Most common 2010 GMC Acadia problems
Share of the 343 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Acadia complaints by model year
Best Acadia years: 2013, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2025, 2017, 2024, 2019, 2018. Compare all years →
2010 GMC Acadia recalls (4)
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
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, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge.
Seat belts
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 Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles…
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available.
Air bags › Side/window
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 driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.
Seat belts
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 buckle when the seat back is returned to a seating position after being folded flat.
Remedy: Dealers will modify the second row seat side trim shields. If a safety belt buckle is damaged, dealers will replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2010.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2010 GMC Acadia:
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
On May 19, 2014, General Motors LLC (GM) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it would conduct Safety Recall 14V266 to address fatigue and separation of the flexible steel cable that connects the front outboard seat belts to the seat-mounted belt pre-tensioner in 1.4 million model year (MY) 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook, 2009-2014 Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse (Lambda Platform)…
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
On August 31, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) EA20002, as an upgrade of Recall Query (RQ) RQ19003. This investigation, related to recall 14V-266, was opened to investigate instances of detachment of the flexible steel seat belt anchor cable attached to the outboard side of the front seats in vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
What 2010 GMC Acadia owners say
Steering all 148 →
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the high- and low-pressure hoses, steering pump, and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
I purchased this vehicle in Feb. 2021. Shortly after my purchase I noticed the steering would tighten up randomly when turning corners making it very difficult to steer / control the vehicle. It also does this when parking. This has happened numerous times since I purchased the vehicle. I googled the problem and found some info dated in September 16, 2014 indicating GM's Special Coverage Adjustment - Loss of Power Steering Assist indicating the special coverage covers condition described for 10 years after 1st svc date (the Carfax I received said was 2.10.2011) or 150,000 mi whichever occurs first from date vehicle originally placed in service regardless of ownership. I purchased my vehicle from a dealership on 2.03.2021 - took possession 2.06.2021. My vehicle only has 73,676 mi on it. …
Engine & cooling all 84 →
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact became aware of white smoke coming from the vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact and minor children exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, there was fire coming from underneath the hood. The Fire truck arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle had liability coverage, and the insurance company declined to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure had occurred while the contact's minor children were seated in the rear seat of the vehicle. The contact and the children sustained smoke-related injuries. …
The contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to idle rapidly and smoke was exiting the hood. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road for approximately an hour before driving to her residence. The contact never saw a fire while examining the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the timing chain to be replaced along with an oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Electrical system all 45 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 GMC Acadia. On several occasions, while driving, the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Additionally, the headlamp connector was replaced three times for overheating and melting the wires. The contact also stated that the front and rear windows were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failures were intermittent. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
Driving in the rain and the traction safety came on as I May have sled on some very wet leaves. I was able to pull to the shoulder and get out of traffic, as I gathered myself and got the car ready to drive off the tires started spinning out of control I awesome trying to get traction then the ABS light appeared and the brakes started grinding. Then the vehicle switch gears and the car begin to go in a jerky movement at 6 to 8 MPH the rpms would not go up and the car would not return back to normal gear. After praying I make it to my door the dash then said calibrate vehicle by driving in a circle. The car cut off twice but would immediately start right up then the dash stated engine is hot turn air off. No air was on at all. The thermostat temperature gauge was all the way up and all the needles were flipping up and down at different times. …
2010 GMC Acadia engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 GMC Acadia a good car?
Based on 343 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Acadia rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Acadia at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 GMC Acadia?
The steering — 148 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hydraulic power assist › pump. Next are the engine & cooling (84) and electrical system (45).
How many recalls does the 2010 GMC Acadia have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 GMC Acadia, the most recent from June 30, 2015 (hatchback/liftgate). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Acadia?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2017, 2024, 2019 and 2018. See the full GMC Acadia years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 GMC Acadia problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.