Model year guide

2012 GMC Acadia

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 GMC Acadia is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 514 on record.

2012 GMC Acadia — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 GMC Acadia at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints300
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined19 mpg
Typical price$22,706

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 GMC Acadia recalls 5

Seat Belts NHTSA Campaign #14V266000 · 20/05/2014

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel c…

Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available…

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate NHTSA Campaign #15V415000 · 30/06/2015

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…

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, Che…

Air Bags:side/window NHTSA Campaign #14V118000 · 17/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners …

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages NHTSA Campaign #12V151000 · 09/04/2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA,…

Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.

Air Bags:critical Fasteners NHTSA Campaign #21V246000 · 08/04/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer …

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 GMC Acadia common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2012 GMC Acadia safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 GMC Acadia SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 GMC Acadia MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,250

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 GMC Acadia worth?

Low
$14,995
Typical price
$22,706
High
$30,000

From 511 comparable 2012 GMC Acadia listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 GMC Acadia costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,250
Depreciation (5 yrs)$13,400
Total$29,650
Per mile$0.40

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($22,706) with the same model 5 model-years older ($9,324), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 GMC Acadia trims & engines on record

Trims
Denali · SLT-1 · SLE · SL · SLT 1 · SLT-2 · SLE 2 · SLE 1 · SLT 2
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl

2012 GMC Acadia vehicles on record

Other GMC Acadia model years

2012 GMC Acadia — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 GMC Acadia have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 GMC Acadia. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Acadia?

Based on 300 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, electrical system, power train.

What is the 2012 GMC Acadia safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 GMC Acadia an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 GMC Acadia get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 GMC Acadia at about 19 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway).

How much is a 2012 GMC Acadia worth?

Comparable 2012 GMC Acadia listings run roughly $14,995–$30,000, typically around $22,706 (from 511 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.