GMC Acadia Radio System Failure and Signal Issues Fix

Had a similar issue with my 2013 GMC Terrain (some experience with car electronics). The radio started showing static noise and eventually displayed error messages. The radio interference got worse over time, especially when driving at higher speeds. After multiple attempts to reset the system, I took it to a workshop where they ran comprehensive diagnostics on the vehicle electronics. Turned out the main antenna was defective, causing poor signal strength and system errors. The antenna ground connection was fine, but the antenna itself had internal damage. Total repair cost was 255 Euro including diagnostics and replacement parts. Since the fix, the radio system has worked flawlessly with clear reception and no more error messages. For your Acadia issue, could you share: Do you notice the problems getting worse at certain speeds? Are you getting any static noise before the system fails? Which specific error messages appear on the screen? Have you noticed any correlation with weather conditions? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different in the signal chain.

Thanks for sharing the details. My vehicle has 116985 KM and just had its annual service last month. Yes, I experience exactly the same symptoms with static noise increasing at highway speeds. The poor signal becomes very noticeable when driving above 80 KMH. Initially thought an antenna booster might help, but based on your feedback, I should probably have the antenna itself checked first. The error messages are identical, COM ERROR followed by RADIO FAULT. Interestingly, the radio interference does seem worse during wet weather, which might indicate a compromised antenna seal letting moisture in. Will take it to the shop for diagnostics focusing on the antenna components rather than the signal amplifier or ground connections. This should save some diagnostic time based on your experience.

Thanks for providing those additional details. The matching symptoms between our vehicles, especially the speed-dependent static and weather sensitivity, strongly suggest an antenna issue like I experienced. The poor signal during wet weather particularly points to water ingress in the antenna housing, exactly what caused my FM signal problems. The COM ERROR and RADIO FAULT messages are typical system responses when the signal strength drops below acceptable levels. My repair invoice shows they tested the signal amplifier first, but the real culprit was moisture damage inside the antenna unit. The correlation between speed and radio interference happens because water movement inside the damaged antenna increases at higher speeds. Since your symptoms align so closely with what I experienced, you might want to mention my case to your mechanic. The diagnostic path that worked for my Terrain should apply well to your Acadia, given they share similar radio system architectures. Just make sure they check the antenna seals thoroughly. My repair actually included a new gasket set to prevent future moisture issues, though this wasnt listed separately on the invoice. The improved signal strength after repair was immediately noticeable.

Thanks for the thorough feedback and sharing your repair experience. The symptoms you described match my situation perfectly, especially regarding how the FM signal degrades with speed and moisture. I contacted my regular shop and scheduled diagnostics for next week, specifically mentioning the antenna issue and potential water ingress. They quoted 85 Euro for the initial diagnostic check, which seems reasonable given the complexity of the radio system. The shop confirmed they will inspect the antenna housing first, including testing signal strength under different conditions. They will also verify the antenna ground and check if the signal amplifier is functioning correctly, though based on your case, I expect the antenna itself is the culprit. Makes sense about the speed correlation and water movement causing increased radio interference. Hopefully, replacing the antenna unit and seals will resolve the issues like it did in your case. Will update once I get the diagnosis results and repair completed. Good to know about the gasket set, I will make sure to ask them about including new seals with any antenna replacement to prevent future moisture problems.