Service Brakes Problems of GMC Acadia - part 1

Brake module malfunction codes: “service esc” “break assist failure. Press hard to break. Speed limited”.

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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.

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.

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".

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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.

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It has the abs lights on and tire traction light on check engine light on and given signs of failed transmission slow to takeoff shuttering of transmission.

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On multiple occasions the car will suddenly brake or like throw on the parking brake and stop suddenly no warning.

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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.

2/10/26. Driving down the highway behind a truck and horse trailer at 60 mph, electric brake system stopped working, couldn't stop, a turn lane saved me from rear ending the horse trailer. I thought I was going to die and kill or injure animals and people in my path. Police came and tow truck. 2/10/26 vehicle was towed to the closest GMC dealer. Merit GMC duncan, ok vehicle is at service department. There has been 3 events of complete power failure with the vehicle. It had to be towed three times before. All within the last 6 months. It had never happened while driving! when it happened, a brake light appeared on my dash with the message "electric brake failure" and "speed limited". I slammed the brake pedal to the floor repeatedly with nothing happening. I had many emotional breakdowns to the police officer, at the dealership, at work when I finally got there hours later and am terrified to drive again. I could have died and hurt others.

Warning message appeared stating "service brake assist" and "service esc". Took vehicle to dealer, they found faulty master cylinder. Multiple parts involved, some on back order, could take weeks to a month or more for repair. Vehicle is less than 1 year in service with approx. 6k miles.

Front left brake was locking up. Happened 1st a couple months ago. Happened again recently and was towed to dealership. Burning smell from brake and hot in wheel area. Left front brake caliper was locked, pads overheated, rotor warped. Replaced front left caliper, front left brake hose, front pads, and front left rotor. Road tested, brakes operate properly. Brake life on monitor shows 18%, brake pads are at 8mm out of calibration, reprogrammed brake system control module and performed brake percent calibration per bulletin #25-na-282. Warranty code is 28yz314171448.

Since we bought the 2024 GMC Acadia in November 2024 when we would get the oil changes we have to dealership to check the brakes because the brakes were always squealing. They inspected and gave us a vehicle back chalking it up that the brakes are fine. They did a multiport inspection three different times and didn’t find any issues with the brakes. The last multipurpose inspection was done in September 13 2025. On December 8, 2025 I took ivehicle to another mechanic. I had to replace all four brake pads. The front brake pads were down to below 20% and the back brake pads were right at 50%. On January 7, 2026 I had to take the vehicle in to the dealership because another brake problem after a week of half. They found out that the electronic brake control module was faulty on the master cylinder. The dealership had to replace it.

Unknown. Brakes still squeaking after getting them changed with the bulletin notice. Engine surges and idles rough- dealership could not diagnose. Not accelerating randomly, pedal goes in and it does not engage. Gas tank not filling up all the way. Rear cross tracking warning turned off when it is not turned off. Ac smells rotten and musty.

I am submitting a complaint regarding premature front brake wear on my 2024 GMC Acadia. At approximately 16,000 miles, sewell Buick GMC of midland inspected my vehicle and measured the front brake pads at 5 mm. Despite the pads not being at the replacement threshold and the vehicle being safe to drive, the dealer is already recommending brake replacement. The dealer also advised that the brake parts are currently on backorder due to the high volume of repairs needed for the same issue with no estimated time of arrival. I am concerned that requiring brake replacement at such low mileage indicates a potential design, material, or manufacturing issue with the braking system on this model year. I am also concerned about the lack of parts availability should brake wear progress more quickly than expected. The vehicle is driven under normal conditions (no towing, no aggressive driving), and routine maintenance has been followed. Given the low mileage and early wear measurement, this is abnormal for a new vehicle. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can track similar reports and determine whether further review or investigation is warranted. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, olivia garcia.

