Throttlebook

2012 GMC Acadia

The 2012 GMC Acadia earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 65/100. Expect about $41,154 to own it for five years, or $686 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 302 complaints.

Recalls
5
Complaints
302
5-yr cost
$41k
MPG (EPA)
19
0
Fair
Ownership Score

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5 recalls may apply

For the 2012 GMC Acadia. NHTSA matches recalls by model and year — confirm by VIN.

  • What's wrong: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

    Risk: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

    Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

Check recalls for this exact VIN at NHTSA

Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

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5-year cost to own

Estimated $8,750 price, 20% down, 11.19% APR for 60 months (Experian avg.), 12,000 mi/yr.

$41,154
$686/month · $0.69/mile
Depreciation$1,980
Insurance (national avg.)$12,000
Fuel / charging$10,580
Maintenance$8,625
Repairs$4,000
Loan interest$2,444
Taxes & fees$1,525

Estimate, not financial advice. How we calculate.

Owner complaints & safety

What real owners reported to NHTSA for this model year.

302 complaints8 involved a crash2 involved a fire
  • Steering46
  • Structure44
  • Power Train43
  • Electrical System42
  • Unknown Or Other42
  • Engine36

Complaint counts scale with how many were sold; compare against similar models.

NHTSA crash-test stars
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Rated as: 2012 GMC Acadia SUV AWD

What to check on a used 2012 GMC Acadia

Ordered by what owners of this model year reported most. Reports are not proof of a defect.

  • Engine and transmission
    • Cold start: listen for knocking, ticking or rough running.
    • Shifts should be smooth with no slipping or jerking.
  • Steering
    • Does the car drift or pull on a straight road?
    • Turn the wheel lock to lock and listen for clunks or whines.
  • Body and structure
    • Look for uneven gaps, mismatched paint or rust underneath.
    • Check that every door, the hood and the trunk latch properly.

If anything in a safety area feels wrong (brakes, steering, airbags, tires), stop driving and get it inspected before you buy or drive it further. Paste a VIN above for the full printable checklist.

Common 2012 GMC Acadia problems

Cheaper alternatives

FAQ

Is the 2012 GMC Acadia a good car to buy?
The 2012 GMC Acadia earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 65/100. Expect about $41,154 to own it for five years, or $686 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 302 complaints.
Does the 2012 GMC Acadia have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 GMC Acadia, including Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate; Seat Belts; Air Bags › Side/Window. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common 2012 GMC Acadia problems?
Owners filed 302 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (46), structure (44), power train (43), electrical system (42).
How much does a 2012 GMC Acadia cost to own for 5 years?
About $41,154 over 5 years ($686/month) at an estimated $8,750 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.

Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP ratings; EPA fueleconomy.gov. Data refreshed weekly. Complaint counts scale with sales volume.