Brand new vehicle. Purchased on 10/30/2020. Front collision keeps flashing a red light in the top of dash that shows up in windshield. This happens with no other vehicles on the road at random times. When the vehicle needs to stop or warn you it will not. It will just let you hit a pedestrian or another car. We noticed that the same thing is happening with the rear safety cross traffic.
2020 GMC Acadia electrical problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2020 Acadia has persistent electrical and control system issues that recur even after dealer repairs—instrument clusters blank out, backup cameras fail repeatedly, door locks stop working after weather exposure, and ADAS systems trigger false warnings. Budget $1,600–$2,200 for diagnostic and repair work, and expect multiple visits to the dealer.
Owners describe a range of electrical and control system failures in the 2020 Acadia, many recurring despite dealer intervention. The most common issue is the P0128 coolant temperature sensor fault: the temperature gauge drops to zero, the cooling fan runs continuously, and A/C loses cold output. Owners report disconnecting the battery provides temporary relief, but the problem returns within weeks. Dealers have quoted $1,600–$2,200 for repair; one independent shop noted seeing this frequently in recent GMC vehicles.
Instrument clusters periodically go dark entirely—all gauges including speed, tach, and fuel drop to zero at highway speeds, accompanied by disabled traction control, ABS, and cruise. This happens randomly and persists even after dealer repairs.
Backup cameras fail intermittently (screen goes black, triangle warning appears), some owners reporting this even after the recall remedy was applied. Door locks become inoperative after rain or car washes, with diagnostic code U0422 suggesting water intrusion into the body control module.
ADAS features malfunction: blind spot sensors trigger without nearby vehicles, traction control fails repeatedly, and automatic braking engages without cause. Infotainment systems display error messages, navigation stops working, and radios cut out. Some owners experienced these failures within days of purchase and through three or more dealer visits.
Same GMC Acadia electrical reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Instrument Cluster Blackout
All gauges and visual indicators (speedometer, tachometer, fuel, temperature) drop to zero simultaneously while vehicle is in motion. Traction control, ABS, and cruise control disable. Happens randomly at highway speeds; not repeatable. Owners report it recurs after dealer repairs.
When: Highway speeds; random/intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: All gauges drop to zero; Traction control disabled message; ABS disabled message; Cruise control disabled message; Loss of electronic aids
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer has attempted repairs multiple times without permanent resolution
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Failure (P0128)
Temperature gauge drops to zero, cooling fan runs continuously, A/C stops blowing cold. Diagnostic code P0128 (coolant thermostat malfunction). OnStar and dealerships confirm the issue. Temporary fix: disconnecting battery. Root cause suspected as temperature sensor or thermostat. One shop reported seeing this frequently in recent GMC vehicles.
When: 4-5 years old; recurs after 2 weeks
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge reads zero/cold and does not move; A/C stops blowing cold, still blows warm; Cooling fan runs continuously; Steering assist reduced warning; Battery disconnect provides temporary fix
Codes mentioned: P0128
Repairs/costs cited: Suspected temperature sensor/thermostat replacement; quotes $1,600–$2,200. Temporary solution: disconnect battery.
Rear-View/Backup Camera Intermittent Failure
Backup camera goes black when vehicle is in reverse, displaying red triangle and circle-with-line warning symbol. Occurs intermittently over months or years. Some units affected even after recall remedy (NHTSA Campaign 22V709000, nominally for Surround Vision units). Dealers have serviced the issue multiple times with only short-term fixes.
When: Intermittent; can recur months/years after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Screen goes black in reverse; Red triangle warning symbol; Intermittent dropout
Repairs/costs cited: Serviced at dealership 3–5 times; fixes temporary
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign 22V709000 (Surround Vision units only); owners report issue persists on non-Surround Vision vehicles
Door Lock and Liftgate Electrical Failure
Door locks, liftgate lock, and key fob do not function after rain or car wash. Vehicle displays 'no remote detected' message and has trouble starting. Locks may work again after 1–2 days. One owner reports rear passenger door lock is now permanently inoperative. Diagnostic code U0422 (invalid data from body control module) suggests water intrusion into BCM, possibly via HVAC drain or weatherstripping.
