What 138 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Acadia Limited

Dear Sir/Madam, For the 3rd time now, my transmission is being rebuilt. After purchasing it from the dealership and it was still under warranty GMC Bakersfield rebuilt the transmission, then again in 2020 at 119,000 miles it broke down again and All Automatic in Bakersfield rebuilt it for $3500 and now here it is 2026 and only 60.000 miles later again All Automatic is having to rebuilt the transmission again and asking now for another $4950. I was excited to finally hear there was a recall, only to find it was only for 2014 GMC Acadia's. The transmission have failed again and yes it is available for inspection at All Automation in Bakersfield, CA on Quantico. During the course of breaking down the my safety and the safety of my children was at risk. My vehicle was jumping, jerking the RPM's were all over the place and at one point in the course of driving on the freeway it felt like it lost power and nearly stopped. This has been an ongoing problem since the purchase of the vehicle. It has been inspected and diagnosed by All Automatic. There were no warnings, messages or symptoms that were constant. It was sporadically slipping up until the time it gave out. I have spoke to several 2013 GMC Acadia owners who have the exact same problem along with the back light covers falling off and All the plastic coverings on the inside falling off.

NHTSA ODI 11717415

Unknown, The vehicle will begin to jerk or shake when it gets up to about 30 - 40mph then levels out. Sometimes it will repeat the jerking when traveling at speed of 50 - 60mph for a few seconds then levels out. Sometimes the vehicle hesitate on take off from a stopped position.

NHTSA ODI 11655100

At 35-40 and 55-65 mph, the car slips/ pulls back. I took it to the dealer, my rep said it is a known issue and GMC issued a bulletin but will not recall it because it's too expensive. There are thousands of reports online. Please investigate.

NHTSA ODI 11559683

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after coming to a stop for a traffic signal or stopping for other traffic, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was unaware if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter solenoid had remained in an open position, causing the vehicle to stall while stopped. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that his mechanic had researched online and related the failure to TSB Number: 10052215-6979 (Power Train). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 194,032.

NHTSA ODI 11527932

I dont know exactly what is wrong but from online videos i think power train or transmission. When driving the vehicle will struggle/delay shifting. When it does finally shift its so hard it throws u forward. When having to quickly get on the gas it will delay to where your not really moving. This almost caused accidents multiple times. ( not pulling out in front of people) entering interstate is a good exsample. It has also lost power when crossing intersection!

NHTSA ODI 11517617

My GMC Acadia has been experiencing transmission problems. It has been jerking and it has been failing to accelerate properly. The check engine light is not on and the mechanic says he can not find a problem with the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11494952

After having for just under a year the transmission seems to be acting up when going from 2nd to 3rd gear around 30mph to 40mph. After reading several forms it seems this is a common occurrence in these vehicles.. not sure if it’s been reported but all the forms are showing people had to spend a good amount to determine what the issue is and seems that everyone had to replace the transmissions for the problem to go away. I’m not sure how everything works but feel it should be looked at maybe.

NHTSA ODI 11454610

Started having issues with transmission stuttering during gear shifts. Very slow shifts at time and difficulty keeps RPM up when climbing hills. Took it to a shop that identified an issue and was advised the transmission would need to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11417386

WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE GOES COMPLETELY DEAD. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART AT EACH STOP. WHEN IT DOES START, IT IS NOT A SMOOTH TAKE OFF, IT IS EXTREMELY ROUGH, ALMOST LIKE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN THE WRONG GEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. AND IT IS GETTING WORST EVERY DAY. I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR US. I STILL HAVE A YEAR TO PAY FOR IT AND I AM HEARING MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT, BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSURE WHAT IS WRONG, OR IF THEY CAN REPAIR IT. FRANKLY, THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS MANY CARS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11415192

2013 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE 35R DRUM AND SNAP RINGS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11398376

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT AND MSG IS DISPLAYING. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD. TRANSMISSION FLUID HAS BEEN CHECKED EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY.

NHTSA ODI 11387128

AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. TRANSMITION ISSUES AS PER A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SHOWS ALL OF THESE ISSUES BOTH WHEN RUNNING PARKED AND WHILE IN MOTION ON ALL TYPES OF ROADWAYS

NHTSA ODI 11383162

SHUDDER IN TRANSMISSION. HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOUND OUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND ALMOST SHATTERED. OVER $5000 FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11320731

THIS VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING A SHAKING OR JUMPING FEELING AT 1800 RPMS AROUND 85,000 MILES. UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AT OUTSIDE MECHANIC. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND BEGAN HAPPENING AT OTHER RPMS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AFTER VEHICLE HIT 109,000 MILES AND DIAGNOSED AT TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH THEY REFUSE TO FIX BECAUSE OUTSIDE WARRANTY. PER MY REVIEW OF OTHER SITES, THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRENT AND OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE VEHICLE CAN LOSE POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11265608

TRANSMISSION HAS BAD SHUDDER IN IT TAKING OFF AND WHILE PULLING SLIGHT GRADE ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAS 120849 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A SLIP IN IT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY.

