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2019 GMC Acadia: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
55%
202 of 368 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

55% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 GMC Acadia are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 72% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 53%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
202
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
382
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
5 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN153 · 40%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER120 · 31%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM104 · 27%
ENGINE51 · 13%
STEERING32 · 8%
SERVICE BRAKES16 · 4%

The years either side

2010
40%
122 of 348
2011
37%
81 of 280
2012
37%
91 of 302
2013
45%
46 of 140
2014
45%
94 of 467
2015
34%
44 of 261
2016
33%
32 of 236
2017
48%
286 of 702
2018
49%
187 of 392
2019
55%
202 of 382
2020
48%
46 of 100
2021
47%
64 of 148
2022
55%
23 of 48
2023
55%
21 of 42

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN08/18/2026
On XXX at 1:56pm, I took the vehicle to Jiffy Lube service center #810 for the "Quick Oil Change Service" which includes checking and filling the Tranmission/Axle fluid. Per the attached receipt the Transmission/Axle fluid was "OK", and the next service was recommended after 5,000 addtional miles from the then current …
ENGINE08/17/2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the battery low and steering assist warning lights were illuminated. The contact's minor children were occupants in the vehicle during the …
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/12/2026
See attached file

Three of 202 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (2)

TIRES
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018…
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 GMC Acadia

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.