Home · 2017 GMC Acadia Limited · Complaints

What 639 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Acadia Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (639)Crash / fire / injury (14)Transmission & drivetrain (221)Electrical system (169)Airbags (75)Engine (53)Brakes (33)Steering (26)Lights (25)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (13)Lane Departure (11)Seat belts (11)

221 of 639 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 6 of 9

Jul 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. CANNOT TURN VEHICLE OFF WHILE THIS MESSAGE IS BEING DISPLAYED. CANNOT LOCK/SECURE VEHICLE WHILE THIS MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI 11337959

Jul 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK SO YOU CAN TURN OFF VEHICLE AND EXIT CAR. CANNOT SECURE VEHICLE. WHAT IS IS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECALLED? SURELY SOMEONE WILL NOT HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE A VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK? THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST GMC FOR THIS ISSUE. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND HAVE THEM RECALL THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11337960

Jul 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED TO PARK BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE IN PARK. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED SHIFT TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KUTZTOWN BUICK GMC CADILLAC (14165 KUTZTOWN RD, FLEETWOOD, PA 19522) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11337665

Jun 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE SHIFT TO PARK WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, AN AUDIBLE CHIME WAS HEARD INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT KARL CHEVROLET OF STUART (324 SW 8TH ST, STUART, IA 50250) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED HARNESS WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11331568

Jun 27, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

STARTING ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THEN TURN MY VEHICLE OFF A 'SHIFT TO PARK' WARNING COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR IS IN PARK AND I HAVE TO SHIFT TO A DIFFERENT GEAR AND BACK TO PARK TRYING TO GET IT TO REGISTER IT IS IN PARK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES OF TRYING THIS BEFORE IT WILL RECOGNIZE IT. MY VEHICLE IS PAST THE 36,000 MILES WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331192

Jun 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

GEAR SHIFT LEVER SHIFT TO PARK VEHICLE DOESN'T GO INTO PARK AND WON'T CUT OFF AND BECAUSE OF IT HAS A TENDENCY SOMETIMES TO ROLL BACK TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS EXPLAINED TO SOME TYPE OF HARNESSING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330296

Jun 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

BEGINNING IN MAY, 2020, MY ACADIA STARTED SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN I WOULD TRY TO SHUT IT OFF, ALTHOUGH IT IS IN PARK. IT HAS INCREASINGLY GOTTEN WORSE AND IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY DAY. THIS MORNING. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR, MOVE BACKWARDS, FORWARDS, SHUT OFF CAR AND REPEAT 7 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY LET ME SHUT THE CAR OFF WITHOUT THE WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330307

Jun 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I'M IN PARK, THE VEHICLE TELLS ME I NEED TO SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE I CAN TURN IT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329028

Jun 9, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK IT DINGS AND TELLS ME TO PUT IN PARK FORTUNATELY BY SHIFTING AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF . I AM AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I CAN NOT SHUT IT OFF . THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN MAY 2020.HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327928

Jun 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I RECEIVE A 'SHIFT TO PARK' WARNING MESSAGE WHEN MY VEHICLE IS CLEARLY IN THE PARK POSITION AND IT PREVENTS MY CAR FROM BEING ABLE TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF. I HAVE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED AT THE GMC DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT IS NOW GIVING ME THE SAME ERROR. I AM NOW NO LONGER ABLE TO OPEN MY GARAGE DOOR FROM MY VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES IN WHICH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER ONE OF MY KEY FOBS.

NHTSA ODI 11327669

Jun 1, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING THE GEAR SELECTOR TO THE PARK POSITION, A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BECOME DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GREENBROOK GMC LOCATED AT 101 US 22 GREENBROOK, TOWNSHIP NJ WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE RESPONDING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326760

May 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN GOING TO TURN THE CAR OFF AFTER IT'S SHIFTED INTO PARK THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY DISPLAYS A WARNING THAT SAYS "SHIFT INTO PARK". WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR FAILS TO TURN COMPLETELY OFF AND YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND SHIFT IT BACK INTO PARK UNTIL THIS NO LONGER DISPLAYS. THE CAR WILL ALSO ROLL BACKWARDS A BIT WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325682

May 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I SHIFT TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IT TELLS ME THAT IS ISN'T IN PARK. SO I HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TAKE IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325622

