IllustrationWHEN I TRY TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE, MY DASH DISPLAYS THE MESSAGE 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN THOUGH I'M ALREADY IN PARK. I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER NOB BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. IT'S HAPPENED ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME I TRY TO TURN MY CAR OFF FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
2018 GMC Acadia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Acadia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 256.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Acadia years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
620–25K
8425–50K
1350–75K
975–100K
10100–150K
1150K+
179 reports with mileage · 214 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 163 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
108 reportsTHE VEHICLE FAILS TO DETECT WHEN I MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTO PARK POSITION. I HAVE TO TRY TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND SOMETIMES HAVE TO DRIVE IN IN IT AGAIN AND THEN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT IT TO PARK AND SHUT IT OFF AGAIN. SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHUT OFF, AND THEN I'M STRANDED.
MY CAR KEEPS GIVING NOTICE OF IT NOT BEING IN PARK, WHEN ITS CLEARLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. IT WONT SHUT DOWN, LET YOU LOCK DOORS. JUST BEEPS UNTIL IT FINALLY REALIZES ITS IN PARK. EVEN AFTER CONTINUOUSLY RE SHIFTING INTO PARK. WORSE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE! *TR
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS IN PARK. FORCES ELECTRICAL TO STAY ON, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENGAGE PARK SO VEHICLE CAN MOVE AS IF I'M NEUTRAL. HAS THUS FAR HAPPENED WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT YOU CAN SOMETIMES SHUT OFF ENGINE AND EXIT VEHICLE WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK AND CAN ROLL AGAINST YOU, OR ON KIDS EXITING ETC. VE…
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VEHICLE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS IN PARK. FORCES ELECTRICAL TO STAY ON, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENGAGE PARK SO VEHICLE CAN MOVE AS IF I'M NEUTRAL. HAS THUS FAR HAPPENED WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT YOU CAN SOMETIMES SHUT OFF ENGINE AND EXIT VEHICLE WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK AND CAN ROLL AGAINST YOU, OR ON KIDS EXITING ETC. VEHICLE ROLLED IN GARAGE AND STRUCK, AND COULD HAVE CRUSHED CHILD AGAINST DOOR.
"SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE READS ON DASH, WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THEN IT WONT LET YOU TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAVE SPEND OVER 20 MINUTES TRYING TO GET IT TO "READ" THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK. I EVEN TOOK IT INTO GMC TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. THEY "FIXED" IT BUT NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.
MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, THEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND ACTUALLY IN PARK AN ERROR COMES ON 'SHIFT TO PARK' COMES ON, I'VE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY BLAME ME ON SOME LIGHT BULBS I CHANGED, WELL I CHANGED THEM BACK AND STILL ERROR OCCURS. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THAT HAPPENS I CAN'T LOCK MY VEHICL…
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MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, THEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND ACTUALLY IN PARK AN ERROR COMES ON 'SHIFT TO PARK' COMES ON, I'VE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY BLAME ME ON SOME LIGHT BULBS I CHANGED, WELL I CHANGED THEM BACK AND STILL ERROR OCCURS. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THAT HAPPENS I CAN'T LOCK MY VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME UNTIL MULTIPLE TIMES OF TURNING ON AND OFF THE VEHICLE. (2) WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, MY REAR CAMERA WOULD BE DISPLAYING LIVE EVERYTHING BEHIND ME, WHICH WAS VERY DISTRACTING, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I THINK THEY FIXED IT
THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT HAS BEEN PUT INTO PARK, FLASHING A MESSAGE ON THE DASH INSTRUCTING ME TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN WHEN THE GEAR LEVER HAVE ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO THE 'P' POSITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE START/OFF BUTTON, THE VEHICLE CONTACT WAS ALERTED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS ALREADY IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE MESSAGE WAS D…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE START/OFF BUTTON, THE VEHICLE CONTACT WAS ALERTED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS ALREADY IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERTRICH BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 26953 SUSSEX HWY, SEAFORD, DE 19973, 302-629-9144 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY 2018 ACADIA KEEPS GIVING ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" , IT HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY TWICE I HAD TO GET NEW ONE. IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF ERROR, I HAVE TO RESTART IGNITION AND MOVE SHIFTER TO DRIVE OR REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ERROR MESSAGE TO SHUT OFF. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL THINKS IT IS ON AND THEN DRAINS BATTERY. I BROUG…
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MY 2018 ACADIA KEEPS GIVING ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" , IT HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY TWICE I HAD TO GET NEW ONE. IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF ERROR, I HAVE TO RESTART IGNITION AND MOVE SHIFTER TO DRIVE OR REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ERROR MESSAGE TO SHUT OFF. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL THINKS IT IS ON AND THEN DRAINS BATTERY. I BROUGHT IT IN ON SEPTEMBER 2019 AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HARNESS HOWEVER IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN I WILL NEED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FROM GMC. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS WE DON'T KNOW IF CAR IS ON PARK.
I AM GETTING A ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLEARLY IN PARK. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE MESSAGE. HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT MAY CLEAR THE MESSAGE. HAD ONE TIME I GOT OUT WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL WITH NO O…
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I AM GETTING A ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLEARLY IN PARK. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE MESSAGE. HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT MAY CLEAR THE MESSAGE. HAD ONE TIME I GOT OUT WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL WITH NO ONE IN IT EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTING AREA SAID "P" FOR PARK. AND SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH CAR RUNNING COULD NOT GET THE SHIFTER TO MOVE TO REVERSE, DRIVE, ANYTHING, HAD TO SHUT IT OFF 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD REGISTER. HAVE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS ALREADY REPLACED.
Official recalls
218V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 31, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
17V516000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Aug 22, 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.