2007 GMC Acadia Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report transmission trouble most often — hard or delayed shifting, slipping, loss of power and, in several cases, complete failure that required a rebuild or replacement. Power steering complaints (loss of assist, whining noise, leaking rack) are the second theme and often appear at lower mileage than the transmission reports. Water leaks from the sunroof and drain areas, airbag warning lights and electrical faults are also described repeatedly, many of them on vehicles well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hard shifting, slipping and failure

   • 167 complaints (39%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (153 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,550 (median of 34 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2023

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifts, especially from second to third gear, and sudden slipping where engine speed rises while the vehicle does not accelerate. Some owners report the vehicle dropping into neutral or losing forward or reverse motion at low speed or when merging, and some had the transmission rebuilt or replaced, with the problem returning in a few cases. Dealers or independent shops diagnosed internal transmission failure, and owners often note the repair was outside warranty. Reported mostly between roughly 50,000 and 115,000 miles, often during acceleration or merging.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the unit has been rebuilt or replaced; on a test drive watch for delayed or firm shifts and any hesitation when accelerating from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on my way to work. Stopped at light. Light changed. I attempted to move and could not accelerate over 10 MPH. Turned the corner. Had to pull into a business parking lot which is where I was stuck until a tow truck came because I could not move forward. I was told by the mechanic who repaired the transmission that I was not the only one he had seen who had problems with this particular transmission. Also, if you google 2007 Acadia transmission, you will see several, several individuals with the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10593561, filed 2014-05, 94,659 miles

   “Prior to having the transmission break down the vehicle had been shifting hard from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. Starting up a small grade from a stand still the transmission suddenly began slipping at about 20mph. The vehicle would not shift and the engine light came on. I was only about 1 mile from home so I drove it home at about 25mph. At home I put it in reverse and it would not go into reverse. Took it to a transmission shop the next day, they called me back later that day and told me it needed a new transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10494385, filed 2013-01, 66,712 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist drops out; whining and leaks

   • 76 complaints (18%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,525 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2020

   Owners describe the steering becoming suddenly heavy at low speed or during turns, sometimes with a whining or groaning noise, and in some complaints the steering was hard to move at highway speed or in rain. Repairs cited in complaints include the power steering pump, the steering gear, the rack and pinion assembly and hoses, and some owners report the same symptom returning after repair. Several say the dealer described the condition as known but the vehicle was out of warranty. Reported from under 30,000 miles up to about 125,000 miles, with many reports below 70,000 miles; some note it occurs in wet weather.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for seepage at the rack and hoses, listen for whine while turning at idle, and ask whether the pump or rack has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Low beam headlights go out. I've also taken the vehicle in many times for noise in the steering column. Eventually, I lose my power steering. Everytime, they tell me there is a leak or steering gear problem and it has been repaired but it continues to happen. Im taking it in for the 4th or 5th time now to repair the squeak in the steering. This vehicle is 5 years old and its been in the shop more than any other car that I have owned.”

   NHTSA complaint #10471399, filed 2012-08, 18,205 miles

   “I have a 2007 Gmc Acadia with 59,000 miles on it. At 29,000 miles on it, they replaced the power steering pump. Now at 59,000 they are saying it needs a steering rack and pinion assembly and possibly a pump. After doing some research online, I found that these items have a very high failure rate in these vehicles. This seems like an obvious defect that would be very dangerous, especially considering that when these parts fail, the vehicle is almost if not definitely impossible to steer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10396894, filed 2011-04, 29,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Water leaks from sunroof and drains onto floor and electrics

   • 99 complaints (23%)
   • median 61,087 mi at 5.7 yrs old (78 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Complaints describe rain or wash water entering from the sunroof, roof, third-row lights and seat belts, and pooling in the front and rear floor areas. Owners report damp carpets, mildew odor and, in several cases, electrical symptoms afterward such as inoperative chimes, turn signals, radio or door locks. Dealers are described as clearing clogged drain tubes or resealing, with the leak returning after heavy rain in some cases. Reported from about 16,000 miles up to 150,000 miles, typically after rain or while the vehicle sits nose-up.

   What to check: Look for water stains, damp or musty carpet and mildew under the mats, and ask whether the sunroof drains have been cleaned or resealed; a water test before purchase is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gmc please take accountability for the sunroof leak issue! Years of data, almost 100 complaints, someone should already know about this and have a solution! My car has serious leaking issues from the sunroof above the driver, electrical to cabin doesn't always work except dash lights, and headlights/turn signals work sporadically. The locks work when they're in the mood. Also means AC/heat works sometimes..I live up north and it's 24 today. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386060, filed 2021-01, 216,000 miles

   “We have had water leaking in through our third row lights, and through the 3rd row seat belts, and under the dash when it rains. The car is usually in a tilt when this happens (front up), and it gets worse as I drive. I can usually hear the water sloshing around. I took it to our local dealership and they stated the drain tubes were clogged, so they unclogged them. I spent $350, and 2 days later, when we had a big rain, it was leaking even more than ever. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10789891, filed 2015-11, 116,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and electrical faults

   • 115 complaints (27%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (106 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Complaints describe intermittent stalling at speed, no-crank or no-start conditions sometimes with a security light, and repeated alternator and battery replacements without a lasting fix. Owners also report traction control and StabiliTrak warnings appearing along with power steering loss, and in some cases windows, chimes or radio failing after water intrusion. Reported mostly between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, often during normal driving at highway speed.

   Recall 10V240000Recall 08V4410002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery, alternator or grounds have been serviced and whether any software updates were applied; check that warning lights behave normally on a cold start and after a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on the freeway the check stability control warning flashes and the motor gets really loud. Cleaned the ground wires and the motor is no longer making the loud noise or jerking but not my seat heaters no longer work and now the battery light flashes but just 2 months ago I replaced the battery and alternator! All of this happens while driving!”

   NHTSA complaint #11362199, filed 2020-10, 156,000 miles

   “2007 Gmc Acadia, has had problem steering issues since purchased, loud whining noise from power steering, steering was fine for a along while even with the noise but now power steering, issues in electrical system, windows not always rolling down. Blinkers work but no sound and radio doesn't play. Makemodelyear Gmc Acadia 2007”

   NHTSA complaint #11341911, filed 2020-07, 124,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and passenger seat sensor

   • 56 complaints (13%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners report the service airbag light coming on, with the front passenger airbag shown as off even when someone is seated. Complaints describe dealers replacing the passenger presence sensor or airbag module, and some owners note the vehicle was not covered by the airbag sensing module recall. In other cases the dealer found no fault or the vehicle was not repaired. Reported from around 6,000 miles to about 92,000 miles, at varied ages of the vehicle.

   Recall 07V062000

   What to check: Turn the key on and confirm the airbag light goes out, then have someone sit in the passenger seat and check that the passenger airbag indicator reads on; ask whether the recall for the sensing and diagnostic module was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service airbag light illuminated in the dash; technical service bulletin available to dealer for similar issue only covers the airbag connector not the airbag module, which has gone out in this vehicle, on the passenger side. I have discussed with dealer and GM and they are unwilling to repair this safety issue. This appears to be a common defect in the 2007, 2008 Gmc Acadia as well as the buick enclave and early chevy traverse. A simple internet review will show multiple complaints. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10523791, filed 2013-07, 75,000 miles

   “Passenger side air bag will turn off & on - sensor in seat will not recognize when someone is sitting in it or if they shift their weight or move in any way it will turn the airbag off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10568516, filed 2014-03, 64,517 miles

Buying note. Given how often transmission and power steering repairs appear in these complaints, a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this platform is worth the cost. Also check for water leaks and confirm which open recalls have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.