I experienced the brakes squeaking on and off for a few weeks this past summer. When at the dealership for an oil change, I was told the brakes pads were still good and the squeaking is common, especially during hot humid weather. Since then, I have lost the brakes twice. Both times, the pedal went all the way to the floor without resistance and after a few seconds, they came back like nothing happened. There was no warning at all. I have also experienced a complete blackout on my dashboard for about 30 minutes without known reason. On a separate occasion, the battery died for no reason. There have been times that a message is displayed on the dash to service rear turn signal lights. They flash fast as if they were out, then the next time I drive the car, they are completely normal. From what has been reported, there are some serious concerns with the 2024 Acadia. I have leased 3 Acadia's before this one and have never experienced anything like this. The brakes failing completely could have ended very badly for myself and/or others. There are several other reports of this nature. Please look into recalling this vehicle to prevent fatalities!!.

Purchased the vehicle in good faith, unaware that the check engine light was illuminated at the time of purchase and not informed that this indicated a serious mechanical or emissions-related issue. After purchase, the dealership repaired an emissions-related problem, and the check engine light was no longer present when the vehicle was returned to me. However, within three days of having the vehicle back in my possession, I began experiencing additional issues, including electrical malfunctions and abnormal noises coming from the front wheels. These problems caused the vehicle to feel unsafe to operate and raised serious concerns about its reliability and overall safety. Due to these concerns, I returned the vehicle to the dealership immediately.

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Breaks are squeaking awful. Have had front brakes and rotors replaced which cost $380. Did not fix the problem. Have also saw where a lot of other 2024 GMC Acadia owners are experiencing the same problem.

Brakes have failed now three separate times. The brake pedal becomes firm and the car will not stop or slow at all. I am pregnant and also had my toddler in the car with me. No warning symbols on the dash. Taken to dealership after several weeks of communication saying this was a safety issue and received a loaner vehicle. However, they have said if they cannot reproduce the issue, we will just get our car back. This is unacceptable. This is one of five issues we have already had with this vehicle.

I have the little feature that will brake for me if it thinks ima get in a wreck. However it’s glitchy!! I can be the only vehicle on road in both directions, cruise set at 60 when out of nowhere the car slams on the breaks. We go down to like 52 then like nothing ever happened we are back to 60. This has happened several times. I have brought the car into my dealership tomorrow have the software updated and the camera recalibrated. Even after these steps were made this issue is still occurring. Happens about one to two times a week, so pretty often. My worries that I will be rear ended one day if this is not corrected.

While driving vehicle, multiple warning codes appeared including: service traction control, abs, service brake system and others. More importantly, the power brakes failed and a code was thrown to press hard on brakes to stop vehicle.

Since we purchased this vehicle, we have continually had issues with our brakes to include dragging of the front brakes and brakes squealing when they are in use. We have brought the vehicle multiple times to the GMC dealership who is able to replicate the issue, but states that this is normal. I have filed a complaint with the GMC and they said that this is normal even though they admitted to fixing the problem in 2025 models. Per GMC, they will not be stand behind their product unless the national traffic safety issue administration tells them they need to. This is very frustrating as if you do a search online you will find many other consumers with the same vehicle and same issue with no resolution, this is a safety concern that the brakes are not functioning properly as well as the front brakes also caused an issue with a sensor in my car. They fixed the sensor are unable to fix the front brake issue due to no recalls or issues given to them by the national traffic safety. GMC will not make any fixes as they consider this normal.

Stabikitrack error causes abs to trigger while on the highway. Brought in for repair at dealer and needed new wheel sensor and ebcm, significant safety issue!.

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The vehicle brake system completely failed. The brake pedal was depressed and several warning lights were illuminated on the dash, yet the vehicle would not come to a complete stop. At the time of failure, the abs light, parking brake light, traction control light, and collision light illuminated on the driver display. Additionally, the dash displayed a message requesting the driver to depress brake pedal hard and to “service esc”. The brake pedal felt soft and would go all the way towards the floor. The vehicle had very limited braking and would not come to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to a gm dealership for diagnosis and repair. The dealership confirmed that the brake system had failed and there was inadequate stopping force being produced. The entire master cylinder assembly which includes the hydraulic valve block and electric motor were replaced under warranty. The vehicle had 24,638 miles at the time of failure. Prior to the failure, there were zero indications that there were any issues with the brake system. Fortunately when the brake system failed the vehicle had just backed away from a parking spot and pulled forward towards a stop sign at low speed. The potential concern was that pedestrians, fellow motorists or the driver of the vehicle could have experienced significant injury or death due to the vehicle’s brakes failing.

