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2021 GMC Acadia

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 GMC Acadia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 256.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 27 of 149 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2025
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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 diagn…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11694926

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2025
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other

I have a 2021 GMC Acadia that keeps saying steering assist not available. But when it does this, the temperature gage stops working and so does the AC. After you turn the car off the fan still runs for at least 10 minutes.

NHTSA ODI #11688739

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2025
EngineSteering

This is a well known issue. On the dash it keeps reading steering system is being reduced drive with care. I have been dealing with this issue almost years. Been to the dealership too many times for this issue

NHTSA ODI #11685299

27,792 miles · Sep 24, 2024
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 35 MPH. The vehicle stalled, and the "Steering Assistance Reduced" message was displayed. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer the following day, where it was diagnosed that the acceler…

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The contact owns a 2021 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 35 MPH. The vehicle stalled, and the "Steering Assistance Reduced" message was displayed. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer the following day, where it was diagnosed that the accelerator pedal and terminal connector were bent. The dealer retrieved DTC codes: P2138, and P2122. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,792.

NHTSA ODI #11616263

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

The car stopped working all of a sudden, I was driving the car with no issues that morning and parked & shut off car to go to my appt. I turned the car back on and worked fine as I was putting in my address on the GPS my car just stopped and shut off by itself. I pushed the start button and it sounded like it wanted to start but…

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The car stopped working all of a sudden, I was driving the car with no issues that morning and parked & shut off car to go to my appt. I turned the car back on and worked fine as I was putting in my address on the GPS my car just stopped and shut off by itself. I pushed the start button and it sounded like it wanted to start but it wouldn't and the whole engine shooked. Called GM and car still under warranty had it towed to the nearest GM. They diagnosed it and said it was the fuel injector module that went bad. It's 2021 with only 23800 miles. After a week, just got it back for a day and now the cooling fan has a loud noise, check engine light on, coolant stays on C even after driving it more than 10 mins, ac blows hot air, I get an alert with steering assist is reduced and to drive with care.....seems like something is wrong with the thermostat.

NHTSA ODI #11550751

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2020
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

CAR STEERS TO LEFT,VOLUME DOES NOT WORK AFTER A CONNECTED CALL WHILE DRIVING,SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND NOISE COMING OUT OF LEFT DRIVER DOOR PANEL WHILE CAR IS OFF,ALSO MESSAGE THAT SD CARD WAS REMOVED NO APPS WORKING

NHTSA ODI #11383159

Official recalls

2

22V709000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 22, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature. The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently.

Consequence & remedy

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.

21V422000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 3, 2021

General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The fuel supply lines may be improperly attached and seated.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Improperly attached and seated fuel supply lines may loosen or separate, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace fuel supply lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212335590.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE22006 · Rear-View Camera Failure

Opened Jul 22, 2022 · Closed Nov 21, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22-006) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera (RVC) in Model Year (MY) 2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The complaints report that the screen for the RVC is black, sometimes with a red triangle and a circle with a line through it. To date, ODI has received a total of 18 complaints and several EWR Field Reports with allegations of the RVC image failing to display when the vehicle is in reverse. The reports have been received over the past 28 months with most occurring with low vehicle mileage.During the investigation, ODI learned incorrect crimping specifications were utilized in the production of the coaxial cable connector. Improper crimping leads to loss of connection between the RVC and dashboard screen that results in failure of the RVC image to display. Failure or malfunction of the RVC image to display results in reduced visibility of the area behind the vehicle. This limited view may lead to an increased risk of incidents resulting in injury and/or property damage while the vehicle is in reverse.The improperly crimped connectors were only present on subject vehicles equipped with the optional RVC surround vision feature (UV2). Vehicles not equipped with the optional RVC surround vision feature were not affected by this failure. On September 28, 2022, General Motors (GM) filed a defect information report (NHTSA number 22V-709) recalling certain MY2020-2021 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with the optional RVC surround vision feature (UV2). GM will replace the coaxial cables with properly crimped connectors.In view of the recall action being taken by GM, ODI is closing this preliminary evaluation. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov. The ODI identification numbers for the complaints cited above can be found below: 11343838, 11390254, 11406709, 11415261, 11415501, 11425365, 11429267, 11431846, 11446363, 11463278, 11463901, 11471702, 11475437, 11476809, 11477176, 11481806, 11484360, and 11484360.