260 of the
7,790 complaints filed about the GMC Acadia
are about the braking system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2025.
While driving my 2020 GMC Acadia SLT AWD Turbo with my young daughters in the vehicle, the brake pedal suddenly and sporadically lost all hydraulic pressure and sank nearly all the way to the floorboard. The vehicle would only gradually roll to a slow stop. Simultaneously, the dashboard illuminated with ABS and Service ESC notifications. After turning the vehicle completely off and restarting it, the braking system temporarily reverted to normal function before randomly failing again on a subsequent drive. The vehicle was brought to a local brake shop where it was dangerously misdiagnosed, and it is currently at a GMC dealership for an emergency teardown. Previously, without any warning, the vehicle would also experience a brake failure upon backing out of my garage. Once the brake was immediately pressed again, it would work. This intermittent loss of total stopping power constitutes a severe, life-threatening manufacturing defect.
NHTSA complaint #11763346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dropping my children off at school, 4 lights came on on the dash. Two messages came across my dash as well. Service esc service abs. EBCM master cylinder needed to be replaced at local GMC dealership.My brakes were failing…This is a known safety issue by GMC and there’s no recall!
NHTSA complaint #11761817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the brake vacuum pump exploded leading to catastrophic brake failure. My husband was driving and was able to stand on the brakes to get the car to stop, but had i been driving, I am not strong enough to have stopped the car. I have 3 children with my youngest being 1. If this had happened with me and my kids, we could have had a major wreck and/or DIED! GM is aware of the brake vacuum pump issues but does not have a recall on the part. The braske assist light did not come on the dash until brakes were lost.
NHTSA complaint #11759335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my 2025 GMC Acadia Denali on [XXX] with cruise on. Suddenly sound and banner notifications were telling me that I had no brakes. I immediately hit brake to break cruise and vehicle went faster. I managed to get cruise off from steering wheel. Put flashers on and took foot completely off gas. I was very fortunate that I didn’t hit someone or that no one hit me. After about 2 miles, I was able to pull in an empty church parking lot and get stopped. After getting stopped I was 2.4 miles from [XXX]. I was towed to GMC dealership in Montgomery, AL and diagnosed with defective master cylinder and no brakes. Very concerned because GMC has not issued a recall because the master cylinder failure has occurred many times before. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11758810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Something inside the wheel started smoking and my gmc app displayed low break fluid. I pulled over and had someone come out two days later. The breakpad had uneven wear and the caliper had a broken seal on it which in turn tore the caliper up! This was not a safe situation to have with 4 kids in the car. This car has been one problem after another !
NHTSA complaint #11751467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission causes problems in can be on interstate and be switching lanes and it loses power and wont go takes forever to shift out. It will cut out and you can barely get pulled off side of rd in time. Electrical the battery voltage goes crazy up and down causing vehicle to power surge bad or at night time lights will go out for no reason while driving every now and then you can smell something melting or burning also the engine gets so hot but it's right temperature cooling fan runs constantly even when car is cool.since all the problem with Transmission the suspension is off some how. Its like it's not stable
NHTSA complaint #11749833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
• Gearshift- It is, available for inspection upon request. • You are unable to turn off Vehicle, your trapped in vehicle. Until parking gear shifts into park and you’re able to shut off the vehicle. • Independent service center. • No • No
NHTSA complaint #11747263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My brake pedal got stiff when I was driving. I had zero control of my brakes. I was informed by a GMC dealership that my BRAKE BOOSTER blew up causing my brakes to stop working and metal shrapnel to be sent into my engine. My 2021 vehicle is a complete loss. GMC has done NOTHING to help me.
NHTSA complaint #11746671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At low speeds the brakes squeal horrendously. We have taken the vehicle to the dealer multiple times and each time they state that the brakes are fine. A vehicle with this low of miles should not have squealing brakes since new.
NHTSA complaint #11745606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Today, June 11, 2026, my wife and 9 month old baby were on their way home from running errands in town when the vehicle started to violently shake, becoming frightened my wife tried to apply pressure to the brakes. When she pushed down on the brake pedal nothing happened and the pedal hit the floor. Our brand new 2025 GMC Acadia AT4 had just suffered catastrophic brake failure. So she pulled off onto the side of the road in hopes the uneven terrain would slow her down just enough to put it into park. Luckily enough it did. If it would have been 10 seconds later she would have been on a one way bridge where the speed limit is 60mph with no brakes. Four days prior to today on June 07, 2026 I sent a message to the individual that I bought the car from at the GMC dealership and told him that we had warning lights come up on the dash. He had me try and reset the screen but nothing happened. I asked when we could get it into a shop so it could be looked at he said that he would have someone reach out and schedule a time. I proceeded to ask if we were ok to drive the vehicle until then.To which he responded "If the vehicle isn't giving you issues mechanically, you should be good". Fast forward to today June 11, 2026 my wife is driving and has catastrophic brake failure. The vehicle was then towed by roadside assistance to the GMC dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11743627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving and all of a sudden my break pedal was inoperable. It was stiff and unable to be used. Luckily I was only going 40 MPH. I pulled into a parking lot and my car started shaking and apparently the metal parts from the vacuum pump blew into my engine, which completely wrecked my engine. I nearly could have died and now my 2021 car is completely destroyed.
