The GMC Acadia has a comprehensive safety system that is designed to protect passengers before, during and after a crash. Its strong structure and four-wheel independent suspension system enhance safety by providing stable ride and handling. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes, StabiliTrak electronic stability control system - with rollover mitigation technology - and GM's tire pressure monitoring system are standard.

Acadia is equipped with six standard air bags: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted side-impact air bags in the first row and two roof rail air bags that cover all three seating rows. The roof rail air bags are among the longest air bags in any production vehicle. Complementing the air bags is GM's rollover sensing system, which will activate the roof rail air bags if sensors determine a rollover occurring. Additionally, first-row positions feature safety belt pretensioners, which activate at the moment of a crash to take up any slack in the safety belt and hold the passengers in place.

Acadia comes standard with OnStar Generation 7 (with a one-year Safe and Sound plan), which features the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification system. If the crash activates an air bag, the OnStar system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor, who immediately calls the vehicle and/or summons emergency help. Acadia also is equipped with OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation, a fully integrated GPS navigation system.