This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 GMC Acadia steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 GMC Acadia have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Acadia | 26 |
| 2017 Acadia | 33 |
| 2018 Acadia | 24 |
| 2019 Acadia | 30 |
| 2020 Acadia (this page) | 17 |
| 2021 Acadia | 15 |
| 2022 Acadia | 3 |
| 2023 Acadia | 3 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to add deadener to the batter tray bracket to correct customer concerns of a Service Engine Soon (SES), Reduced Power, Service Brake, Reduced Steering and/or Stabilitrak Message Illuminated on DIC, multiple DTCs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides a guide on how to diagnose and test for vibrations utilizing the PicoScope.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering assist system is the main complaint across these 14 complaints. Owners describe a warning message—"Steering Assist is Reduced" or "Power Steering Operating at Reduced Assistance"—appearing on the dash, followed by dangerous handling loss. At highway speeds, the wheel becomes loose and unpredictable; at lower speeds, it becomes nearly impossible to turn. One owner says the power steering module failed intermittently, cutting out and snapping back without warning—a hazard when merging or cornering. A mechanic told one owner the module needs replacement (over $1,000 for the part alone); that owner reports the replacement was on backorder.
Most steering complaints arrive alongside a second failure: the engine thermostat gets stuck open or the temperature gauge freezes on "Cold." One owner notes the oil temperature display works fine, but the engine thermostat display does not, ruling out a simple gauge problem. The AC also stops working in these same events, and the engine fan roars continuously at high speed. Owners describe this trio—steering warning, thermostat display stuck, AC dead, fan screaming—as a pattern affecting many 2020 Acadias.
One owner reports water entering the electrical area, causing power locks to fail during rain and the vehicle to unexpectedly reset while driving. Another owner's tire pressure warning dropped sharply with no actual loss of air or visible damage. Two dealerships could not resolve the water intrusion issue. Owners cite Service Bulletin 17-NA-158 and mention repair costs ranging from $1,100 to $2,400, often falling outside warranty coverage.
Same GMC Acadia steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Assist Reduced / Power Steering Module Failure
Owners report 'Steering Assist is Reduced' or 'Power Steering Operating at Reduced Assistance' warning messages appearing on the dash. Multiple owners describe the steering becoming dangerously loose at highway speeds and extremely hard to turn at lower speeds, creating hazardous control loss. One owner reports the power steering fails intermittently—cutting out and returning without warning. A mechanic advised one owner the power steering module requires replacement (cost cited as over $1,000 for the part alone), and in that case the replacement module was on backorder. One owner had a rack and pinion that got stuck while turning and required replacement.
When: 47,000–61,699 miles; intermittent since September 2024 for one owner; occurring within warranty period for some, after warranty expiration for others
Symptoms owners cite: Dash warning: 'Steering Assist is Reduced' or 'Power Steering Operating at Reduced Assistance'; Steering wheel becomes loose and difficult to control, especially at highway speeds; Steering wheel extremely hard to turn at lower speeds, nearly impossible to maneuver; Power steering fails intermittently, causing unintended oversteer; Rack and pinion stuck during turning
Codes mentioned: P0700, P187E
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering module replacement cited as necessary repair, cost over $1,000 for part plus labor; one owner reports replacement module on backorder. One owner had rack and pinion replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Special Coverage: N252508350 mentioned in one complaint. Service Bulletin 17-NA-158 (May 2017) referenced by one owner. One owner reports GMC wanted to charge 'an arm and a leg' for the repair. Four contact attempts to manufacturer by one owner resulted in no response. Software update performed by one mechanic did not resolve the issue.
Thermostat Failure & Engine Temperature Display Malfunction
Multiple owners report the engine thermostat stuck open or failing, with the digital temperature gauge either freezing on 'Cold' or displaying zero regardless of actual engine temperature. These failures often occur in tandem with steering assist warnings and AC failure. One owner calls this 'a pretty common issue with this vehicle.' Owners express concern about the risk of engine overheating. One owner notes that despite the oil temperature display working correctly, the engine thermostat display remains stuck. Research cited by owners suggests a service bulletin exists for this issue.
When: Around 47,000 miles; one owner reports failure after first warm day following winter purchase; ongoing since 2024 for another owner
Symptoms owners cite: Engine thermostat stuck open; Engine temperature gauge frozen on 'Cold'; Engine temperature gauge displaying zero or not changing; Often accompanied by 'Steering Assist Reduced' warning
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs cited as $1,100–$2,400 depending on source. One owner reports $1,500 out-of-pocket cost. Thermostat and sensor replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 17-NA-158 (May 2017) referenced. No recalls noted by owners despite complaints. One owner reports GMC wanted to charge high cost for repair and refused assistance; another states extended warranty does not cover this issue.
AC Failure & Cooling Fan Running Continuously
Multiple owners report the air conditioner stops working while the engine cooling fan runs continuously at high speed, creating a loud noise. These failures frequently coincide with the 'Steering Assist Reduced' warning and thermostat display malfunction, suggesting a common electrical or sensor root cause.
When: Coinciding with steering assist warnings; one owner reports onset in September 2024
Symptoms owners cite: AC inoperable; Engine cooling fan runs continuously at high speed; Fan noise described as 'extremely loud' and 'horrible'
Electrical & Water Intrusion Issues
One owner reports water getting into the electrical area, power locks failing when it rains or after a car wash, and the vehicle unexpectedly resetting in the middle of an intersection (as if turned off and back on). Two dealerships were unable to help diagnose or repair.
When: Intermittent; ongoing at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Power locks fail during or after rain/car wash; Owner locked out of vehicle; Vehicle unexpectedly resets mid-drive; Multiple gauge failures; Sunroof malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Two Chevrolet dealerships consulted; no repairs completed.
Tire Pressure Monitor False Alarm
One owner reports the tire pressure warning for the right front tire dropping rapidly on screen with no actual tire pressure loss or visible tire damage.
When: Same event as steering assist reduced warning
Symptoms owners cite: Right front tire pressure display dropping rapidly; No actual pressure loss or visible tire damage
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
1. Shift to Park failure, P0700/P187e internal sensor, causing me to have to get a rebuilt transmission. 10/2025 2. Transmission shudder/hard-shifting ongoing 2022-2025 3. Coolant/thermostat issues. Steering Assist Reduced" message, fans stay on HIGH, no AC, engine temp on ZERO ongoing since 2024 3. Start/Stop button failure multiple times (replaced 3 times) 4. Rack and pinion/steering gear…
Steering Assist reduced drive with care message. This is an extremely common issue and should be a recall. ALOT of people including my dealer service advisor has this issue with their vehicle this message comes up fans kick on high a/c stops working and temp gauge stops working. It can be reset by unplugging battery or clearing the code.
The "Steering Assist is Reduced" warning came on the same time the engine thermostat display stopped working. Then the check engine light came on the same time the AC stopped working. At first I thought maybe it was just the battery, so I had that changed out. But the "Steering Assist" warning continued and the engine thermostat display was still stuck on "Cold" no matter what (note: the oil…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2020 GMC Acadia?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 54,350 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.