THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY IN WINTER WHILE IN ND. THE VEHICLE IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. VEHICLE HAS 105,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GM DEALER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ACADIA. *DT*JB
2009 GMC Acadia powertrain problems
moderate 59 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
59
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
OUR 2009 GMC ACADIA, WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE. THIS PAST WEEKEND IT ROLLED BACKWARD HITTING MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. HE WASN'T INJURED BUT WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD, APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT IN DISTANCE, AFTER…
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. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS OF 50 MILES AND HIGHER WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAYS. *TR
WE PURCHASED A 2009 ACADIA FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER THAT CLAIMS QUALITY IN REGARDS TO THEIR USED VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND COMPROMISED OTHERS INDIVIDUALS AND MY OWN WELL BEING. FIRST INCIDENT THE CAR WAS IN GEAR BUT WOULD NOT START. WE NEVER FOUND THE REASON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY FULLY CHARGED. N…
INITIALLY NOTICED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANOTHER GEAR SHIFTING WAS HARD. ABOUT A WEEK LATER NOTICED HESITATION IN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS RATES OF SPEED THEN THE ENGINE WOULD REV ONCE IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR. EVENTUALLY PARKED THE CAR IN DRIVE THEN WENT TO BACK OUT TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE WAVE P…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 GMC Acadia?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 59 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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