2018 GMC Acadia
Common Problems
Ranked from 214 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
11 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Intermittent 'Shift to Park' message when vehicle is in 'Park' position
135complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe vehicle intermittently displays a 'Shift to Park' message when the vehicle is already in the 'Park' position, requiring repeated attempts to shut off the engine.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Vehicle does not recognize 'Park' position and fails to shut off
110complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe vehicle fails to recognize the 'Park' position, leading to an inability to shut off the engine properly.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Random Gear Shifter Malfunction
54complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe gear shifter fails to properly engage the park position, requiring multiple attempts to shift into park.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Transmission does not recognize 'Park' position
20complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission fails to recognize the 'Park' position, preventing the vehicle from shutting off properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Transmission fails to recognize when in park
20complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission does not recognize when the vehicle is in park, causing the 'Shift to Park' warning to appear and preventing the vehicle from shutting off.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Transmission Control Module Failure
19complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission control module fails to recognize the vehicle is in park, preventing the engine from shutting off.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Reduced Steering Assist
14complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering assist system malfunctions, reducing its effectiveness and sometimes causing the steering wheel to become stiff.
- 8
Battery Drain Due to Shift to Park Error
13complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe shift to park error prevents the vehicle from turning off, leading to battery drain and potential vehicle immobilization.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Transmission Shuddering and Jerking
5complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission shudders and jerks during acceleration, leading to unsafe driving conditions.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Sunroof malfunctions leading to glass explosion
4complaintsSafety riskOtherThe sunroof malfunctions, causing it to explode while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in glass shattering inward and outward.
- 11
Steering wheel becomes unresponsive during acceleration
2complaintsHigh severitySteeringDuring acceleration, the steering wheel becomes unresponsive, causing loss of control and potential accidents.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.