CarBrief

NHTSA has 463 owner complaints on file for the 2014 GMC Acadia, and air bags are the biggest group[1][2]. The model year also has 6 recalls, so check each one before you buy[3].

463owner complaints[1]
6recalls[3]
18–19MPG combined (EPA)[4]
5★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Reported problems

NHTSA lists 463 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Of those, 15 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 17 an injury[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Here are the biggest component groups:

Component Complaints Median miles at failure
Air bags[2] 246 82,500
Electrical system[6] 90 72,000
Engine[7] 47 63,000
Power train[8] 35 50,000
Unknown or other[9] 29 77,900
Steering[10] 26 45,000
Exterior lighting[11] 20 72,000
Electronic stability control[12] 19 63,500

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for four of these groups. This is not a count of all owners, so treat it as a flavor of what people report.

The air bag group also has the highest median mileage at failure, 82,500 miles[2]. The power train and steering groups have the lowest, at 50,000 and 45,000 miles[8][10].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year[3]. They are below, newest first. Several cover other GM models too, and the unit counts are for all models in each recall.

A recall can cover only part of a model year. Ask a GMC dealer or check NHTSA with a specific vehicle's VIN to see which recalls apply and whether the repair is done.

Fuel economy

The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive Acadia at 17 city, 24 highway and 19 combined MPG[4]. EPA puts its estimated annual fuel cost at $3,550[4]. The all-wheel-drive version is rated 16 city, 23 highway and 18 combined MPG, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700[19]. Both take regular gas. The EPA cost estimates use current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive Acadia 5 stars overall, 5 for frontal crashes, 5 for side crashes and 4 for rollover[5]. Its rollover risk is 15.5%[5]. The front-wheel-drive version has the same star ratings, with a rollover risk of 16.9%[20].

Engine and size

EPA lists a 3.6L 6-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic for both drive types[4][19]. The dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada and can differ slightly from US models.

Measure FWD AWD
Length 201 in 201 in
Width 79 in 79 in
Height 73 in 73 in
Wheelbase 119 in 119 in
Curb weight 4,696 lb 4,892 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

2007: 428 complaints, 5 recalls20072008: 854 complaints, 5 recalls2009: 331 complaints, 7 recalls20092010: 343 complaints, 4 recalls2011: 269 complaints, 5 recalls20112012: 296 complaints, 5 recalls2013: 135 complaints, 3 recalls20132014: 463 complaints, 6 recalls46320142015: 243 complaints, 4 recalls20152016: 236 complaints, 4 recalls2017: 705 complaints, 4 recalls20172018: 396 complaints, 2 recalls2019: 387 complaints, 2 recalls20192020: 106 complaints, 6 recalls2021: 154 complaints, 2 recalls20212022: 49 complaints, 3 recalls2023: 47 complaints, 4 recalls20232024: 61 complaints, 0 recalls2025: 67 complaints, 0 recalls20252026: 10 complaints, 1 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Acadia model year. The 2014 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20074285
20088545
20093317
20103434
20112695
20122965
20131353
20144636
20152434
20162364
20177054
20183962
20193872
20201066
20211542
2022493
2023474
2024610
2025670
2026101

Complaint and recall counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide to the same model over time. The 2014 Acadia has 463 complaints[3]. Only 2008 (854) and 2017 (705) have more[3]. Its 6 recalls are second highest, tied with 2020[3]. Only 2009 has more, at 7[3].

The years right around it have fewer complaints. The 2013 model has 135 complaints and 3 recalls, and the 2015 model has 243 complaints and 4 recalls[3].

Should you buy a used 2014 Acadia?

The data does not say this SUV is unsafe to own. It earns 5 stars overall from NHTSA[5][20]. It also has a high complaint count for its model line and several recalls that involve air bags, seat belts and stalling[1][13][15][16]. Before buying, confirm with a dealer or NHTSA that every recall has been completed on that exact vehicle. Pay attention to air bag warning lights and any stalling during a test drive, since those are the themes in the complaints we read[2][7]. Remember that complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales[1].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 GMC Acadia?
Air bag complaints are the largest group, with 246 of the 463 on file[1][2]. Electrical (90), engine (47) and power train (35) follow[6][7][8].
Does the 2014 GMC Acadia have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6, covering the driver air bag inflator, side curtain air bags, chassis electronic module, seat belt cable, fuel gauge software and transmission shift cable[13][14][15][16][17][18].
What gas mileage does the 2014 GMC Acadia get?
The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive model at 19 combined MPG and the all-wheel-drive model at 18 combined MPG[4][19].
How safe is the 2014 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall in both AWD and FWD form, with 4 stars for rollover[5][20].
Is 2014 a bad year for the GMC Acadia?
Its 463 complaints are third highest among model years on file, behind 2008 and 2017, and its 6 recalls are second highest[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 463 owner complaints on file for the 2014 GMC Acadia (15 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 17 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 246 complaints name the air bags component group (8 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 82,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every GMC Acadia model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Acadia FWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 90 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 47 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 35 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 29 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 77,900). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 26 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 20 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 19 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 23V334, filed May 10, 2023: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 21V246, filed April 8, 2021: Air Bags › Critical Fasteners. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 14V614, filed October 1, 2014: Electrical System. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 14V266, filed May 20, 2014: Seat Belts. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 14V223, filed April 30, 2014: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 14V092, filed February 21, 2014: Power Train › Automatic Transmission. NHTSA recall database
  19. EPA rating for Acadia AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ACADIA 4DR SUV FWD SLE/SLT: length 201 in, width 79 in, height 73 in, wheelbase 119 in, curb weight 4,696 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ACADIA 4DR SUV AWD SLE/SLT/DENALI: length 201 in, width 79 in, height 73 in, wheelbase 119 in, curb weight 4,892 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.