2020 GMC Acadia Problems and Recalls (99 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2020 GMC Acadia is Engine (16% of 99 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 99 complaints · 6 recalls

What problems show up on the 2020 GMC Acadia?

16 of 99 filings named Engine (16% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (15 reports).

There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Fuel system, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2019 has 381 reports on file; this year has 99. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2020 GMC Acadia

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 6 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 16 complaints · 16.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 4
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 2
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 16 of 99 owner complaints (16.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 16 complaints, 16.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 16 · 16.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 15.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 15 · 15.2% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 14 complaints, 14.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 14 · 14.1% Steering (STEERING): 9 complaints, 9.1% of reports Steering (STEERING) 9 · 9.1% Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE): 8 complaints, 8.1% of reports Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 1 crash reports 8 · 8.1% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 6 complaints, 6.1% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 6 · 6.1% Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE): 3 complaints, 3.0% of reports Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 3 · 3.0% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 3 complaints, 3.0% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 · 3.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 3 complaints, 3.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 3 · 3.0% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 32 complaints, 32.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 32 · 32.3% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 16 16.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 15 15.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 14 14.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 9 9.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) 8 8.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 6 6.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lane keeping (LANE DEPARTURE) 3 3.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 3.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 3 3.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 32 32.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2019; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2020. 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2025-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2026-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2026-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2026-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 Owner reports Oct 2019 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 20V446000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V446000 Recall campaign 20V639000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V639000 Recall campaign 20V668000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V668000 Recall campaign 20V684000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V684000 Recall campaign 21V115000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V115000 Recall campaign 22V709000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V709000 Investigation PE22006 ● Investigation PE22006
  • Campaign 20V639000 was reported 261 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V668000 was reported 168 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V709000 was reported 51 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 3
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 4
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 4
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 6
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 2
2024-Q3 Owner reports 5
2024-Q4 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 5
2025-Q2 Owner reports 4
2025-Q3 Owner reports 6
2025-Q4 Owner reports 7
2026-Q1 Owner reports 10
2026-Q2 Owner reports 12
2026-Q3 Owner reports 5
Recall campaign 1 20V446000
Recall campaign 1 20V639000
Recall campaign 1 20V668000
Recall campaign 1 20V684000
Recall campaign 1 21V115000
Recall campaign 1 22V709000
Defect investigation 1 PE22006
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (6)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Fuel system, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety.

  1. Recall campaign 20V446000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N202305380.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 20V639000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202314760.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 20V668000

    Transmission / driveline

    Report date
    Component:
    Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
    Consequence:
    Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 20V684000

    Safety recall 20V684000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  5. Recall campaign 21V115000

    Safety recall 21V115000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  6. Recall campaign 22V709000

    Rear camera / backup safety

    Report date
    Component:
    Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
    Consequence:
    An inoperative rearview camera can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 99 complaints · page 1 of 4
2026-08-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11760019
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine coolant thermostat failed open. Resulting in reduced steering capabilities, and no AC.
2026-08-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11758890
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. Also the fan under the hood turns on as soon as the car is started. Been about 3 days and it started working again out of nowhere.
2026-07-12Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11749841
CrashFireInjuryDeath
[Symptom & Safety Hazard] While driving my 2020 GMC Acadia 3.6L V6, the Driver Information Center displayed the warning: "Steering Assist Reduced, Drive With Care" (SARDWC). Steering effort increased abruptly, the engine temperature gauge dropped to cold/zero, and the HVAC system lost air-conditioning function. The warning and reduction in steering assist presented a safety hazard and increased the risk of a crash. [Diagnostic Findings] Vehicle diagnostics identified DTC P0128 - Engine Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature. A GMC Certified Dealer technician diagnosed a failed engine coolant thermostat housing assembly. [Manufacturer Information] GM documentation links DTC P0128 and invalid engine coolant temperature signals to the "SARDWC" condition. GM Bulletin 17-NA-158 states the “SARDWC” condition is caused by an invalid coolant temperature signal and the steering module relies on coolant temperature information for steering-assist compensation. GM bulletin PIT5967 directs technicians to diagnose and repair DTC P0128 when the warning message is present. In Oct 2025, GM issued N252508350 for 2021 Acadia vehicles equipped with the 3.6L LGX engine due to an engine coolant thermostat condition. My 2020 Acadia is part of the same generation vehicle platform and is equipped with the same 3.6L LGX engine. It experienced the same thermostat-related failure symptoms, including DTC P0128 and the "SARDWC” warning. [Reason for Complaint] I am filing this complaint because a thermostat-related cooling-system failure resulted in a steering-assist warning and reduction in steering assist while the vehicle was being driven. Moreover, GM issued N252508350 for 2021 Acadia vehicles equipped with the 3.6L LGX engine due to the same engine coolant thermostat condition, yet similarly affected 2020 Acadia vehicles are not included. NHTSA should investigate whether additional 2020 vehicles are experiencing the same failure sequence and resulting safety risk.
2026-07-08Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11748973
CrashFireInjuryDeath
"Steering Assist Is Reduced – Drive With Care" warning appeared while the vehicle is in motion. This may require increased steering effort and could affect a driver's ability to respond to changing traffic conditions. Any steering-related warning that appears unexpectedly while driving deserves serious attention. P0128 code was shown. The cause was a faulty thermostat housing assembly and needed to be repaired. This is an extremely common issue in this vehicle across many years and needs to be investigated.
2026-07-07Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11748881
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Steering assist reduced is the warning. The AC will no longer work and the fan runs constantly. From what I’ve read, it is a popular problem for Acadia owners and the thermostat and sensor has to be replaced. We have not been able to replace ours yet because of the cost.
2026-06-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11746751
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I believe my car should be included in this recall. I've had the dealer check and they say it's nothing wrong with my car. 2020 GMC Acadia Fuel Pump Recall GMC has announced that 2781 vehicles have been affected by a Fuel Pump recall. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel pump's jet nozzle may have a plastic burr remaining from the manufacturing process, possibly causing a blocked nozzle and an insufficient fuel supply to the engine. Insufficient fuel supply can result in an engine stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. 2020 GMC Acadia Recall Fuel Pump GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at [redacted], Buick Customer service at [redacted], Chevrolet customer service at [redacted] or Cadillac customer service at [redacted]. GM's number for this recall is N202314760.
2026-06-22Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11745760
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Thermostat and cooling sensor went out on my car. GMC issued a special coverage bulletin for 2021 Acadia since it's a widespread issue but not the 2020 (mine) which is also a widespread issue looking online. The repair is over $1000 and should be covered!

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2020 GMC Acadia?

Owners named Engine most often — 16 of 99 reports (16%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2020 GMC Acadia?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Fuel system, Transmission / driveline, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2020 GMC Acadia?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources