2021 GMC ACADIA Power Train Problems

15 complaints about Power Train

15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Power Train Complaints (15)

Jan 8, 2026

Cars is not keeping track of temperature showing engine is cold after 30 minutes of driving, fan runs for extended periods of time after shutting off, check engine light comes on, steering assist alert comes in screen. All of this happens in a cycle. To stop it the battery has to be unplugged and reconnected resetting the car and everything goes back to being fine for a short period of time.

Nov 23, 2025

The thermostat failed which cause the steering system to fail and car to not read temperature

Nov 6, 2025

Transmission feels like it’s slipping, almost like a jerky shift from any stop, seems like a common issue and should be recalled!

Oct 22, 2025

While driving, error popped up stating steering assist is reduced; drive with caution. Heat was no longer working. Engine temp was reading cold even though vehicle had been running for half hour and temp outside was 65 F. After vehicle was stopped, engine fan ran very loudly for at least 15 minutes. Took vehicle in to have diagnostics ran, and received error P0128 pointing to faulty engine coolant thermostat and sensor. Also received U0401 indicating insufficient data coming from ECM/PCM. I was told that together with U0401 and P0128 together indicate a communication problem between control modules. Check engine light was never on.

Oct 8, 2025

*Transmission or torque converter. *Vehicle shuddering or shaking at low speeds or when shifting. *Studders while trying to drive fromstop. Can casue accident. *No check engine lights or any warnings prior to failure. *Did not accuse anything when checked by diagnostice tool. *Issue started in Sept but is ongoing

Sep 22, 2025

Received message "Steering assist is reduced. Drive with care". This is related to a faulty thermostat and temperature sensor.

Jul 5, 2025

Driving out of state. My 2021 Acadia with 41,172 miles. When pushing the gas to go there is slippage when trying to accelerate. MY car went automatically into neutral saying transmission and then not start. After a rest period it would start then repeat the same issue. In bumper to bumper traffic on I75. The most Terrifying & UNSAFE place to be at 75 to 80 mph. We happened to be driving up on construction and slow down traffic. When the car stalled. Towed it to a transmission place because of code. They replaced the DTR1 PCM.

Mar 27, 2025

Vehicle gives, “Driver assist reduced Drive with care” warning randomly. Lane change will no longer work and engine light will come on. Problem is sporadic and does not stay active. Engine light will shut off after a day. Once vehicle is shut off cooling fan runs extremely loud and for a long period of time draining battery.

Mar 17, 2025

I have had nothing but issues with this vehicle from the day I purchased it. I should have been more leery of purchasing a vehicle with so few miles on it as a certified vehicle. First issue lift gate wouldn’t work. Had to have sensors replaced twice. Next was the purge valve sensor that has went bad 3 separate times. Then the crankcase vent sensor. Paid a fee for diagnostics, it was not repaired took it back when the engine light came back on, they replaced it without charging but I was advised it’s not covered under warranty. And most recently my check engine light came on yet again today now reading an issue with the engine cooling system. Unfortunately the dealer is so booked out, my only option is to drop it off and hope they can get it in by a cancellation or no show. Seems there are new issues ever 3-6 months with the car.

Dec 11, 2024 Crash

While driving vehicle stalled multiple times in the middle of the road, with service transmission and engine light coming on, causing unsafe conditions, causing accident and leaving passengers stranded. Battery being drained and needing to be replaced multiple times within 2 years. Vehicle stopping and shutting off on the highway causing dangerous driving conditions!! Radio and lights flickering, with radio freezing and shutting off. Electrical system not working properly and overheating!

Mar 1, 2024

My vehicle stops working while in traffic when the auto stop is engaged. The abs, parking brake, and dash flashes prior to the engine stopping. I have been to the dealership multiple times and they are never able to recreate the issue. The check engine light codes produced are P0014 and c0800-03.

Jan 25, 2022

Was accelerating to approx 45-50mph when the vehicle gave no power, but my RPMs were revving. Once removing my foot off the gas pedal and trying to get power back, after the 2nd or 3rd time I resumed power. The car has less than 9000 miles on it. Right after, a message alerted me to have the vehicle brought in for service, and the engine light came on. According to the dealership, the found code P0700 which is normal, followed by P7224, something I am unable to locate anywhere online. They said they tested everything and all came back normal. It's been noted and if it happens again to let them know. I'm not feeling comfortable paying 50K+ for a vehicle to have it go haywire under 10K miles.

Dec 15, 2021

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-60 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he continued to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission fluid needed to be replaced per the service bulletin #PIP5608H; however, the failure persisted. The dealer advised the contact to drive the vehicle for 200 miles and bring it back if the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to shudder and stall while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission torque converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 4,100.

Mileage: 4,100

Nov 4, 2021

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while stopped at a stop light and depressing the brake pedal, the engine revved up with the RPM’s increasing up to 15,000. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and vibrated as the transmission did a hard shift. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who took the vehicle on a 24-minute test drive and no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and no failure was able to be determined. The failure occurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 249.

Mileage: 249

Apr 23, 2021

WIFE WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON US287 BETWEEN VERNON, TX AND WICHITA FALLS, TX IN A 75MPH SPEED ZONE. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON SLOWED AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO CAUSE HER TO BEND FORWARD AT THE WAIST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE SPEED BECAME ERRATIC AND SHE SLOWED TO 25 WHILE MOVING ONTO THE SHOULDER. COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT HAD TRAFFIC NOT BEEN UNUSUALLY LIGHT. I AM ENCLOSING GM SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED IN JULY OF 2020 (I FOUND IT POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE) REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THIS CAR. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ISSUED .GM NHTSA SHOULD HAVE REQUIRED GM TO NOTIFY BUYERS OF THIS CONDITION PRIOR TO PURCHASE WHEN THE INHERENT POTENTIAL DEFECT FIRST BECAME APPARENT. WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW IN QUESTION ON 2 FEB 21 AND IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN JUST 4,063 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT.

Mileage: 4,063