The 2009 GMC Acadia is, like the 2008 model, a much better SUV than you expect to get for the price, typically listing for under $7,000. But, it comes with a long list of engine and electrical problems that drive the repair costs up to nearly a thousand bucks a year.
Is the 2009 GMC Acadia a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – The Acadia is a very good full-size SUV for the price, but it was a much better deal when it was brand new.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Simply one of the most comfortable, spacious vehicles you’re going to find in this price range.
- Reliability 7/10 – It’s not the big expensive breakdowns that you need to worry about in an Acadia, it’s all the little here-and-there repairs that may have you spending more than you’d like to keep the SUV running.
- Safety 8/10 – Standard safety features are generous, crash test scores are good, and it feels like you’re driving an armored car.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – 16/23 miles to the gallon, city/highway, may not sound that impressive now, but for a 2009 full-size SUV you could do a lot worse.
- Value 7/10 – It’s not exactly a lemon, but you’d better find one in really good condition with really low miles if you want it to go the distance.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2009 GMC Acadia?
Consumer Reports found the 2009 GMC Acadia to be plenty roomy, and powerful enough, and they liked the available all wheel drive. But they note that the transmission can be a little hesitant to downshift.
Kelley Blue Book praised the Acadia’s stylish exterior, spacious interior, and intuitive layout. They note that the SUV gets better mileage than you might expect to look at it, but they found the all wheel drive merely serviceable, designed more for rough weather than rough roads.
Edmunds liked the big cabin and smooth ride in the 2009 Acadia, and they found the SUV surprisingly easy to drive for its size, with better tow capacity than a typical crossover. Some cheap trim materials and slow downshifting cost the SUV a couple points in the final review.
What Common Problems Does the 2009 GMC Acadia Have?
The 2009 GMC Acadia has generated 327 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 111 of these are for steering, with drivers reporting sudden loss of power steering. One driver states that the rack and pinion system sprung a leak, spraying steering fluid all over the place.
65 engine complaints and 70 powertrain complaints point to issues with the timing chain. Drivers report the engine jumping while in motion, usually leading to issues with the chain and pulley system.
There are several reports on file for issues with the headlights. Drivers report the bulbs melting the headlight housing. One driver reports that the problem is compounded by the plastic melting around the bulb and holding it in place, so you can’t even take the bulbs out without replacing the entire housing.
The 2009 Acadia has been recalled 7 times in total, which is a bit higher than average for a crossover of this model year.
How Long Will the 2009 GMC Acadia Last?
Drivers typically report the 2009 Acadia lasting around 200,000 miles before the expensive repairs start to mount up. You might be able to hit a quarter million, but 200,000 is the number to bet on when deciding whether a used Acadia is worth your money.
Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $810, which is higher than average, putting the Acadia in the luxury car range for typical repair costs. Individual repairs tend to not be so expensive on their own, with the priciest being a new oxygen sensor starting at around $462, but they add up quick.
I think it's a very reliable car. I haven't experienced any problems with it so far. It's the most reliable car I've had.
Yes, sometimes it rises up when you put the breaks on, its rpm go up too much when you push the gas sometimes.
It has transmission issues, starting issues, water pump issues, electrical issues, front control arms and other front end issues.
GMC Acadia is very reliable I have not had any problems yet I don't know I have to get a oil change device in the transmission flushed
For the most part. Coil packs needing replaced seems thoroughly be common. Stabilitrak and traction control are also issues
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology in the 2009 Acadia is impressive for the model year. Standard equipment covers your usual CD/MP3 player, and the entry level model is available with a DVD player for the back row.
Safety tech in the Acadia is, likewise, really good for the model year. Anti-lock brakes and StabiliTrak come standard, and the SUV is available with ultrasonic rear parking assist and a rearview camera, features that weren’t incredibly common in 2009.
Is the 2009 GMC Acadia a Good Value?
The 2009 GMC Acadia is priced fairly, more or less. An entry-level SLE goes for around $6,372 while a high-end SLT typically lists at around $7,409. These aren’t terrible prices for a 2009 crossover.
But, the big repair bills and the relatively short life expectancy of a GMC Acadia may have you thinking twice. Models listed on the Blue Book typically have around 140,000 miles on the transmission, which only leaves you with another 60,000 miles to go. You can probably do a little better than that for seven grand.
What are the Different Models of the 2009 GMC Acadia?
The Acadia is offered in just two trim levels for 2009, being the entry-level SLE and the high-end SLT.
With the base SLE you’re getting:
- 8-way power adjust driver seat
- Manual air conditioning
- Remote keyless entry
- Anti-lock brakes and StabiliTrak
- CD/MP3 player
- Heated mirrors
The top-of-the-line SLT adds:
- Dual zone automatic air conditioning
- Heated front seats
- Leather seating
The SLT2 package adds UltraSonic parking assist and an LCD monitor.
What Engines Come In the 2009 GMC Acadia?
- The 2009 Acadia packs a 3.6L V6 engine delivering 288 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission in front or all wheel drive, and it averages 16/23 miles to the gallon, city/highway. The Acadia can tow up to 5,200 pounds.
What Colors Does the 2009 GMC Acadia Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2009 GMC Acadia?
The 2009 Acadia is very comfortable. The back row stretches 58 inches across at the hip, there’s plenty of leg and head room, and the suspension rides nice and smooth. Interior trim quality feels a bit cheap, so it’s not a fully first-class cabin experience, but you won’t be stopping for a stretch break every ten miles.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2009 GMC Acadia Have?
The 2009 Acadia packs 24 cubic feet of cargo in the back, or you can fold the seats down for 117 cubic feet of storage. The Acadia is technically a full-size, but this is still pretty impressive for a crossover.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
2009 was the third model year in the GMC Acadia’s 1st Generation, running from 2007 to 2016, when it was rebuilt as a mid-size crossover.
2007: The Acadia debuted in 2007 as a unibody crossover with truck-like performance specs and optional all wheel drive.
2008: 2008 saw the addition of the optional rearview camera, and improved traction control.
2009: The engine was upgraded to a fuel-injected 3.6L for 2009, improving the overall performance.
2010: No big changes for 2010.
2011: The high-end Denali model was added to the lineup for 2011.
How Does the 2009 GMC Acadia Compare to the Competition?
The 2009 GMC Acadia isn’t as good as a Toyota Sienna, and it’s not as good as a Chevy Suburban. Both of those SUVs offer superior overall performance on and off road, the Suburban has nearly a hundred horsepower over the Acadia, and the Toyota may last 300,000 miles or more with no major repairs.
An Acadia is thousands of dollars cheaper than either of those SUVs, but it’s also the least likely of the three to hit a quarter million miles.
Your best bet may be to forget about the 2009 Acadia, and go with a 2008 model. It’s not quite as powerful, but it’s a little less expensive to maintain, and a thousand bucks cheaper.
Do Owners Recommend the 2009 GMC Acadia?
Yes. Its 3 row seating that can fold down, it has a DVD player as well as heated seats. And it has good gas mileage.
Yes it is, very roomy kids have room. Drives good. It could be better on gas, because it's a gas hog, handling is good.
It's ok it could use some serious looking over engineering wise there are issues that has never been addressed things that should have but it seems someone doesn't care enough about the people to do so.
It is one of the best there goes I've ever had that's fully loaded also has a projector for the speed limit and everybody who gets in the car absolutely loves it
It gets me where I need to go. I really liked it when I first got it but then it started needing repairs and it has continued to need anywhere from minor to major