Is the 2019 GMC Acadia a bad year?
388 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 154, 7.3× a quiet Acadia year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 33k–62k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 154 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 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 50,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 154 (40%) | 33k–62k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 58 (15%) | 19k–68k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 106 (27%) | 19k–41k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 33 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 16 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (1%) | 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 50,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 388 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
95 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
When I got to work this morning, I put my 2019 acadia in park and tried to turn off the car. An alert popped up that said, "Shift to park," But the car was already in park.
I get an error message 'shift to park' when in park I am trying to turn off the engine. Then it dings, won't lock, etc.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 50,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 GMC Acadia: 2
The affected tires were cured for too long during production. Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
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: 302
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 GMC Acadia. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Service Engine Soon (SES), Reduced Power, Service Brake, Reduced Steering and/or Stabilitrak Message Illuminated on DIC, multiple DTCs
Correct a customer concern of a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTC P3055 Set
Neighbouring years
2018 Acadia: 399 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2020 Acadia: 107 complaints, keep it.
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 2019 GMC Acadia a bad year?
388 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 154, 7.3× a quiet Acadia year. At 50,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 33k–62k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 3 of 154 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC Acadia?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (154), engine (58), electrical system (106), steering (33), brakes (16). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 33k–62k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 GMC Acadia have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Tires (NHTSA 21V-115), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-668). 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.