We had complete brake system failure while driving the car on the highway. The brakes went all the way to the floor when applied and we came inches going into fast moving oncoming traffic before the vehicle stopped. I had to push the break with both feet with all the strength I had to get the brakes to respond at all. The brake assist failure warning light came on and another warning light came on that said service esc. I have this on video. This was the first time the warning lights have ever come on. It’s a brand new 2025 car with only 800 miles on it. We were advised by the dealership who sold us the car to get onstar to tow the vehicle to our local GMC dealership where we bought the car. When the car was hooked up to the diagnoses machine it said brake system failure. I have not received any invoices or paperwork to send you at this point. All I can upload is a video of the warning lights that were appearing on the dashboard after the incident.

My vehicle only has 12,000 miles and it’s a 2024 and the brakes are constantly squeaking. I’ve reported this multiple times at my dealership and they are stating “this is normal and because of the new heavier materials there is not a fix for this. ” I’m really concerned about this as it’s a safety issue. This car is also too new to be having this type of issue. I’m also apart of a owners forum and several owners are having the same issue. For the report today I’m putting the most recent date but as stated I have reported this several times with my local dealership group 1 GMC here in houston, texas.

“shift to park” warning keeps popping up on my dash. I looked into it and there are many people saying this is a known issue!.

Bought new 2025 GMC Acadia in March of same year. At ~4500 miles I started getting brake assist, forward collision and electronic stability control warning messages on dash. Upon researching, this is an increasingly common issue with this vehicle that can render the brakes unusable. I no longer feel safe in the vehicle and want it refunded. Car is now in the shop. Taken in on 9/11. Problem has been confirmed by dealer.

When backing up brakes abruptly apply themselves for no reason at all. This happens all the time the dealer says there is no problem with my vehicle, but the rear breaking abruptly keeps on applying.

1. The electrical system and driver-assistance/safety features malfunctioned, including intermittent power loss and dashboard system failures. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. The malfunction caused the vehicle to lose power to the braking system while driving, which created a risk of collision. Essential safety features such as power steering, brakes, and warning systems were impacted, putting both myself and other drivers at risk. 3. Yes. The issue has been reproduced and documented by the dealership during multiple service visits and reported to gm customer service. However, the safety claim was denied by gm and I have been advised to continue to drive this unsafe vehicle. 4. The vehicle has been inspected by the authorized dealership and GMC technicians. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives at this time. 5. Yes. Warning messages appeared on the dashboard, including system errors and power failure alerts. These issues first appeared around 20,000 miles, and have recurred intermittently since then. I have communicated with the dealership where the car was purchased and gm corporate requesting replacement with a safe and reliable vehicle. To date, I have not received a satisfactory resolution. I have researched and found that other 2024–2025 GMC Acadia owners are experiencing the same issue. This vehicle is unsafe to operate until gm identifies and resolves the defect. Losing control of the brakes constitutes a catastrophic safety failure that makes this vehicle unfit for road use. Immediate investigation and corrective action are necessary to prevent potential accidents or injuries.

The contact owns a 2022 GMC Acadia. The vehicle was recently purchased, and at the time of purchase, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the emissions system had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, three days after the vehicle was picked up from the dealer, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rotors and brakes had failed, and the lining for the front two wheels was damaged. In addition, the contact informed the dealer that all four windows failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the buttons to roll up or down the windows failed to operate as needed. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that when the radio was turned on, there was an abnormal sound coming from the radio. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle. The contact sent an email to the manager at the dealer regarding the vehicle. The contact was offered assistance. The following day, an employee from the dealer reached out and informed the contact that no assistance would be provided and that if the rental was not returned, it would be reported as stolen. The contact stated that she was threatened after the employee realized that she had thought about filing a lemon law complaint. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

