Skip to content
EnginePart report

2020 GMC Acadia Engine Problems

Complaints
29about this part
Share
27%of 106 total for the year
Median mileage
31,850miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the engine of the 2020 GMC Acadia, 27% of the 106 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 31,850 miles.

Example complaints

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

“Car keeps throwing Poo14 code for VVt sensor, I’ve replaced the sensors and checked wiring on the side of the road and no damage found, went online and read multiple complaints and recalls on the same issue I’m having with my car. I enter my vin and no recalls have been found. I have a 2020 gmc Acadia Denali 3.6l v6. As well and the rear view camera cutting in and out multiple times anlmost causing an wreck. and a system update didn’t fix the issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11679487, filed 2025-08

“I'm not sure of the exact sequence of events here, but there are multiple exhaust leaks. One is a crack somewhere in the catalytic converter that is now leaking exhaust from the back of the engine into the passenger compartment. The other leak is at the point of a bracket which fastens the two front exhaust pipes together. At the time we first noticed an exhaust leak sound upon cold start, there were are around 58,000 miles on the car. Now a month later there are still less than 60,000 miles on the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11685679, filed 2025-09

“Received a power steering reduced notice when starting the car, noticed shortly after driving the temperature gauge had not moved from its resting position. A few trips later it still had not moved and the check engine light came on. Mechanic looked at it said it may be a sensor quoted $1k to fix. A few days later it randomly started working and the light went off so I did not have it fixed. About 4 months later the same code displayed on the dash with the same issues. This time I noticed the ac would not work either it only blew out hot air. …”

NHTSA complaint #11758890, filed 2026-08

“Transmission Control Value issues. I was driving my car and RPM spiked up high and I coasted and there was no acceleration the rear wheel tires locked up and I felt a jerk. Placed the vehicle in park and pulled hand gear shifter into Drive and the vehicle shifted back into park by itself. Same thing happened on placing the vehicle in reverse. Like the car had a mindset of its own. Luckily I was only going 20 miles per hour this could have been a fatality. This vehicle is not on the recall list. It should be because they use all the same parts.”

NHTSA complaint #11636824, filed 2025-01

“The electrical, engine, and A/C systems failed. First our A/C stopped blowing cold. A warning light came up and said that driver assist was not working properly, and temperature gauge went all the way down to cold and did not move after that. It appears 3 things were malfunctioning. I was afraid to drive it for fear of burning up the engine due to an engine cooling malfunction and the car overheating. The A/C stopped blowing cold air but was still blowing warm air. The steering system alert was on the dash but wasn't an issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11627362, filed 2024-11

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 2020 GMC Acadia

Electrical system
28 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
22 complaints
Steering
20 complaints
Other or unknown
15 complaints
Fuel system
11 complaints
Brakes
8 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
8 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Air bags
3 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaints
Lane departure
3 complaints
Seat belts
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 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