 |
| 2007 Acadia | 428 | 5 |
See all GMC Acadia problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Acadia?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 38 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 GMC Acadia?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 GMC Acadia a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Acadia model years, the 2021 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.