When: After rain or car wash; persists over 1+ year
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks inoperative via interior buttons or key fob; Liftgate lock inoperative; No remote detected message; Trouble starting vehicle; Locks restore after 1–2 days; Rear passenger door lock now permanent failure
Codes mentioned: U0422
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to find root cause; suggested actuator replacement. Forums suggest water leak from HVAC or weatherstripping.
Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Failures
Multiple independent ADAS features malfunction or fail: blind spot sensors activate/deactivate incorrectly while driving; traction control fails repeatedly; predictive/automatic braking engages inappropriately without vehicles ahead; collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert flash red warnings randomly with no actual threats nearby. On some vehicles, issues appear within first day of ownership and recur after dealership visits.
When: Some issues present from first day; others intermittent during driving
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot sensors activate/deactivate incorrectly; Traction control failure; Automatic/predictive braking engages without cause; Front collision warning false positives; Rear cross-traffic alert false positives; Steering assist reduced warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service completed; issues persist. Vehicle remains under warranty.
Infotainment System and Navigation Failures
Display screen and navigation system malfunction: SD card error messages two days after purchase; display lines/corrupted image; center console stays blank on startup; navigation stops working; radio shuts down or stops working entirely. Some failures occur after camera system errors. One owner suspects crimped wiring in display harness.
When: Varies: 2 days after purchase, intermittent, or sudden
Symptoms owners cite: SD card removed error messages; Display shows lines/corrupted image; Center console stays blank on startup; Navigation stops working; Radio stops working or shuts down intermittently; Various error messages on display
Repairs/costs cited: Radio replaced; errors returned same day. Possible wiring crimping.
Multiple Electrical System Cascade Failures
Vehicles exhibit several electrical and powertrain failures occurring simultaneously or in quick succession: engine codes (P0128, engine half-power); inability to shift message; speed control loss; forward brake assist failure; fuel gauge false 'no fuel' reading despite tank half-full; loss of power on interstate; hard downshifting. Some failures triggered by bumps in road or temporary weather-related anomalies. One owner hit another vehicle during traffic jam with non-functional brakes.
When: Intermittent; one case engine stall on interstate after 10 miles driving
Symptoms owners cite: Park light on; Forward brake assist warning failed; Backup camera intermittent; Braking and stability on/off; Engine half-power code; Unable to shift message; Speed control failure; Fuel gauge shows no fuel (false); Engine stall on interstate; No acceleration despite RPM increase; Hard downshifting
Codes mentioned: P0128
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership service 5+ visits over months; unable to resolve. Tow charges $250.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Two days after purchasing a new 2020 GMC acadia I get an error on the display "sd card removed" along with various other error messages. Dealer talks to GMC tech line and they advise to replace radio. Radio was replaced and errors began same day I picked it up. Dealer is replacing radio again, but unsure if this will fix the issue. The vehicle does not work as intended as when you press the…
The electrical, engine, and A/C systems failed. First our A/C stopped blowing cold. A warning light came up and said that driver assist was not working properly, and temperature gauge went all the way down to cold and did not move after that. It appears 3 things were malfunctioning. I was afraid to drive it for fear of burning up the engine due to an engine cooling malfunction and the car…
The vehicle’s lock/unlock feature is inoperable either via the buttons on the door inside the vehicle or via the key fob. There is no manual way to lock/unlock the vehicle from inside the vehicle. Driver and passengers could only exit vehicle via rear lift gate or thru the vehicle windows. Should driver or passengers have had mobility issues or not been able to crawl through the vehicle to exit…
I noticed for months it was downshifting hard but transmission department was backed up I scheduled in September for an appointment October 26 and that morning I received a call to reschedule because they were still behind and had another appointment for November 10th. The morning of the incident 1st it did not want to start it would only turn over. When it started the check engine light was on…
Code P0128. While driving the vehicle gives a "steering assist reduced drive with care" the engine coolant temperature gage goes to 0 and the cooling fan runs until you turn off the car, and the a/c stops working. After replacing the engine coolant temperature sensor and harness the vehicle still does it. There are hundreds of reports of this happening online in forums. This is a safety issue…
front and rear camera not working blind spot indicator not working side mirrors warning of oncoming vehicles not working radio not working
Had electrical trouble with your 2020 GMC Acadia?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2020 GMC Acadia?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 21 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 3,300 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/GMC/Acadia.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.