NHTSA complaint #11743108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Telematic Modular Control is not working properly and part is on backorder. Dealership and GMC have refused to put into writing that my vehicle is safe to drive; however, they are refusing rental vehicle while awaiting arrival of part. Several of my safety features are not working correctly, my left turn signal went out randomly and my auto breaking has activated when there has been nothing near my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11740057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The master cylinder failed under 10,000 miles. I was at 5000 miles. I am reading a lot of people have had issues with the master cylinder in the 2024 early 2025 models. Luckily I was in the driveway barely moving, but man if i were on a highway and it happened it could've been fatal!
NHTSA complaint #11739018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When backing out of a parking spot of a store , I went to stop and pressing on the brakes nothing happened and I kept rolling backwards. I looked down to confirm I was pressing the brakes and my foot was on the brake pedal pressed firmly. I rolled to a stop put it in drive and checked the brakes and they worked like normal. I made an appointment at the dealership and had an appointment the next day. The said it did not have any codes, it preformed normal and passed inspected so there was nothing they could do about it.
NHTSA complaint #11738784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes made an abnormal squealing sound. Additionally, brake pad dust was frequently visible on the rims. The dealer was contacted and advised that the brake issue was caused by driving through a car wash. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 25,312.
NHTSA complaint #11734795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We filled a report on 04/04/2026 with NHTSA at 12:16 pm but can't find a copy of the whole report. My husband John Chandler was driving our 2025 GMC Avadia Elevation. He was backing out of a parking place when he noticed it wouldn't stop while putting his foot on the break. He was able to put it into drive and it lundged forward and wouldn't stop. He kept pushing with both feet on the break and wouldn't stop. I tried pushing the start button to stop but because his feet were on the break it would restart so then pushed the park button and it stopped as we hit the building. The air bags did not depoy so not going that fast. I pushed the button for 911 and they came on to assist and call police. They asked if everyone was al right and other questions. Lucky no one was hurt and thank God for that. Tow truck was called and taken to local tow yard. The 2025 Acadia was transported to the repair shop but has not been inspected by the insurance company or GMC yet. After repairs are complete it will be taken to the local GMC dealer Ron Smith in Merced, CA for inspection. We did not notice andy warning messages prior to the accident.
NHTSA complaint #11733581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My complaint does not involve an accident. The brakes on the 2024 Acadia Elevation are squealing very loudly, and have been doing so for the past six months or so. I have approximately 18,000 miles on it. I took my vehicle to the dealership twice for this issue, and I was told this time that the brakes are still good (still 8mm of pads) - even though it was showing 22% brake pad. They told me about the malfunctioning sensor and they fixed that, but the squealing is still there. I was told that it was the metal composition of the brake pads that is making that noise, and GM does not cover brakes past 7,500 miles (this 7,500 warranty is pointless because who would need brakes replaced in that short time frame, anyway?). That means I would have to pay out of pocket for the brakes! There is clearly something wrong with the structure of the brakes and I see on the Acadia forum that this is a common complaint. If the brakes are good, then why are the brakes squealing? Why am I being told that I just have to deal with the squealing sound? What can be done about this issue. It seems unfair to me that I have to come out of pocket to fix something that should not be "broken".
NHTSA complaint #11729530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While backing out of a parking place my husband noticed he couldn't stop the 2025 Acadia and almost hit restraunt behind us, while pusing on the break. He then started to go forward and kept saying "I can't stop it, it won't stop, I'm pushing on the break." The vehicle then went forward and couldn't stop even pushing on the break. I tried pusing the button to turn off the 2025 Acadia a couple times (possible turning back on and because he foot was on the break restarted the vehicle) and then pushed park to see if that would stop. We hit the building in front of us and stopped. The air bags did not deploy so not going that fast. I pushed the button for 911 and they came on to assist and call police and asked if everyone was all right and other questions. Lucky no on was hurt and thank God for that. Tow truck was called and taken to local tow yard.
NHTSA complaint #11729190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On March 27, 2026, I experienced a complete brake failure while driving a 2021 GMC Acadia in a school zone at approximately 3:00 PM. When I pressed the brake pedal, the vehicle did not respond. I attempted multiple times, including using the emergency brake, which did not activate immediately. The vehicle remained in motion for several minutes in an area with children and parents present. The emergency brake only engaged after approximately 30–45 seconds of repeated attempts. I was forced to steer off the road to avoid a collision. The vehicle had been inspected at a GM dealership on March 16, 2026, just eleven days prior, where the brake system was evaluated and no issues were identified. After the incident, the dealership diagnosed a leaking vacuum pump, which is a component that supports the brake booster system. This failure occurred without warning and created a dangerous situation. I am concerned this may indicate a broader safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11728151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.