IllustrationTHE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION ALWAYS EXHIBIT BUCKING/HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. ALSO, WHEN SPEED BETWEEN 40MPH TO 50MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBIT SEVERE HESITATION TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN PRESS THROTTLE PEDAL. MOREOVER, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS HARSHNESS WHEN DOWNSHIFT WHEN DECELERATING FROM 45MPH TO 0MPH.
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
Power Train complaints
163 reportsSHIFT TO PARK ERROR , ON COMPUTER DISPLAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED REMOTELY WHILE STILL IN PARK, HOWEVER IT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE YARD ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHIC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED REMOTELY WHILE STILL IN PARK, HOWEVER IT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE YARD ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOBODY SHOP BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,972.
PLACE SHIFTER IN "PARK", TURN OFF ENGINE, AND GET "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE ON CONSOLE. WHILE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED, THE CAR CONSTANTLY BEEPS, WARNS, LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF. HAVE TO START THE ENGINE BACK UP, AND PLACE THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK. SOMETIMES HAVE TO DO THIS 5-10 TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO TURN …
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PLACE SHIFTER IN "PARK", TURN OFF ENGINE, AND GET "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE ON CONSOLE. WHILE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED, THE CAR CONSTANTLY BEEPS, WARNS, LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF. HAVE TO START THE ENGINE BACK UP, AND PLACE THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND THEN BACK TO PARK. SOMETIMES HAVE TO DO THIS 5-10 TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO TURN OFF. THIS FIRST HAPPENED AT 11K MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) AND DEALERSHIP FIXED. I AM NOW AT 16K MILES AND IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN (OUT OF WARRANTY THIS TIME).
CAR WOULD SHUTTER ON ACCELERATION. RPM GAUGE WOULD JUMP WHEN ACCELERATING OR DOWNSHIFT TO PASS/CLIMB HILL. DEALER FOUND PROBLEM WITH TORQUE CONVERTER. METAL THROUGH OUT TRANSMISSION (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR SPECIFICS AS NOTED BY MECHANIC)
CAR DISPLAYS 'SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE AFTER TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK. CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AND THE TIRES ROLL FREELY. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF PARK THE CAR WILL FINALLY RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK AND ALLOW YOU TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS LOCK THE TRANSMISSION.
EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION THE CAR DOESN'T SENSE THAT IT'S ON PARK AND ERROR MESSAGE KEEPS APPEARING IN THE SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' AND THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN OFF AND IT ROLL AWAY FROM THE DRIVE WAY AND I HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE AND AGAIN TO PARK AGAIN AND AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES TILL THE SENSOR FEELS I…
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EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION THE CAR DOESN'T SENSE THAT IT'S ON PARK AND ERROR MESSAGE KEEPS APPEARING IN THE SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' AND THE CAR REFUSES TO TURN OFF AND IT ROLL AWAY FROM THE DRIVE WAY AND I HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE AND AGAIN TO PARK AGAIN AND AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES TILL THE SENSOR FEELS IT. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THIS CAR OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE'S MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AGAINST GMC FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE MOST OF THE TIME AND SHE HAS MY KIDS WITH HER IN THE CAR. IT'S A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE! I TOOK THE CAR LAST MONTH TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY BY ONLY 2K MILES, AND I COULDN'T TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS ISSUE STARTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID. BY THE TIME WE COULD VISIT THE DEALERSHIP WE ALREADY DROVE OVER 5K MILES AND THAT PUTS THE CAR OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY LIMIT.
LEFT FRONT HALF SHAFT FRACTURED. WAS MAKING A TURN ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAS 53262 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A STAND STILL AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO BING, LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON, AND DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GET REPAIRED WHERE THE MANUAL T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A STAND STILL AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO BING, LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON, AND DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GET REPAIRED WHERE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (CHESROWN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 1701 COLUMBUS PIKE, DELAWARE, OH 43015) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTIER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DISPLAY "SHIFT INTO PARK" ERROR. WHEN PLACING IT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, AS WELL AS THE RADIO. ALSO, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECTION OF THE SHIFTER THAT BOLTS INTO THE FLOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. JS
VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN IT IS IN PARK. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND MAKES ME CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
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.