Is the 2009 GMC Acadia a bad year?
331 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 75, 3.6× a quiet Acadia year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 66k–125k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Acadia owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 98,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 75 (23%) | 66k–125k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 72 (22%) | 69k–107k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 47 (14%) | 46k–113k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 15 (5%) | 56k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (5%) | 30k–102k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Stability control | 14 (4%) | 78k–143k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 10 (3%) | 62k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (2%) | 50k–101k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | 48k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 112 (34%) | 56k–90k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lighting | 38 (11%) | 47k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 25 (8%) | 34k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 11 (3%) | 60k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 98,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 331 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The car felt as though the gears weren't catching and RPM would drop but if you took your foot off the accelerator it would go away for a second but then it would happen again.
I was experiencing problems driving my vehicle. It was riding rough and making a loud noise when I accelerated, so I took it to my mechanic and I got spark plugs and an oil change-still was riding rough.
I have replaced two ignition coils and now have a third going out. When the car is under load it misses.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 98,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 GMC Acadia: 7
The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall. If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time. If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.
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 seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash. Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
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. If the buckle contacts the seat frame, additional effort is required to return the seat to a seating position. The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
16,667 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet traverse, GMC acadia, and Saturn outlook vehicles for failing to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209… In a vehicle crash, if the rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the mounting strap, increasing the risk of injury to the passenger.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from GMC: 427
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 GMC Acadia. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Inspection/diagnosis/correction information on a cold start misfire and/or rough idle and DTC P0300 that may also be set
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Loss of Headlamp Illumination
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Neighbouring years
2008 Acadia: 853 complaints, consider selling · 2010 Acadia: 343 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every GMC Acadia year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Acadia years side by side
Other GMC models: GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 1500 · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Terrain · GMC Yukon · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 GMC Acadia a bad year?
331 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 75, 3.6× a quiet Acadia year. At 98,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 66k–125k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 GMC Acadia?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (75), transmission and drivetrain (72), electrical system (47), air bags (15), fuel system (15). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 66k–125k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 GMC Acadia have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 15V-415), Seat belts (NHTSA 14V-266), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-118), Seat belts (NHTSA 10V-375) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.