Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2014 GMC Acadia
The 2014 GMC Acadia has notable issues with airbags, electrical system, and transmission reliability. Recalls highlight airbag and electrical system defects, with transmission complaints also reported. Consider these factors before purchasing.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2014 GMC Acadia has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 463 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V334000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V246000 Side Curtain Air Bags May be Unsecured NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V614000 Contamination of the Chassis Electronic Module NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V266000 Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V223000 Inaccurate Fuel Gauge Reading NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V092000 Broken Transmission Adjuster Cable/FMVSS 102/114 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 246 complaints
- Electrical System 90 complaints
- Engine 45 complaints
- Power Train 35 complaints
- Unknown or Other 29 complaints
- Steering 26 complaints
Of the 463 complaints on file, 15 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 463 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Driver airbag inflator may explode
How to check: Verify driver airbag recall remedy completion
Side curtain airbags not attached properly
How to check: Inspect side curtain airbags for proper attachment
Chassis module may short circuit
How to check: Check dashboard lights for electrical issues
Fuel gauge may read inaccurately
How to check: Check fuel gauge accuracy during test drive
Shift cable may disengage
How to check: Ensure smooth shifting through all gears
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Check for unusual noise or smoke
Red flag: Loud noises or visible smoke
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Observe dashboard warning lights
Red flag: Persistent warning lights
- 03
City driving
What to check: Listen for unusual transmission noises
Red flag: Grinding or clunking sounds
- 04
Highway acceleration
What to check: Check for responsive acceleration
Red flag: Sluggish or delayed acceleration
- 05
Parking
What to check: Engage and disengage gears smoothly
Red flag: Hard to shift gears
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the airbag recall been fixed?
- Are there any electrical issues?
- Have you had any transmission problems?
- Is the fuel gauge accurate?
- Any accidents affecting the airbags?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recent recall repair invoices
- Complete maintenance records
- Vehicle history report
- Transmission service records
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2014 GMC Acadia at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2014 GMC Acadia? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.