While driving my 2025 GMC Acadia denali on [xxx], from omaha, ne, to laurie, mo, I received a "service brake assist" warning lamp as well as "check engine" and "abs" warning lamps in st. Joseph, mo. At this point, my vehicle had 6,945 miles on it. We turned around and went back to omaha. We dropped the car with gregg young Chevrolet at 7,095 miles. The dealership identified the issue as ebcm and master cylinder assembly failure. It replaced the ebcm and master cylinder assembly, test drove the car 7 miles and told me my Acadia was ready to go. I did not make it out of the dealership parking lot before the "service brake assist" and "check engine" lights came on again. The dealership again identified master cylinder assembly failure, again replaced said assembly, test drove it 10 miles this time and told me my Acadia was ready to go. I got my Acadia and made it 1. 1 miles before the "service brake assist" light again came on. I promptly returned my Acadia to the dealership, where it sits today. At the date I am typing this (9/14/25), the dealership has had my Acadia since 8/22/25. The master cylinder has now failed 3 times at this point. First, after 6,945 miles, second after 7 miles, third after 11 miles. The safety of myself and my family was put at risk by the potential failure of my brake system. This should not happen on a brand new car with less than 7k miles and darn sure not 3 times in a row! yes, the problem has been confirmed by the dealer 3 times. The dealership is now reaching out to gm to determine what to do. I don't have personal knowledge as far as inspection of the component by the manufacturer. It is my understanding from reading about the issue, that both gm and the NHTSA are well aware of this issue and are investigating. I am also aware of pending class-action lawsuits regarding the brake assembly failure. The first time I received the warning lights is when the system failed (or was starting to fail). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 5.

Brake sensor warning pops up that says brake pads need to be serviced. Brake pads still have between 80-92% wear left according to the dealership. There is a TSB out for this issue (#n242471431) but GMC refuses to repair at no cost. States that even though my vehicle is within the parameters of the TSB, it is VIN specific.

Purchase vehicle on August 13, 2025 with 27 miles on it. Drove home from dealership. Started the car on Friday morning and all of these warning lights appeared - electronic stability control, brake assist service, brake light indicator, abs indicator, traction control indicator, collision warning indicator. Car only had 69 miles at the time. Took vehicle to dealership on August 18, 2025. After diagnostics were performed, it was determined that the master brake cylinder is the issue. The part is on back order and there is no estimated time of when the part will be received and installed. Dealership rep told me that it was safe to drive the vehicle to the dealership. Service technician then explained to me that I should not be driving the vehicle.

While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle experienced a sudden, violent deceleration. The emergency braking and collision avoidance systems activated spontaneously, as if the vehicle had struck or was about to strike an object. There was no obstacle, impact, or external threat present. This uncommanded braking caused significant physical stress and injury to the occupants. Critically, multiple safety systems failed during the event: the seat belts did not lock, failing to restrain the occupants; the airbags did not deploy, despite the severity of the deceleration; no warning indicators or diagnostic alerts were present before or after the incident. These failures directly contributed to physical injuries, including tbi (concussion, spinal trauma, etc. ) which required emergency medical treatment and ongoing care.

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Subject of the problem: service brakes/hydraulic brakes problem of the vehicle: while driving, the brake pedal sometimes suddenly goes all the way down without resistance, and the vehicle does not slow down as expected. In order to regain brake pedal twice. Frequency of the problem: this issue occurs intermittently, but it poses a serious risk because the vehicle may not stop when needed. I already had the brake booster kit and hose replaced at an authorized GMC dealership because I was told this was the cause. However, the exact same problem continues to happen after the repair. Safety concern: this appears to be a defect that affects braking performance and safety. The issue occurs intermittently while driving (e. G. , at stop lights, low-speed braking, or during normal driving). It has happed multiple times since the repair. This problem could cause loss of braking power and result in a crash. It is extremely dangerous and has not been resolved by the manufacturer's recommended repair. I have called the GMC service center at 18004678782 and 18002221020 with this problem. They told me that they could do nothing about it and to deal with the dealership directly myself and they can not do anything. I have talked to the dealership but they just tell me there was another problem other than the initial problem they told me. The dealership did the first checkup and that problem was not fixed. Then went in again because the same problem was happening so they did another checkup and told me there was another problem not the initial problem they told me. The second checkup they did, the part and labor was $2,700. I went in with the same problem and have to pay that much. The problem was not solved with the initial diagnosis they gave and now have pay extra ($2,700 - second checkup price) to fix the problem they did not fix. Thank you.

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