Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 639 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Acadia Limited, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 146 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 94 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 69 | 11% |
| Air bags | 67 | 10% |
| Power train | 24 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 2% |
| Engine | 13 | 2% |
| Steering | 12 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Every time I park it show up “ shift to park and it takes long to remove the code. battery keeps dying because of it since the car won’t turn off all night.
NHTSA complaint: Back over prevention
Backup camera often does not have a clear picture. Very grainy and static.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have gotten a alert on my vehicles dashboard after parking saying "shift to park" my car won't turn off until I can wiggle the shifter just right or have to take it out of park, back to drive back to park. I didn't hav
NHTSA complaint: Power train
We were receiving a message stating steering reduction. Turns out the thermostat sticks open and the electronic control module reset was a temporary fix. We had the thermostat replaced and the issue hasn’t happened again
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Shift to park. Car will not register as in park. Have previously had issue fixed and has started again. Was told this is a common reoccurance and would likely happen again over time even if I pay to have it fixed again.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The transmission failed at 90k miles, causing shuddering and stalling on acceleration. This has occurred several times on major highways and is very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I get a warning whenever the car is placed on park with the shifter telling me to shift to park even though it’s already on park. This causes the car to not be able to turn off
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping while attempting to change gears. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was
NHTSA complaint: Power train
| Reliability raw | 56 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 66 | good |
| Depreciation | 46 | below average |
| Performance | 68 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 639 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 146 of them (23%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 56/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 61/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.