The GMC Acadia represented a whole new start for GMC – a proper glimpse into the future, although you wouldn’t know it to look at it. So, while it appears entirely conventional, it was not only the first unibody vehicle from GMC, it was also the brand’s first front-wheel-drive offering.
It was released at the same time as its sister car, the Saturn Outlook (which was later replaced by the Chevrolet Traverse), with a second sister car (the Buick Enclave) coming along shortly afterwards.
All three are now in prime ‘home mechanic’ territory, because they’re old enough to make labor charges at your local shop a significant portion of the annual running costs and car’s value – and if you can avoid those, all the better.
On top of that, they’re pretty cheap to buy, and replacement parts are in the ‘budget’ category.
So, why not save yourself a load of expense by making a one-time investment in a Haynes manual and skipping the expense of shop repairs altogether? We can help you sort out any niggling problems your GMC Acadia might have – no stress, no huge bills.
What recalls has the GMC Acadia been subject to?
Early examples of the Acadia were hauled back to dealers because of faulty engine mounts. These had not had holes drilled in them to release accumulated water. At the same time, potentially faulty rivets in the trunk floor were investigated.
The GMC Acadia and its sister cars were recalled again to have the airbag module reprogrammed, because the front airbags could fail to deploy correctly, precisely at the moment you need them to.
A windshield washer system that could short circuit and cause a fire caused another recall, as did a faulty wiper linkage.
The car was then recalled to have the control unit for the power-operated liftgate reprogrammed.
And finally, the Acadia was recalled to have the windshield wiper motor replaced, because it could overheat.
What common problems does the GMC Acadia have?
A number of owners have reported a problem with their GMC Acadia in which the driver turns the key, the engine turns over only intermittently, and fails to fire up.
Unfortunately, the GMC Acadia powertrain has also caused issues, with a fluid leak from the area between the transfer case and auto transmission.
A power liftgate is a wonderful thing when you can open it just by pressing a button on the key, but it isn’t so good when the liftgate develops a mind of its own.
And if there’s one thing you want to be able to rely upon to be consistent in its responses, then it’s the steering. However, a number of Acadia owners have reported issues where the power steering suddenly becomes heavy to operate.
Finally, the Acadia has an internal-combustion engine, which means it uses fuel. And that makes it doubly annoying if you can’t open the flap to access the fuel filler cap to refill your tank. But that’s what can happen.
Why won’t your GMC Acadia Mk1 start?
Is there anything more annoying than going out to your vehicle, jumping in, turning the key and… nothing? That’s what a number of GMC Acadia owners have reported.
The car sometimes won’t crank at all, and other times it will only crank intermittently. And many times even if it does crank, it won’t fire up.
Frustrating, but the good news is that the repair is a relatively quick and easy one. The fault lies with poor battery cable connections, and can either be down to stripped battery cable bolts or faulty battery cables.
The first thing to do is to remove the old battery connections, clean up the posts then replace the cable bolts with new ones.
If that fails, then replace the battery cables themselves, all of which is covered in your Haynes Acadia manual.
Is your GMC Acadia powertrain leaking?
How depressing, to walk up to you GMC Acadia and see a puddle of expensive-looking fluid on the ground underneath it.
That’s what some owners of the GMC Acadia have suffered.
Firstly, it’s important to find out exactly where the leak is, so raise the vehicle and set it on jackstands. Then get underneath it and clean up the transfer case and automatic gearbox. The leak can be either from the join between the auto transmission and the transfer case itself, or from the transfer case left-hand weep hole.
If it is coming from the weep hole, replace the left transfer case shaft seal and the O-ring seal.
If the leak is from the join between the transfer case and auto transmission, replace the transfer case O-ring seal.
These procedures will take a while, but they’re covered in your Haynes Acadia manual, so get cracking!
If you want to know how to change the oil and filter on your GMC Acadia, just watch our FREE video below.
Why won’t your GMC Acadia power liftgate close?
There’s no doubt that a power liftgate makes life easier – you’re able to open the trunk from a distance away, even when your arms are full of shopping.
And then you press another button and the liftgate closes with no effort on your part – until it doesn’t. Annoyingly, the power liftgate on the Acadia can suddenly decide not to shut, and just to open again.
There can be a few causes. Firstly, the weather strip around the trunk opening can be out of place, so it’s worth working your way around the whole opening and making sure the strip is properly seated.
The second issue could be that the striker plate has become misaligned.
Your Haynes Acadia manual will give you clear instructions on how to loosen the striker plate and to move it in 1mm increments until the tailgate closes of its own accord once more.
Does the GMC Acadia Mk1 have power steering issues?
The power steering on your GMC Acadia suddenly becoming very heavy to use would be disconcerting at best. However, this is a problem that a number of owners have raised.
A common thread through the complaints is that the issue can raise its ugly head shortly after the vehicle has been driven through a puddle, and it can often be accompanied by a chirping noise from under the hood.
The issue is that the water from the puddle can get onto the power steering belt and cause it to slip on the pulleys, and the problem’s a pretty easy one to fix. GMC has issued redesigned front wheel well liners that will stop any water getting to the belt (left-hand part number: 25864299; right-hand part number: 25864302).
Thereafter, just study the relevant procedure in your Haynes Acadia manual and we’ll show you how to get rid of the old part and fit the new ones. Simple!
Has your GMC Acadia fuel door spring failed?
Getting to the fuel filler cap on your GMC Acadia should be easy. After all, all you need to do is to walk up, press the door and the spring release should pop it open. But not every time. Unfortunately, water can get into the spring unit, causing the internal spring to corrode and eventually fail. So you’ll press the door and nothing will happen. You’ll need to prise open the door using a slim tool, with the attendant risk of scratching the paint. Not good.
However, the good news is that replacing the spring unit isn’t too difficult, and requires only a socket set, a plastic trim removal tool and a pair of needle-nosed pliers.
You’ll just need to unbolt the trim around the fuel filler neck, prise it from place, then access the rear of the spring unit and use the pliers to squeeze the release tabs.
This whole procedure is explained with illustrations in your Haynes Acadia manual, so don’t give it a second thought.
