2011 GMC Acadia Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

52Engine complaints

19.3%Of all 269 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING64 · 23.8%

ENGINE52 · 19.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM47 · 17.5%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING37 · 13.8%

POWER TRAIN30 · 11.2%

Share of the 269 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 GMC Acadia overview page.

What owners report

“THE CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. I WAS DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED ROAD (PENDLETON PIKE) IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. AFTER PASSING SUNNYSIDE ROAD, IT WENT…”NHTSA complaint 10786295 — filed 10/27/2015

“WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, ALL SYSTEMS FAILED -- STEERING, BRAKING, ELECTRICAL. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS A "CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE."”NHTSA complaint 10766282 — filed 09/20/2015

“WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 30 MPH TO 60 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGINS TO MISS, ESPECIALLY UPHILL. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE TERRIBLY. WHEN…”NHTSA complaint 10713206 — filed 04/27/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 GMC Acadia have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 GMC Acadia: 52 of 269 complaints on file (19.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 GMC Acadia have in total?

269 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.