NHTSA ODI 11265733

HAVE VIBRATION WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP DUE TO DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER WITH ONLY 95500 MILES ON VEHICLE HAD TO REPLACE AND REBUILD TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI 11173501

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC ACADIA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND DRAGGED THE CONTACT AS SHE WAS EXITING. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE CONTACT'S LEFT LEG AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT WAS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,500.

NHTSA ODI 11161376

THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT BAD WITHIN 5 YEARS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN STOPPED AND SHUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING. THE REPAIRS COST ME $1500

NHTSA ODI 11157029

THESE SYMPTOMS STARTED OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND IS VERY INTERMITTENT. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF HIGH GEAR. THE DECREASE IN SPEED IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT ON NOW 3 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS AND MESSAGES OCCUR: - "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" - "TRACTION CONTROL OFF" - "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" - "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" - "SERVICE STABILITRAK" ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS: - LOSS OF POWER STEERING - LOSS OF POWER BRAKES ONCE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND SITS FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WILL START AND ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS ABOVE WILL GO AWAY WITH THE EXCEPTION SOMETIMES OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS INDICATOR GOES OFF AFTER VEHICLE HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. NOTE THIS OCCURS VERY INFREQUENTLY...SOMETIMES MONTHS IN BETWEEN. AUGUST 2018, DEALERSHIP (CHEV AUTOMATION NORTH, DENVER, CO) DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. PAID $5800 FOR REPLACEMENT. OCTOBER 22, 2018, ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CRASHING THE VEHICLE. WIFE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT MUST OCCUR BEFORE ANY REAL ATTENTION IS MADE TO FIXING A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE WITH GM VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11142454

MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING UP SINCE 50,000 MILES A/C ACTING UP SINCE 70,000 MILES AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR WARRANTY WORK ONE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO WORK ON MY CAR

NHTSA ODI 11139242

WHILE COASTING UP TO A REDLIGHT THE CAR ENGINE LURCHED AND STALLED SHUTTING OFF. THIS LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. VERY SCARY. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. WE HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THIS IS DUE TO A GM KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. GM HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. TSB 13120A

NHTSA ODI 11092734

MY 2013 GMC ACADIA CAR JUST STARTED HAVING SHIFTING ISSUES AND TURNS OUT TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL AND RECOMMENDATION I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $4600. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I JUST LEARNED THAT ACADIA'S HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. AND OF COURSE, NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON 2013 VEHICLES. TERRIBLE BUSINESS.

NHTSA ODI 11060743

MY ACADIA ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE WON'T GO ANYWHERE. ACADIA DOORS KEEP UNLOCKING AND LOCKING WAS AT MY HOUSE IN DRIVEWAY. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF EVERYTHING IS FINE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S THE TRANSMISSION MODULE MAKING CAR THINK IT'S IN PARK BUT CAN'T FIX IT UNLESS MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WHEN I GET IT TO THEM. QUESTION FROM ME IS IF IT'S THINKING IT'S IN PARK WHAT IF I'M DRIVING 55 AND IT THINKS IT'S IN PARK I'LL WRECK. I FEEL MY FAMILY IS DRIVING IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG AND WHERE THE PROBLEM RESIDES BUT WON'T FIX BECAUSE MY ENGINE LIGHT ISN'T ON. THAT DOESN'T MAKE A BIT OF SENSE TO ME

NHTSA ODI 11011190

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT LOST POWER, ALL THE DASH LIGHT WENT OFF, THEN THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES AN HR. ONCE ABLE TO PULL OVER, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT START BACK UP. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM. THEY REPORTED IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH THEY REPLACED BUT THE CAR STILL WILL NOT TURN ON. NOW THE SAY IT IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND CAN'T FIND IT.. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WE FEEL THAT THEY ARE JUST GIVING US THE RUN AROUND. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES AND NEVER FIXED PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI 10994131

CAR WILL NOT SHIFT TILL IT HITS 3500 RPMS, AND 5000 RPMS IF U TRY TO GET UP TO SPEED QUICKLY. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WHINING LIKE A 4 CYLINDER BUT IT'S A 3.6 V6

NHTSA ODI 10969618