Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Honda Pilot?

Yes, but only slightly. The Acadia has fewer recalls, 17 against 51 for the Pilot, and fewer unscheduled shop visits per year. The Pilot has lower yearly repair costs and a smaller chance of a major repair. Both carry serious complaint patterns, so the model year and service history matter more than the badge.

Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the Pilot?

The Pilot has far more. Federal recall records list 51 recalls across nine Pilot model years and 17 across eight Acadia model years. One Pilot recall covers the fuel pump, and owners said dealers had no parts to complete it. Check any VIN for open recalls before buying.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Acadia or the Pilot?

The Pilot is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $542 a year against $734 for the Acadia, which adds up to roughly $960 over five years. A repair on the Pilot is also less likely to be major, at 13% against 19% for the Acadia.

What is the main transmission problem with the Acadia?

Owners describe the 9-speed transmission shuddering, vibrating, or bucking at steady speeds, sometimes as early as 15,000 miles. Hard shifts and lurches are common. Fluid flushes and torque converter replacement don't always fix it, and complete failure is reported at roughly 74,000 to 80,000 miles.

What goes wrong most often on the Honda Pilot?

Electrical trouble leads the complaints. The infotainment screen goes blank or shows "Network Communication Lost," and the backup camera and radio go with it. Engine failures, stop/start cars that won't restart, and transmission shudder starting around 50,000 to 60,000 miles are also reported.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

GMC Acadia

Good

Honda Pilot

Good

The GMC Acadia edges out the Honda Pilot on reliability, with 17 recalls against 51. The Pilot costs less to repair, though. This page compares the problems, repair costs, and model years so a used buyer can see which trade-off fits.

How Do the GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot Generations Compare?

Shoppers on a tighter budget will mostly land in the Acadia's second generation, which ran from the 2017 to 2023 model years with updates in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Its weakest years, 2020 and 2023, both fall in that run. The third generation began with the 2024 model year, which is the one to look at if your budget allows. The Pilot's third generation ran from 2016 to 2022, with a refresh in 2019, and its weakest years, 2019 and 2020, sit there. The fourth generation started with the 2023 model year, and a facelift arrived for 2026. The 2023 Pilot ranks among its strongest.

Verdict

The GMC Acadia is more reliable than the Honda Pilot, scoring 70/100 vs 68/100.

Reliability tilts slightly toward the GMC Acadia. Federal recall records show 17 recalls across its model years against 51 for the Honda Pilot, and Acadia owners report fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.4 a year against 0.5. The gap is small. The Pilot costs less per year to keep running and is less likely to need a major repair. Each has a serious weak spot: the Acadia's 9-speed transmission shudder and the Pilot's sudden engine and infotainment failures.

Key Differences

1Honda Pilot costs $192 less per year to repair
2GMC Acadia has 34 fewer total recalls
3Honda Pilot has 6% lower major repair risk

Category Scoreboard

3GMC Acadia

—

2Honda Pilot

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot: Which Is More Reliable?

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot
Reliability Score	70/100	68/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	17	51
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	770	2382
Annual Repair Cost	$734/yr	$542/yr
Repair Frequency	0.4/yr	0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk	19%	13%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5	3

What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot?

Crash-linked brake and steering complaints set the two apart. Acadia owners report an electronic parking brake that engages on its own, even while moving, and power steering that cuts out and leaves the wheel very heavy. The Pilot's top complaint areas include no brake or steering group. The Acadia's 9-speed transmission also shudders and bucks, and some fail completely. Pilot complaints spread wider. The infotainment screen drops out with "Network Communication Lost," taking the backup camera with it. Some engines fail from connecting rod bearings, stop/start can fail to restart the engine, and the fuel pump recall left owners waiting on parts.

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot common problem areas comparison
Component	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	139	632
POWER TRAIN	200	232
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	106	279
ENGINE	37	255
FUEL SYSTEM	4	155
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	8	147
SERVICE BRAKES	70	71
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	23	93
STEERING	55	56
AIR BAGS	12	33
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2	33
SEAT BELTS	6	26
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	5	26
STRUCTURE	4	27
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—	28
TIRES	—	12
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	6	2
SEATS	6	2
VISIBILITY	—	5
SUSPENSION	4	—
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	4	—
WHEELS	3	—
LANE DEPARTURE	2	—

Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot?

Independent repair-cost data favors the Pilot on price. It averages $542 a year against $734 for the Acadia, a gap of $192 a year, or about $960 over five years. The Pilot also has the lower chance that a repair is major, 13% against 19%. The Acadia counters with fewer unscheduled shop visits, 0.4 a year against 0.5. Expect the Acadia to visit the shop a bit less often, but to cost more when it does.

How Does GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot Reliability Compare by Year?

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot year-by-year reliability scores
Year	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 0C	81/1000R / 0C	Honda Pilot
2025	76/1000R / 51C	71/1004R / 111C	GMC Acadia
2024	76/1000R / 51C	72/1006R / 82C	GMC Acadia
2023	64/1004R / 37C	72/1005R / 93C	Honda Pilot
2022	66/1003R / 44C	72/1003R / 105C	Honda Pilot
2021	68/1002R / 134C	63/1008R / 358C	GMC Acadia
2020	62/1006R / 84C	60/1009R / 431C	GMC Acadia
2018	68/1002R / 369C	63/1005R / 408C	GMC Acadia

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 GMC Acadia scored 76/100 and the 2024 Honda Pilot scored 72/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the GMC Acadia vs the Honda Pilot?

Pick the Acadia if you want fewer recalls and fewer trips to the shop. Target the 2024 model year, which ranks among its strongest, and avoid 2020 and 2023, its weakest. Before you buy, drive it at steady highway speed and feel for the transmission shudder, which owners report as early as 15,000 miles. Test the parking brake on an incline and the rear camera in reverse. Pick the Pilot if lower running costs matter most to you. Repairs are cheaper and a major repair is less likely. Aim for 2023, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest. Check that every recall repair was completed, including the fuel pump recall, and ask for service records. Run the infotainment screen and camera for several minutes, and listen for knocking at startup, since engine failures are reported as a sudden event.

GMC Acadia vs Honda Pilot: Common Questions

Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Honda Pilot?: Yes, but only slightly. The Acadia has fewer recalls, 17 against 51 for the Pilot, and fewer unscheduled shop visits per year. The Pilot has lower yearly repair costs and a smaller chance of a major repair. Both carry serious complaint patterns, so the model year and service history matter more than the badge.
Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the Pilot?: The Pilot has far more. Federal recall records list 51 recalls across nine Pilot model years and 17 across eight Acadia model years. One Pilot recall covers the fuel pump, and owners said dealers had no parts to complete it. Check any VIN for open recalls before buying.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Acadia or the Pilot?: The Pilot is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $542 a year against $734 for the Acadia, which adds up to roughly $960 over five years. A repair on the Pilot is also less likely to be major, at 13% against 19% for the Acadia.
What is the main transmission problem with the Acadia?: Owners describe the 9-speed transmission shuddering, vibrating, or bucking at steady speeds, sometimes as early as 15,000 miles. Hard shifts and lurches are common. Fluid flushes and torque converter replacement don't always fix it, and complete failure is reported at roughly 74,000 to 80,000 miles.
What goes wrong most often on the Honda Pilot?: Electrical trouble leads the complaints. The infotainment screen goes blank or shows "Network Communication Lost," and the backup camera and radio go with it. Engine failures, stop/start cars that won't restart, and transmission shudder starting around 50,000 to 60,000 miles are also reported.

More GMC Acadia comparisons

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More Honda Pilot comparisons

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Decided between GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot

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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