2025 GMC Acadia: What to check before buying

Warning messages for Service Brake Assist and Service ESC appear at startup or while driving, often with ABS, traction control, and a red BRAKE light. Some drivers feel the pedal pulse first. Dealers usually diagnose a failed brake master cylinder, sometimes along with the electronic brake control module. Several reports describe the pedal sinking to the floor and near-crashes on the highway. Failures show up anywhere from 69 to about 8,000 miles. Many complaints focus on the wait: parts on back order, cars stuck at dealers for weeks, no loaners, and dealers warning that the car is not safe to drive.

Transmission trouble is the main theme. Reports describe hard shifts and slipping, with one transmission failing at 4,150 miles. Others describe delayed engagement when pulling away from a stop, especially uphill. Engine RPM climbs, but the vehicle hesitates, jerks, shakes, and sometimes does not move at all. That leaves the driver stuck at intersections and unable to keep up with traffic. One complaint covers a module fault that the dealer could not read. It drained the battery and eventually left the car inoperable.

Power steering assist weakens or warns of failure, often together with the same brake assist and stability control warnings filed under brakes. One report describes a "Service Power Steering" and "No Assist Soon" message at 935 miles, followed by a steering gear replacement and 10 days at the dealer. Another describes weak steering and brakes at the same time while driving with children aboard. One owner says the vehicle moved on its own at startup and could not be stopped within 20 feet.

Reports range from the car stalling while driving to dim screens. One owner says every dash warning light came on before the car died, and it has happened several times since. Others say the OnStar telematics module cuts out and takes GPS and OnStar functions with it. Complaints also mention an infotainment screen too dark to read in daylight, a right rear tail light that quit after 500 miles and required removing body panels to replace, and a torque converter chattering at 1200 miles.

Daytime glare washes out the driver display and the center touchscreen. Owners say they cannot find climate and settings controls without looking away from the road for too long. Dealer software updates and an over-the-air update have not helped, and dealers say nothing can be done. Separately, a right rear turn signal failed in under 500 miles. The driver could not tell it was out, and other drivers honked during lane changes.

Sunlight reflects off the chrome dashboard trim onto the windshield hard enough to blind the driver at highway speed. The complaint describes this happening repeatedly. In a separate report, the roof antenna fin cover came off while driving less than six weeks after purchase. The repair is covered under warranty, but the replacement part is on back order. Each of these issues comes from a single complaint.