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EnginePart report

2009 GMC Acadia Engine Problems

Complaints
67about this part
Share
20%of 331 total for the year
Median mileage
98,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 67 complaints about the engine of the 2009 GMC Acadia, 20% of the 331 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 98,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The car began misfiring shortly after I purchased it. Had it repaired. Spark plugs and fuel injector caps replaced. It's been less than 6 months and again the check engine light is on and the car will not shift gears or accelerate. Extremely dangerous to n the expressway. I drive my children in this car! Car threatens to die when attempting to accelerate.”

NHTSA complaint #11032284, filed 2017-10, 111,000 miles

“My car completely died while driving it a few months back. Just got it back after about 3 months, partial sucky dealership, partial back order issue. Turns out the sunroof leaked into the dash. Had to replace the body harness and something with the dash. $5100. I estimated on the date it happened because it's been awhile.”

NHTSA complaint #10927583, filed 2016-11, 103,000 miles

“Driving down the road and notice a deer. Speed limit was 55, so we had slowed down to about 45. Deer crossing in front of us, and we almost come to a complete stop (about 10-15mph). We hit the deer on the passenger front. Get out of the car to assess the damage, and notice a fire under the grill and headlights. Air bags had deployed. Everyone evacuated the vehicle, and it was a total loss.”

NHTSA complaint #10573112, filed 2014-03, 75,000 miles

“100% of everyone I have talked to that have had the same car as me have had the timing chain break. And the amplifier go out because of leaking through the door and frying the amplifier. So no sound in my car at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11195519, filed 2019-04, 160,000 miles

“The passenger front seat airbag turns on with no one and nothing in the seat. I have been made aware that electrical devices can turn it on but this is not the case, I can have nothing in the seat and it turns on and dings while driving which is a distraction. As for the engine, I have a check engine light one which makes it where the remote start will not work. When we pulled the codes it comes back to the the timing chain which is a known issue because they have a service bulletin out on it.”

NHTSA complaint #11149951, filed 2018-11, 165,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026110%
2025710%
20241016%
20231327%
20221529%
20213019%
20202927%
20195314%
2018359%
2017629%
2016136%
2015187%
20144510%
20132116%
20123512%
20115219%
20107422%
20096720%
200812415%
20074611%

Other parts of the 2009 GMC Acadia

Steering
112 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
72 complaints
Electrical system
47 complaints
Exterior lighting
38 complaints
Body and structure
25 complaints
Other or unknown
18 complaints
Air bags
15 complaints
Fuel system
15 complaints
Electronic stability control
14 complaints
Vehicle speed control
11 complaints
Seat belts
10 complaints
Engine cooling
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 GMC Acadia

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology