Last updated: 2026-05-15
GMC Acadia vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
GMC Acadia
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the GMC Acadia and the Toyota Highlander? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Highlander currently leads with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the GMC Acadia, scoring 72/100 vs 69/100.
The Toyota Highlander edges out the GMC Acadia in terms of reliability, with an average reliability score of 72/100 compared to the Acadia's 69/100. The Highlander also boasts a lower owner complaint rate of 5.8 per 10,000 vehicles sold, contrasting with Acadia's unnormalized 770 total complaints. While the Highlander has a higher total recall number at 66 over nine years, its estimated annual repair costs are significantly lower at $489 versus the Acadia's $734, making it a more cost-effective option for long-term ownership. Both vehicles share common issues, but the Highlander's lower repair costs and complaint rate make it the more reliable choice in the midsize SUV segment.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Highlander costs $245 less per year to repair
- 2GMC Acadia has 49 fewer total recalls
- 3Toyota Highlander has 6% lower major repair risk
Category Scoreboard
GMC Acadia vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | GMC Acadia | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 69/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 17 | 66 |
| Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume | 770 | 1892 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $734/yr | $489/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.4/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 19% | 13% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 (1 tied) | 5 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander exhibits a higher total number of complaints compared to the GMC Acadia, particularly in the areas of power train and air bags, with the latter showing a significant 41 crash-linked incidents. The Highlander also faces notable issues with its service brakes and structure, both registering multiple crash-related complaints. Conversely, the GMC Acadia has a pronounced issue with its power train and electrical system, though it reports fewer overall complaints and crash-linked incidents in the air bags category compared to the Highlander. Both vehicles have a moderate number of complaints related to their engines and fuel/propulsion systems, but these are less frequently linked to crashes.
| Component | GMC Acadia | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 200 | 485 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 106 | 226 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 139 | 134 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 70 | 179 |
| AIR BAGS | 12 | 162 |
| STRUCTURE | 2 | 138 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 23 | 101 |
| ENGINE | 37 | 69 |
| STEERING | 55 | 37 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 | 42 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 | 21 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 4 | 14 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 6 | 5 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 2 | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS | 9 | — |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 8 | — |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 | 4 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 4 | — |
| SEATS | 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 Toyota Highlander?
How Does GMC Acadia vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | GMC Acadia | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76/1000R / 51C | 76/1008R / 40C | Tie |
| 2024 | 76/1000R / 51C | 67/10016R / 198C | GMC Acadia |
| 2023 | 64/1004R / 37C | 73/10013R / 140C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2022 | 66/1003R / 44C | 74/1007R / 186C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2021 | 68/1002R / 134C | 70/1006R / 403C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2020 | 62/1006R / 84C | 71/1008R / 269C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2018 | 68/1002R / 369C | 72/1005R / 242C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Tie |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 GMC Acadia scored 76/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the GMC Acadia vs the Toyota Highlander?
GMC Acadia vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the GMC Acadia more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the GMC Acadia or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) compared to the GMC Acadia (17). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the GMC Acadia or the Toyota Highlander?
- The GMC Acadia has fewer owner complaints (770) versus 1892 for the Toyota Highlander. Note that models with higher sales naturally generate more complaints.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the GMC Acadia or the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Highlander is cheaper to maintain at $489/year versus $734/year for the GMC Acadia.
- Is the GMC Acadia or Toyota Highlander safer?
- Both the GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue