The 2015 GMC Acadia is among the vehicles most likely to experience air conditioning problems at some point in its lifecycle, according to the auto experts over at Consumer Reports.
For this study, CR tracked the ten newer model-year vehicles that it has received the most owner complaints on regarding the air conditioning system in recent years. The 2015 GMC Acadia experienced the seventh most amount of reported A/C problems, according to CR’s data, with the majority of these problems cropping up between 44,000 miles and 79,000 miles. The 2013, 2014 and 2016 model year GMC Acadia is also prone to similar A/C issues, CR says, but it’s the 2015 model year of the crossover that it has received the most complaints about.
As we reported previously, the 2014 Chevy Traverse and 2013 Buick Enclave were also included in CR’s ranking of vehicles with frequent A/C problems. All three GM crossovers on the list share the GM Lambda platform and a variety of other GM parts bin components. The Traverse experienced the most amount of A/C problems of the three, followed by the Enclave and finally the Acadia. CR says the majority of the vehicles included in this ranking experienced a “significant failure,” of the A/C system at some point. The likelihood of problems occurring in vehicles included on the list ranges from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5.
The chief mechanic for CR’s automotive arm, John Ibbotson, said A/C problems can be particularly frustrating, as drivers typically only realize there’s a problem with the A/C when they go to use it on a hot day. They are also usually quite pricy to fix on most late model year vehicles – although some money can be saved if the problems are detected early on.
“Air conditioning problems range from easy to repair to requiring significant trouble-shooting and skill to fix,” Ibbotson explained. “Drivers naturally dread AC problems because they invariably happen when you most want the cool air, and the costs to repair can easily top $1,000. But some problems, if caught early enough, don’t cost nearly that much.”
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Comments
I’m not sure what the purpose of this story is. What message should I take away from it? These and similar reports on GMAuthority.com are giving me a bad impression of GM products.
Yes Chris I agree I had a 2011 and 2014 Arcadia Denalis No problem whatsoever we won’t talk about the new body style 2017 that was a piece of garbage but no air-conditioning problems
Well I have an 07 GMC Acadia with 375,000 mi and never had one AC problem I still have the original compressor and clutch and blows super cold air never had not one issue
I think they are doing what reporters are suppose to do…state the findings of resources or facts. some will show a positive view and some will not..to me that is reporting. CR and their reports are misleading I think because they do not go into details. I think they should report on how much a person as spent on the car outside of regular service to me that is what matters.
CR never publishes qualifying results or numbers to show the real extent of an issue. They may only get 10 responses from readers and if 3 have an issue then 30% are found to have trouble.
That is the problem with the CR experts is their data is limited to only readers and only of those who respond. Not exactly scientific or accurate.
Okay let’s say that the CR numbers really do indicate a problem. It is my understanding that back in the 70’s Mercedes Benz reportedly purchased GM’s air conditioning compressors because they were the best, most reliable in the world. How sad for gm I’m afraid that their best years are behind them now.
Yes that’s true the old Frigidaire compressors were bulletproof big and heavy but they work right
What it says is GM is using the same compressors as everyone else now.
I have a 2014 Acadia A/C just went out last week GM wants 900 to fix !!!
I bought a 2016 Acadia Denali back in November 2019 for my wife. I researched the crap out of it and found that the AC problems were evaporator failures, not compressor or other parts. Average repair costs were $1500-$2000. Can I do the repair? Yep. Will I be able to do it fast enough to appease my wife? Probably not. So I bought an extended warranty on it. Let the dealer fix it and give me a rental. It has been a great truck so far, not 1 issue with almost 60k on it. All I have done is front pads and rotors, and oil, trans, transfer case and diff fluid changes.
Just a follow up to this article and my previous reply… still no issues with the AC in our Acadia and in fact, the lone issue I have had is the passenger side door mirror won’t always fold in when you press the switch. Went to the GMC dealer once and they diagnosed it as the passenger door lock or window switch. They are all tied together and the truck has a ton of modules in it running everything. They fixed it and it worked for a little bit and now it isn’t working again. The only other issue is the SAT radio cuts out at times, particularly on an open interstate. Tried to reprogram that twice to know avail. Now that I just replaced the transmission in my 2004 Yukon, I can get the Acadia back to the dealer to look at the mirror and radio again. The dealer didn’t have a loaner available for us last time and the Yukon is our back up vehicle. And the warranty I bought with the truck has been good so far.
I have a 2012 Acadia Denali and I’ve been having air conditioning problems. I’ve been having air conditioning problems since last summer. Now this summer now this summer I need a pressure hose.
I had a 2015 Acadia and we experienced AC issues. Our issue was a leak in the rear evaporator core. It was $800 to fix, and prior $150 to diagnose, refill and dye. Mechanic said that the front evaporator core was likely going to go out as well due to the same issue (erosion), which would be about $3,000 to fix. Prior to this we had the side blind zone sensor go out for the third time. GM said they would cover it, then backed out, all over about 6 months. Really terrible customer service. Ours didn’t fall w/in the VIN check for the special coverage, but they lied to us and the dealer on covering it. Another $700 down the drain. There is a major flaw in the side blind zone sensors that when they malfunction will shut the entire car down. Really should be recalled… The transmission started slipping so we got rid of it. Only 81k miles on it. I’ll never own a GM vehicle again. Pretty sad because I really wanted to like the Acadia.
I have a 2014 acadia sle. Sometimes it blows very cold and sometimes it blows not so cold, but not hot. I had it checked for leaks…nothing. the compressor was working fine. Pumped it down and put new freon in….still doing the same thing. But i did notice that it does it only when i don’t drive it for awhile. I drive my sierra pickup truck everyday and my acadia sits weeks on end….don’t know but I will try to narrow it down.
I have a 2018 Acadia and just last week my “newly remodeled” a/c went from freeze you out of the car to literally nothing in seconds flat. So I have the extended warranty and no crap when I called the dealer told me it would be mid August before they could squeeze me in. I asked what in the world is this outrageously expensive warranty for if your not available to fix it. Especially in South Georgia in freaking July. He told me to call another dealership but the closest one is almost 45 minutes away and I am a single dad all by myself with two little girls and I work full-time so there’s no way I can make it over there and then just sit there while they fix it. So today I went to AutoZone and bought the Freon to see if that would work and it uses that new Freon the one that’s new and different from everybody else. I think it ends with a YF and it’s $45 a can and it was completely out l. I took two cans and I had to buy the attachment to put it in it was $125 and I have the warranty but can’t be used until aug 12th. And don’t think I didn’t do it I asked about the rental and they told me that I couldn’t get the rental until they diagnose the problem and they will not be able to diagnose the problem until August 12. Really happy I have calmed over
The years bc I would have blown a gasket years back with that kind of stuff. Wouldn’t have helped but it would have happened
Definitely .. I own Acadia 2015 and changed the AC compressor and Hose 1 year back
I have a 2011 Acadia and had to fix the right side fan or something driver side was cold but other side was coming out hot
I have a 2015 GMC Acadia. My ac just went out for the 3rd time since buying in new. First time was during my extended warranty, second cost more than $1000 to fix and 3rd was just a year after the second repair. Luckily the shop I go to offered a warranty on the work and made the repair for me for free. Living in AZ it is so annoying to have the ac out. Literally bought the car for the 3 rows of personal ac vents for each passenger.
I have a 2016 Acadia the air light blinks three times nothing and researching I found this has happened to many others
We have a 2017 Acadia Denali. In the last year we have spent $3,600 on AC. Schroder valve, rear condenser, sensors, and now it’s blowing hot air on drivers side AGAIN. Always been a GM fan….bow reconsidering