Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Subaru Ascent?

No, they are effectively tied. Both carry a good standing. The Acadia's main risk is a 9-speed transmission that can fail completely, and it also has crash-linked steering and engine reports. The Ascent's main risks are a slipping CVT and a vibrating driver's mirror.

Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the Ascent?

The Acadia has slightly more. Federal recall records show 17 recalls across 8 Acadia model years and 16 across 7 Ascent model years. The gap is small, so recalls should not decide it. Check any specific car by VIN.

What goes wrong with the Subaru Ascent transmission?

Owners describe a CVT that squeals, shudders, slips, and hesitates, often starting between 6,000 and 25,000 miles. Some lose drive on the highway. Several transmissions were replaced, sometimes more than once, and symptoms can return soon after the repair.

What are the common Acadia problems to check before buying?

Check the 9-speed transmission for shudder or hard shifts, since failure is reported at roughly 74,000 to 80,000 miles. Also check the rear camera, the thermostat and steering assist warning, and whether the electronic parking brake ever sets itself.

Can the Ascent's mirror vibration be fixed?

Often it cannot. Owners say dealers replaced the glass, housing, or whole assembly and applied a service bulletin, yet the shaking continued. Many were told there is no fix. It shows up at highway speeds, so test drive on a freeway first.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

GMC Acadia

Good

Subaru Ascent

Good

The GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent are effectively tied on reliability. Each has a known transmission problem. The Acadia's 9-speed shudders and can fail outright, while the Ascent's CVT slips and hesitates and its driver's mirror shakes at highway speed.

How Do the GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent Generations Compare?

A third generation of the Acadia began with the 2024 model year. The second generation ran from 2017 to 2023 and picked up updates in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Both of its weakest years, 2020 and 2023, belong to that second generation. The Ascent has had one generation so far, starting with the 2019 model year and receiving a facelift in 2023. Its weakest years, 2019 and 2020, were the earliest cars. Newer years of both models have had less time to collect complaints, so a thin record on them does not prove they are better.

Verdict

The GMC Acadia is more reliable than the Subaru Ascent, scoring 70/100 vs 69/100.

Reliability is effectively tied, and neither car earns a clear edge. Each has a standing of good, each has a serious transmission complaint pattern, and their recall counts are close. The deciding factor is the type of trouble you would rather risk. The Acadia's worst reports involve a 9-speed that can fail completely, while the Ascent's involve a CVT that slips and a mirror that shakes with no fix. Pick on which flaw you can tolerate, not on a winner.

Key Differences

1GMC Acadia scores 1 points higher in reliability
2Subaru Ascent has 1 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

1GMC Acadia

—

1Subaru Ascent

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsSafety Rating

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent: Which Is More Reliable?

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	GMC Acadia	Subaru Ascent
Reliability Score	70/100	69/100
Years Tracked	8	7
Total Recalls	17	16
Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume	770	879
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1 (3 tied)	2 (3 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent?

Transmissions are a major problem for both, but they fail differently. Acadia owners report the 9-speed shuddering at steady speeds, hard shifts, and complete failure at roughly 74,000 to 80,000 miles. Ascent owners report the CVT squealing, slipping, and hesitating, often from 6,000 to 25,000 miles. The Acadia also has crash-linked steering and engine reports, tied to thermostat failure and power steering cutting out. The Ascent has none in those two areas. Its distinct problem is a driver's mirror that vibrates at highway speed, with no crash-linked reports.

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent common problem areas comparison
Component	GMC Acadia	Subaru Ascent
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	139	256
POWER TRAIN	200	143
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	106	96
VISIBILITY/WIPER	2	129
SERVICE BRAKES	70	47
ENGINE	37	32
STEERING	55	2
VISIBILITY	—	46
AIR BAGS	12	18
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	23	—
STRUCTURE	4	17
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	8	5
SUSPENSION	4	7
SEATS	6	2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	6	—
SEAT BELTS	6	—
LANE DEPARTURE	2	4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	5	—
WHEELS	3	2
FUEL SYSTEM	4	—
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	4	—
TIRES	—	3

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

How Does GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent Reliability Compare by Year?

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent year-by-year reliability scores
Year	GMC Acadia	Subaru Ascent	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 0C	76/1000R / 1C	Tie
2025	76/1000R / 51C	76/1000R / 8C	Tie
2024	76/1000R / 51C	76/1000R / 43C	Tie
2023	64/1004R / 37C	71/1003R / 36C	Subaru Ascent
2022	66/1003R / 44C	70/1001R / 50C	Subaru Ascent
2020	62/1006R / 84C	58/1004R / 310C	GMC Acadia

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 GMC Acadia scored 76/100 and the 2024 Subaru Ascent scored 76/100 — 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 Subaru Ascent?

Choose the Ascent if you can live with a shaky driver's mirror and want to avoid the Acadia's steering and engine reports. Owners say the vibration starts at delivery and dealers often have no fix, so test drive at highway speed and check the mirror before you sign. Avoid the 2019 and 2020 model years, the weakest for this model. Ask for proof that any transmission work was done, since replacements sometimes needed repeating. Choose the Acadia if mirror vibration would bother you and you can budget for a possible transmission repair. Avoid the 2020 and 2023 model years, its weakest. On any Acadia, test for shuddering at steady speeds and ask whether the thermostat or power steering module has been replaced, since those failures drew crash-linked reports. Also check that the rear camera works and the parking brake releases normally. For either car, run the VIN through federal recall records before buying, because both have a long recall history.

GMC Acadia vs Subaru Ascent: Common Questions

Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Subaru Ascent?: No, they are effectively tied. Both carry a good standing. The Acadia's main risk is a 9-speed transmission that can fail completely, and it also has crash-linked steering and engine reports. The Ascent's main risks are a slipping CVT and a vibrating driver's mirror.
Which has more recalls, the Acadia or the Ascent?: The Acadia has slightly more. Federal recall records show 17 recalls across 8 Acadia model years and 16 across 7 Ascent model years. The gap is small, so recalls should not decide it. Check any specific car by VIN.
What goes wrong with the Subaru Ascent transmission?: Owners describe a CVT that squeals, shudders, slips, and hesitates, often starting between 6,000 and 25,000 miles. Some lose drive on the highway. Several transmissions were replaced, sometimes more than once, and symptoms can return soon after the repair.
What are the common Acadia problems to check before buying?: Check the 9-speed transmission for shudder or hard shifts, since failure is reported at roughly 74,000 to 80,000 miles. Also check the rear camera, the thermostat and steering assist warning, and whether the electronic parking brake ever sets itself.
Can the Ascent's mirror vibration be fixed?: Often it cannot. Owners say dealers replaced the glass, housing, or whole assembly and applied a service bulletin, yet the shaking continued. Many were told there is no fix. It shows up at highway speeds, so test drive on a freeway first.

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How we score the GMC Acadia and Subaru Ascent

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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