2024 GMC Acadia Lemon Law Case Study
A Brand-New Family SUV With a Locking Seatbelt, Steering Failures, and Over Three Months in the Shop
Our clients purchased a new 2024 GMC Acadia AT4 from Cavender Buick GMC West in San Antonio, Texas in August 2024 — with just 10 miles on the odometer. They expected a reliable, safe family SUV. Instead, the vehicle developed a cascade of defects that kept it in the shop for 103 cumulative days across 4 repair visits.
The most alarming issue: the front passenger seatbelt locking — a safety-critical defect affecting one of the vehicle's primary occupant protection systems. Parts were on backorder for months, leaving the family driving with an impaired restraint system. Additional defects included a warped and rattling dashboard, steering alignment failures, third-row headrest failures, suspension noise, HVAC system failure, and recurring key fob malfunctions.
What Went Wrong
- Passenger seatbelt locking: The front passenger seatbelt repeatedly locked and could not be used normally — a critical safety defect that persisted across multiple visits and required a parts backorder before finally being repaired
- Warped dashboard (recurring): The upper dashboard trim lifted and produced a persistent rattle from the passenger side — documented across multiple visits. The dealer could not duplicate the rattle on later visits despite customer reports
- Steering misalignment: The steering wheel was off-center and the vehicle pulled while driving — confirmed by the dealer and corrected via alignment, though concerns were documented on the first two visits
- Third-row headrest failures: Both third-row headrests failed to fold down properly when the seat was folded — replaced per GM bulletin 24-NA-140
- Rear suspension squeak: A loud squeak from the rear cargo area when going over bumps or turning — required parts on backorder, causing extended downtime before final repair
- HVAC malfunction: The climate control system failed, switching to defrost mode with no air from face vents — caused by DTCs B2A6A and U13F9, requiring replacement of the radio control module
- Key fob warning errors: Repeated key fob "missing" or error warnings — ultimately attributed to Apple AirTag interference, though documented repeatedly across multiple visits
103 Days in the Shop Across 4 Visits — Starting Within 3 Months of Purchase
November 13–26, 2024 — 14 Days
Our clients reported a rattle from the upper dashboard, misaligned panel seams, the third-row headrest not folding, and steering wheel off-center with the vehicle pulling while driving. Two repair orders were opened. Despite being documented, no causes or corrections were recorded — the dealer did not perform repairs.
March 31 – June 5, 2025 — 67 Days
The vehicle returned for the warped upper dashboard (now confirmed lifted and rattling), locking passenger seatbelt, failing third-row headrests, rear suspension squeak, infotainment blackout, steering misalignment, and key fob errors. Technicians replaced the dashboard cluster trim, replaced both third-row headrests (bulletin 24-NA-140), isolated the rear squeak to the coil spring and insulators (parts on backorder), updated radio software, performed alignment, but could not duplicate the seatbelt locking or key fob errors. The vehicle was out of service for 67 days — exceeding Texas's 30-day statutory threshold on this visit alone.
June 16–24, 2025 — 9 Days
The rear squeak returned along with a renewed dashboard rattle and continued passenger seatbelt locking. Technicians replaced the rear coil spring and insulators, torqued all fasteners, and performed an alignment. The dashboard rattle could not be duplicated. Seatbelt locking parts remained on backorder — the vehicle was returned without resolving the safety defect.
July 25 – August 6, 2025 — 13 Days
Brought back for the still-unresolved seatbelt, recurring key fob errors with a check engine light, dashboard rattle, and rear HVAC switching to defrost. Technicians finally replaced the front passenger seatbelt retractor. The key fob error was attributed to Apple AirTag interference. The dashboard rattle could not be duplicated. The climate control issue — caused by DTCs B2A6A and U13F9 — required replacement of the radio control module. Total: 4 visits, 103 cumulative days, and a safety seatbelt left unresolved through three of four repair visits.
Why This 2024 GMC Acadia Qualified as a Lemon in Texas
This case presented multiple independent grounds under the Texas lemon law — any one of which would have been sufficient. Taken together, they built an exceptionally strong claim.
- 103 days out of service exceeds Texas's 30-day threshold by 3.4x: Texas Transportation Code § 2301.605 provides lemon law protection when a vehicle is out of service for 30 or more cumulative days due to warranty repairs. This Acadia spent 103 days in the shop — more than triple the threshold
- Safety defect requiring only 2 repair attempts: A locking passenger seatbelt constitutes a defect "likely to cause serious bodily injury or death" under Texas lemon law. Safety defects require only 2 repair attempts — not the standard 4 — to trigger buyback or replacement rights. GM failed to repair the seatbelt on visits 2 and 3
- 4 repair attempts for multiple recurring defects: The dashboard rattle, steering misalignment, and rear suspension squeak each recurred across multiple visits. Some were documented but not repaired on the first attempt
- Substantial impairment of use and value: Seven distinct defects — including a safety system failure, climate control malfunction, and persistent noise and handling issues — substantially impaired the vehicle's use, safety, and market value
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: General Motors' failure to repair the vehicle within a reasonable number of attempts also constitutes a breach of implied and express warranty under federal law, providing an additional legal pathway
How Easy Lemon Fought for Our Clients' Rights
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed all 5 repair orders, the purchase agreement, the GM warranty documentation, and the parts backorder records. Immediately identified the safety seatbelt defect as the strongest legal lever — requiring only 2 repair attempts under Texas law.
Documentation & Case Building
We compiled the complete repair timeline — 103 days across 4 visits, 7 distinct defects, and a passenger seatbelt left unrepaired across three consecutive service visits. We documented the parts backorder delays and calculated the days-out-of-service threshold exceedance for the Texas DMV filing.
Formal Demand to General Motors
We filed a formal demand against General Motors LLC citing Texas Transportation Code Chapter 2301 (Subchapter M) and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — documenting the safety seatbelt defect, the 103-day downtime, and the four repair visits across a 9-month period on a nearly new vehicle.
Resolution Achieved
Easy Lemon successfully resolved this case on behalf of our clients. The specific terms are confidential per the settlement agreement, but the outcome reflected the safety severity of the seatbelt defect and the extraordinary cumulative downtime on a vehicle purchased new.
Case Successfully Resolved
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2024 GMC Acadia AT4 (All-Wheel Drive)
- Purchased: August 12, 2024 from Cavender Buick GMC West, San Antonio, Texas
- Status at purchase: Brand new (10 miles on odometer)
- Mileage at final repair visit: 11,200 miles
- Primary defects: Locking passenger seatbelt (safety), warped dashboard, steering misalignment, rear suspension squeak, HVAC failure, infotainment issues, key fob errors
- Days out of service: 103 cumulative days
- Repair visits: 4 visits, 5 repair orders
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Settlement type: Cash and Keep
Results may vary. Prior outcomes do not guarantee a similar result. Each case is unique and depends on its specific facts and applicable law. Attorney advertising. Easy Lemon® by RockPoint Law P.C.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Attorney on Record
Steven Nassi, Esq.
Managing Partner — Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Licensed attorney specializing exclusively in lemon law across all 50 states. Steven leads the Easy Lemon legal team and has overseen thousands of successful lemon law claims against major manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, and more.
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