A common issue that drivers of GMC Acadia may encounter is the appearance of the “Service Stabilitrak” warning on the dashboard.
As a mechanic, I have observed that this warning can often trigger the transmission to go into limp mode, leading to poor performance of the vehicle.
In this article, I’ll explain what “Service StabiliTrak” means on your GMC Acadia, the leading causes, and how to fix it. Let’s get started!
What is GMC Acadia Stabilitrak?
In order to fully understand what the “Service Stabilitrak” warning means on the dashboard of your GMC Acadia, it’s important first to understand what StabiliTrak is.
In simple terms, the StabiliTrak system, which is GM’s electronic stability control system, comes installed in your GMC Acadia.
This system is designed to help your car drive smoothly, even on surfaces with less grip. If your car begins to slide, the system starts working.
It applies the brakes, adjusts the steering, and makes sure the tires are gripping the road properly, helping you to stay on the path you meant to take.
What Does “Service Stabilitrak” Mean on a GMC Acadia?
Now that I have explained what the Stabilitrak system does let’s look at what the Service Stabilitrak means.
The service StabiliTrak light comes on when there is a problem with the system. In general, this can be caused by many things, such as a bad wheel bearing or a faulty brake pedal sensor.
In some cases, this light may come on and then go off again after a few minutes due to low battery voltage; however, if it doesn’t go away, then there is a mechanical issue (more on that below).
What Causes GMC Acadia’s “Service Stabilitrak” Warning?
Now, let’s look at the common causes of the Service Stabilitrak light coming on.
Technically a lot of things can trigger this warning, but based on my experience from diagnosing a handful of GMC Acadia vehicles.
I can say with confidence that there are three main things that cause this problem:
1. Bad Brake Pedal Position Sensor
The most common cause of this problem is a bad brake pedal sensor. The brake pedal position sensor is responsible for communicating with your vehicle’s computer to let it know when you are pressing down on the brake pedal.
If this sensor is bad or has failed, it will send inaccurate information to the Power control module, and as a result, the vehicle will think there is an issue with the StabiliTrak system.
As a result, the “Service Stabilitrak” warning light will illuminate on your dash.
It’s usually easy to diagnose because when you press down on the brake pedal, the light will come on and then go off again after a couple of seconds.
If it stays on or randomly goes back on again right away, this means that the sensor has failed.
This sensor is known to fail prematurely on GMC Acadia; fortunately, it is relatively easy to replace and cheap.
The part number for this sensor is 25912943 and can be found at the GMC dealership, most auto parts stores, and online retailers.
2. Bad Wheel Bearing Sensor
The Wheel Bearing Sensor (commonly known as the wheel speed sensor) is responsible for monitoring the rotation of the wheels.
This sensor is located in the hub, and it sends a signal to the control module which is used to determine how fast your vehicle is going, and the information is used by your Acadia’s StabiliTrak system.
If one wheel speed sensor fails, it can cause the “Service StabiliTrak” to come on your Acadia Driver Information Center.
3. Damaged Wheel Bearing
The third and final possible cause of the “service StabiliTrak” message is a bad wheel bearing. Sometimes the magnet in the hub can get damaged and stop working.
If this happens, it will cause the control module to think that one of your wheels has locked up and it will cause the StabiliTrak fault as a result.
Out of the three leading causes, this one is the least common, but it does happen.
GMC Acadia Service Stabilitrak Fix and Reset
Now that you know the main causes, let’s look at how to fix and reset the fault message.
Replace the Brake Pedal Position Sensor
The first thing I recommend that you do is replace the brake pedal sensor.
This is an easy and inexpensive fix (under $20) that can often solve the problem and takes less than 15 minutes to do.
The brake pedal sensor on your Acadia is located behind the brake pedal, and it is a very easy part to replace. Here is a video showing you step-by-step how to replace the brake pedal sensor on your GMC Acadia.
Replace the Wheel Bearing Sensor/Wheel Bearing
If replacing the brake pedal sensor doesn’t fix the problem, then you might have a bad wheel bearing sensor or wheel bearing.
I recommend starting with the sensors and seeing if it solves the issue. If not, check the wheel bearing.
Additional Sources
https://www.holidaygm.com/research/what-is-stabilitrak/
https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-pedal-position-switch-replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_speed_sensor