2012 GMC Acadia Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 294 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 GMC Acadia overview page.
What owners report
“VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ENGINE SURGES IF ENGINE RPMS DROP UNDER 22OO. CAR DOES NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY. HAS TRIPPED INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" WHILE DRIVING ON…”NHTSA complaint 11045827 — filed 11/13/2017
“VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND JERKS AT ALL SPEEDS. IT IS PARTICULARLY WORSE AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS ACTING LIKE SOMEONE IS POPPING THE CLUTCH…”NHTSA complaint 10887427 — filed 07/21/2016
“WHEN OPERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, INCLINES, AND VARIOUS TEMPERATURES, IT LURCHES, FLUCTUATIONS ON TACHOMETER. DEALER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND…”NHTSA complaint 10882636 — filed 07/05/2016
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 GMC Acadia have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 GMC Acadia: 43 of 294 complaints on file (14.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 GMC Acadia have in total?
294 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
