2009 GMC Acadia: common problems and reliability

The 2009 GMC Acadia has 332 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 7 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and power train. Owners most often flag *engine failures (3.6l v6) — catastrophic failure due to oil pickup tube clogging and cam failures, particularly in 2010-2015 models around 80,000-100,000 miles. frequency: very frequent for older generations.

Safety record for the 2009 model year

332
Owner complaints
7
Recalls
8
Crash reports
14
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2009 GMC Acadia vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

steering
112
power train
72
engine
67
electrical system
47
exterior lighting
38

Recalls affecting the 2009 Acadia

seat belts

Campaign 14V266000

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acad…

structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Campaign 15V415000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 20…

air bags:side/window

Campaign 14V118000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the…

seat belts

Campaign 10V375000

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, GMC ACADIA, AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES. THE SECOND ROW SEAT SIDE TRIM SHIELD RESTRICTS THE UPWARD ROTATION OF THE SAFETY BELT B…

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided by generation and is heavily influenced by powertrain reliability. For the 2024+ redesign (2025-2026 model years), owner sentiment is cautiously positive, praising its spacious interior, comfortable ride, modern features (especiall

  • *Engine failures (3.6L V6) — Catastrophic failure due to oil pickup tube clogging and cam failures, particularly in 2010-2015 models around 80,000-100,000 miles. Frequency: very frequent for older generations.
  • *Transmission failures — Complete transmission failure reported around 100,000 miles on a 2017 model; transmission issues and "known transmission problems" cited as a deal-breaker for 2017-2023 models; early reliability issues with the 2024+ generation's transmission. Frequency: very frequent.
  • *Oil leaks/cooler failures — Recurrent issue described as the vehicle "weeping oil like BP in the Gulf"; oil cooler failure leading to coolant contamination and overheating in a 2024+ model. Frequency: recurrent.
  • *Underpowered/Noisy 4-cylinder engine — Cited as a deal-breaker for the 2017-2023 generation, with complaints about engine noise and lack of power. Frequency: recurrent.
  • *Early-build quality issues (2024+) — Multiple reports of significant problems requiring repeated dealer visits, including complete engine replacement, persistent oil leaks, and transmission issues, leading to lemon law claims. Frequency: recurrent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Acadia.

Typical used price

Used Acadia listings typically run $16,824–$38,874 across 2014 to 2026 model years.

Other Acadia model years

2020 Acadia2016 Acadia2015 Acadia2013 Acadia2007 Acadia
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