Have you started worrying about your new GMC Acadia shaking? Whether it's a mild unsteady movement or a turbulent ride, worry no more! We have consulted automotive experts on why your vehicle is shaking, and here is what we got from them.
Vehicles do normally shake. What should be alarming is when you experience excessive shakes while driving. It is a sign that something is wrong with your car. Here are possible reasons why your GMC Acadia is shaking:
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Uneven Wear On Brake Rotors And Pads
- Tire And Wheel Problems
- Damaged Or Worn Engine Transmission Mounts
- Weak Or Failing Alternator
- Low On Oil (Transmission and Engine)
- Faulty Or Damaged Fuel Pump
When experiencing excessive shaking, it's best not to drive your vehicle on public roads. Calling a tow truck or a mechanic to your location will be your best and safest option. Keep reading below to learn more about the GMC Acadia.
Problems That Can Cause Your GMC Acadia To Shake
When your vehicle shakes, it does not always mean a component is broken. Sometimes all it needs is a proper alignment. It could also be a sign that your fluids are low.
When experiencing excessive shakes, have a mechanic check your car or have your vehicle brought to them for a more in-depth inspection. Leaving the shakes alone may lead to permanent damage to your vehicle's components.
Below are common reasons for the GMC Acadia shaking:
Bad Spark Plugs
A bad spark plug means it is dirty, burnt out, or damaged. Having a bad spark plug can also cause your vehicle's engine to misfire, which will cause the car to shake. Shakes caused by bad spark plugs will be most noticeable when idling.
Worn Or Damaged Brake Rotors And Pads
When you feel the car shakes when braking, this is most likely caused by worn or damaged brake rotors and pads. Shakes tend to happen because the piston inside your rotor may not be sticking properly.
Also, your slide pins may have lost their lubrication which then prevents the engagement and disengagement of the vehicle's brake pads. When facing brake problems the two front brakes rotors and pad will typically be the cause since they take most of the braking load.
Warped Tires
Every time you take your vehicle out for a drive, you are wearing off your tires. Driving on uneven surfaces can cause uneven wear on your tires, which can cause your car to shake.
Loose lug nuts can also cause your vehicle to shake since the wheel is not locked in place properly, this is very dangerous for everyone in the car and other motorists. Always check if your wheel is secure before driving.
Another wheel problem that can cause a vehicle to shake is an unbalanced wheel. Though an unbalanced wheel does not need to be fixed immediately, it can be the cause of additional tire and wheel damage.
Damaged Or Worn Engine And Transmission Mounts
With a damaged or worn engine and transmission mount, you will not typically feel any vibrations while the vehicle is parked. You'll start to feel the shake when you start driving the car.
Every time you put your vehicle in drive, you are putting torque to your wheels, and it's that torque that causes the engine to shake. The mounts found in your vehicle's engine bay are there to dampen the vibration coming from the engine and transmission.
Weak or Failing Alternator
A failing alternator will not give enough power to supply the vehicle's injectors and coils. Overall a failing alternator will cause weak sparks and less fuel getting sprayed into the engine.
Without the right amount of spark and fuel intake, the vehicle will shake then finally it will stall. Without an alternator, your vehicle will rely on the battery. The car will still run after the alternator fails, but it won't last very long.
Low On Oil (Transmission and Engine)
When your vehicle's oil is running out or contaminated, the components of your vehicle are not being lubricated properly. Without the lubrication of oil, the metal components will grind with each other, and that will cause shaking.
Also with low oil, your vehicle may overheat and your components may potentially get damaged permanently. That is why it is essential that you regularly do a check-up on your engine and transmission's oil.
Faulty Or Damaged Fuel Pump
A broken fuel pump can cause shaking by not giving enough gas to the engine of the vehicle. Without enough gas being supplied to the engine, your vehicle will shake then stall shortly after.
Typically fuel pumps last around 100,000 miles, so a faulty or broken fuel pump will most likely be the least of your worries. Also, debris or dirt can clog up the fuel pump filter restricting the fuel from going through.
What Problems Do The GMC Acadia Have
Though the GMC Acadia is an overall great car, all vehicles will have some problems. Most of the problems given here will be seen on older models of the GMC Acadia since they are the ones that have racked up more miles.
Here are the problems the GMC Acadia is known to have:
- Transmission (common for 2007-2008)
- Timing chain failure (common for 2007-2009)
- Clogged sunroof drains
- Climate control malfunction
- Sudden engine shutoff
- HID lights burnout
- Engine oil leaks (common for 2007-2010)
From common problems like burnt-out lights and clogged drains to major problems such as transmission and engine, failure can be avoided with regular and proper maintenance. It's best to have an annual car inspection to ensure that your car is not developing any problems.
What is the MPG for the GMC Acadia?
The GMC Acadia has decent MPG for a crossover SUV. It is important that your vehicle has good MPG so that you can minimize your driving range. Also, with a good MPG, you will be able to save some money and time.
Here is the MPG of the GMC Acadia's different trims:
- Acadia FWD SLE - 22 city/ 29 highway/ 25 combined
- Acadia FWD SLT - 22 city/ 29 highway/ 25 combined
- Acadia AWD SLE - 22 city/ 27 highway/ 24 combined
- Acadia AWD SLT - 22 city/ 27 highway/ 24 combined
- Acadia FWD AT4 - 19 city/ 26 highway/ 21 combined
- Acadia FWD Denali - 19 city/ 27 highway/ 22 combined
- Acadia AWD Denali - 19 city/ 26 highway/ 21 combined
The GMC Acadia has different MPGs per trim because it is offered in two different drivetrains and two different engines. For the drivetrain, you have an FWD and an AWD option.
For the engine, you get a 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine that pushes 228 horsepower and 258-pound feet of torque. The other option is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that's pushing out 310 horsepower and 271-pound feet of torque.
Is The GMC Acadia Spacious?
The GMC Acadia is a pretty spacious vehicle. The Acadia is classed as a crossover SUV which means it is a bit smaller than a full-sized SUV but it is still as practical.
Here are the internal dimensions of the GMC Acadia.
- Headroom - 40 inches front / 39.6 inches second row / 37.2 third row
- Legroom - 41 inches front / 39.7 inches second row / 29.7 third row
- Shoulder Room - 59.4 inches front / 58.7 inches second row / 54.3 third row
- Hip room - 55.7 inches front / 53.3 inches second row / 42.9 third row
The GMC Acadia has a passenger volume of 143.8 cubic feet and can seat a total of six people. Since the GMC Acadia has three seating rows, the cargo space may seem small but it can still be extended.
With all seats up, the GMC Acadia has a total cargo space of 12.8 cubic feet, with the third-row seating folded down 41.7 cubic feet, and lastly, with both the third and second row folded, you get 79 cubic feet. This is very useful especially if you need to bring a lot of luggage.
The GMC Acadia is a great vehicle to take out especially for long drives since it can accommodate a lot of people and it has a lot of cargo space when some of the seats are folded down. Overall, because the Acadia is spacious it is very comfortable to drive and ride in.
In Closing
Shaking is normal for a vehicle since the parts of your vehicle move when the car is turned on, what is not normal is excessive shaking or shaking while you're driving. When you begin to experience excessive shaking make sure you don't drive your vehicle and have a mechanic check your car.
With proper maintenance, your vehicle will be less likely to experience any problems and will not affect its driving performance. Overall the Acadia is a great vehicle to have—it is spacious and has decent MPG for an SUV.
For more automotive topics and tips, check out the following posts: