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2023 GMC Acadia problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
56%
23 of 41 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

56% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 GMC Acadia are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 4 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 51%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2023 GMC Acadia have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Acadia concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%), and the largest group is filed under engine (13). For comparison, the 2022 scores 53%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
23
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
45
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
3 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE13 · 29%
POWER TRAIN12 · 27%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9 · 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 18%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3 · 7%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2023 compares with other GMC Acadia years

Of the 14 GMC Acadia years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the worst on engine and transmission share (56%). The best is the 2016 (33%). By volume, the 2023 drew 45 complaints (23 drivetrain), against 49 for the 2022.

GMC Acadia years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 GMC Acadia

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE02/26/2024CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in park, the brake was released, and the vehicle lunged forward and collided with a Rental Movie machine coming to a stop at a building. No safety features were activated. The air bags were deployed. The contact sustained leg, hand, stoma…

One of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2023 GMC Acadia transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 GMC Acadia involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission23V172000 · Mar 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.

Risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…

power train: driveline: driveshaft23V043000 · Feb 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia vehicles. The right-front half-shaft assemblies may be improperly connected to the transmission, causing them to separate.

Risk: Separation between the half-shaft and transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the right-front half-shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer…

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
visibility: windshield23V681000 · Oct 2023
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 GMC Acadia and 2024 Cadilac XT5 and XT6 vehicles. The windshield may have been assembled without the proper urethane sealant required to bond the…
equipment: other: labels22V708000 · Sep 2022
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5, XT6, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The certification label located on the driver's side B-pillar contains tire size information that may…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2023 GMC Acadia? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2023 GMC Acadia

Does the 2023 GMC Acadia have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 41 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 GMC Acadia concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (56%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 GMC Acadia?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 GMC Acadia is engine: 13 of 45 complaints (29%) name it, followed by power train (12) and electrical system (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2023 GMC Acadia reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 56% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 75% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Acadia years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 GMC Acadia?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2023 GMC Acadia involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 23V172000 (power train: automatic transmission), 23V043000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which GMC Acadia years are better?

Among the GMC Acadia years we track, the 2016 (33%), the 2015 (34%) and the 2011 (37%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (56%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-acadia

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.