Last updated: 2026-10-10
2025 GMC Acadia Reliability Report
The 2025 GMC Acadia rates good for reliability, but brake warnings and master cylinder failures within the first 8,000 miles are the main concern.
Recalls
0
Complaints
51
Complaint Rate
N/A
Est. Repair Cost
$734
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,600–$2,850
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rates good and sits among the stronger Acadia years, but brake master cylinder trouble accounts for nearly half of its 51 owner complaints.
Top Issues to Watch
- SERVICE BRAKES (24)
- POWER TRAIN (4)
- STEERING (4)
Should You Buy the 2025 GMC Acadia?
Reliability is good for this model year, and it ranks among the stronger of the eight Acadia years scored. Against other 2025 SUVs it lands close to average. The 2024 Acadia rates about the same with the same number of complaints. The 2026 also rates good, but it has no complaints yet, which says more about its time on the road than its quality.
Brakes are the problem to know about. Of 51 owner complaints, 24 involve service brakes. Drivers see Service Brake Assist and Service ESC messages, often with ABS, traction control, and a red BRAKE light. These warnings can start within 69 to 1,150 miles of delivery. Dealers usually diagnose a failed brake master cylinder, with failures between 4,500 and 8,000 miles. Some owners describe the pedal sinking to the floor. Repairs can drag on, with back-ordered parts and weeks at the dealer. Federal recall records show no recalls. Smaller groups of complaints cover transmission hesitation and weak power steering assist.
Ask the seller for any brake master cylinder or brake control module repair records. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $734 model-wide, against $573 for the class.
Compared to the 2026 GMC Acadia, which scored the same. See also the 2024 GMC Acadia for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +No recalls issued
- +Low complaint frequency
Cons
- −Above-average repair costs for its class
- −SERVICE BRAKES issues reported (24 complaints)
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Moonroof glass shatters on its own while driving, with glass falling into the... (7 complaints)
Compare 2025 GMC Acadia With
2025 Chevrolet Traverse
Reliability: 75/100
2025 Honda Pilot
Reliability: 71/100
2025 Ford Explorer
Reliability: 72/100
2025 Toyota Highlander
Reliability: 76/100
2025 Kia Telluride
Reliability: 78/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
HIGH RISK- SERVICE BRAKES (24)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (7)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2025 GMC Acadia — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
51
complaintsSafety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2025 GMC Acadia? Check its history first
Service brakes problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 GMC Acadia, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 GMC Acadia NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 17.4%
Safety Technologies
GMC AcadiaRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3Maintenance rating: 3 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$734
vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.4
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
19%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
GMC Acadia Resale Value
The GMC Acadia is estimated to retain about 57.7% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the GMC Acadia model overall and is not specific to the 2025 model year.
- Value Retained
- 57.7%
- Depreciation
- 42.3%
- Listings Analyzed
- 235
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore GMC Acadia depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
21–23 MPG
Running cost: $3,350–$3,600/yr
Fuel + repair
19–20 city / 24–27 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia FWD 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Acadia AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,850 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 GMC Acadia.
Ask for service records showing any brake master cylinder or brake control module replacement, and confirm the repair was completed.
Start the car several times and watch for Service Brake Assist, Service ESC, ABS, or a red BRAKE warning.
Press the brake pedal hard while parked and on the test drive; reject a pedal that sinks or feels mushy.
Accelerate from a full stop on an incline several times and walk away if RPM rises without movement or the car shakes.
Make slow, full-lock turns and watch for a Service Power Steering message or heavy steering.
Check both screens in direct sunlight, with and without sunglasses, to see if you can read them.
Have a helper confirm both rear turn signals and tail lights work, especially the right rear.
Inspect the moonroof glass for cracks and ask whether it has ever been replaced.
2025 GMC Acadia Common Problems by Component
51 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
SERVICE BRAKES
24 complaintsWarning 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7 complaintsMoonroof glass shatters on its own while driving, with glass falling into the cabin. One owner says it happened twice. Other reports are scattered. One driver says the car kept moving with the brake pressed and hit a building, and another got a brake assist failure message with a mushy pedal. Other complaints describe a transmission that stopped shifting at around 7k miles and needed replacing, a car that would not go into neutral after running out of gas, and navigation, OnStar, and hotspot connections that drop out.
POWER TRAIN
4 complaintsTransmission 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.
STEERING (4 complaints)
STEERING
4 complaintsPower 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsReports 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING (3 complaints)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
3 complaintsDaytime 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.
STRUCTURE (2 complaints)
STRUCTURE
2 complaintsSunlight 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.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintbought car brand new at 427 miles car started bucking shaking pulsating while driving bought to brennen gmc plattsburgh ny at 811 mile did same thing but worse brought back to dealership they put camshaft actuater and solenoid in at 6041 mile car was motor started knocking stalling controlable in traffic back at shop
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2025 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH at nighttime, there was an abnormally loud explosion and the contact became aware that the sunroof had exploded unexpectedly, causing shattered glass to fall inside the vehicle onto the contact's head, face, and body. The contact stated that two of her children were occupying the third-row seats when the failure occurred. The contact stated that a larger quantity of shattered glass fell near or in the car seat of the contact's son, who was not occupying the vehicle during the failure. There was no reported injury. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the sunroof needed to be replaced; however, the repair was not covered under warranty. The contact was referred to the insurance company for assistance. The dealer informed the contact that an engineering inspection had been requested. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the vehicle could be repaired under warranty at the discretion of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
1 complaintAutomatic brake engaged unnecessarily/ unexpectedly while driving forward at a low speed. There was no reason for the brake to engage. There were no objects or people infont of us. This has happened twice in less than a month. Both times we were in a forward motion. It could have been a serious situation if the car behind us had been any closer when we suddenly breaked for no reason.
When Do 2025 GMC Acadia Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst GMC Acadia Years
Best GMC Acadia Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreGMC Acadia Years to Avoid
GMC Acadia Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 64/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 76/100 | Good |
GMC Acadia Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 GMC Acadia reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 GMC Acadia?
Does the 2025 GMC Acadia have brake problems?
Does the 2025 GMC Acadia have any recalls?
How much does the 2025 GMC Acadia cost to repair?
Don’t buy a 2025 GMC Acadia without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2025 GMC Acadia
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 GMC Acadia does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (60/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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