May 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

MY ACADIA WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PLACED IN PARK. THERE IS A SENSOR ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT TELLS THE VEHICLE THAT IT IS IN PARK AND ALLOW IT TO TURN OFF. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW IT HAS HAPPENED FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. IF THE VEHICLE HAPPENS TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WITH THIS WARNING, THE ELECTRONICS STAY ON AND DRAIN YOUR BATTERY UNLESS YOU START THE VEHICLE AND THEN SHIFT FROM PARK TO OTHER GEARS AND BACK TO PARK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE AND ELECTRONICS WILL SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WHEN WE TOOK IT THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL OF THESE REPLACED ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325330

May 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE, WHEN PLACED IN PARK. GIVES A MESSAGE THAT YOU NEED TO SHIFT TO PARK. YOU CAN'T TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. NOR IS IT ALWAYS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE HAS 21000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325337

May 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK, CAR STILL READS SHIFT TO PARK. CAR WILL BEEP EVEN IF YOU GET OUT AND EVEN AFTER SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE AND TURNING BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324776

May 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

SOMETIMES WHEN I SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE I GET A MESSAGE THAT SAYS "SHIFT INTO PARK". IT IS ABSOLUTELY IN PARK! AT THAT POINT I HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, TAKE IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND THEN PUT IT BACK INTO PARK. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY BUT QUITE FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323924

May 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR WOULD BE STATIONARY. I WOULD PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN TURN OFF THE CAR. THE DASH DISPLAY SHOWED AN ERROR THAT THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS. THE CAR WOULD NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF BECAUSE OF THIS. I TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES, SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF PARK. ONE TIME, THE CAR HAD TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF 10 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY REGISTERED THAT IT WAS IN PARK. THE CAR IS STATIONARY THE WHOLE TIME DURING THIS PROCESS. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR WOULD REGISTER THAT IT WAS INDEED IN PARK AND COMPLETELY TURN OFF AS DESIRED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ALMOST EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED. I CALLED MY LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING THIS. THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR SAID THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE SHIFTER/TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER ON ACADIAS OF MY YEAR MODEL. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED PARTS/HARNESS IN STOCK SO WE HAD TO WAIT A WEEK AND A HALF FOR THEM TO BE DELIVERED. THE DATE LISTED IS THE DAY I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THE ISSUE DESCRIBED HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 3-4 DAYS PREVIOUS TO CALLING. ATTACHED IS A PORTION OF MY RECEIPT PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11323018

Apr 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER IS GETTING LOOSE AND A CONSTANT FROM THE CAR COMPUTER ASKING THE DRIVER TO SHIFT TO PARK WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER IS ON PARK AND THE CAR IS STATIONARY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11320802

Mar 27, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

SECOND TIME INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME THING IN ONE YEAR. THE "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING POPS UP AFTER I STOP AND PUT THE SHIFTER INTO PARK. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT FACT. THE VEHICLE THINKS IT IS ANOTHER GEAR. EVEN AFTER GETTING OUT, MY RADIO STAYS ON AND AND MY HORN HONKS AS A WARNING. I TRIED TO LOCK THE DOOR AND IT UNLOCKS ITSELF IMMEDIATELY. MULTIPLE STARTING AND STOPPING ONLY WORKS ON OCCASION. TWO LOST DAYS TO THE REPAIR SHOP. IF I DIDN'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS LATEST PROBLEM, THIS VISIT YESTERDAY WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER $500! I FEAR THIS WILL BE A REPEATING ISSUE .

NHTSA ODI 11319430

Mar 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFT TO PARK - THIS IS ROUND TWO (2) THAT THIS HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED!! THIS IS ROUND TWO (2) OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL REPLACEMENT - WHICH WORRIES ME THAT OTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUES WILL OCCUR. ACADIA IS "CLEARLY" IN PARK - AND YES I LEARNT YOUR LITTLE TRICK TO WIGGLE AND OR TOUCH THE +/- BUTTON ON TOP OF THE SHIFT STICK TO GET IT TO COMPREHEND THAT IT IS INDEED IN PARK. BUT THAT ONLY WORKED A TOTAL OF THREE (3) TIMES. FIRST TIME WAS IN A PARKING LOT THAT THIS OCCURRED - SECOND TIME IN A GAS STATION. HAVING TO RESTART YOUR VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF 10 TIMES JUST FOR IT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS IN PARK - IS HUMILIATING TO SAY THE LEAST WHEN YOU ARE AT A GAS STATION AS WELL AS FRUSTRATING. YOU NEED NOT TO IGNORE THIS - AS THE FIRST TIME I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SECOND TIME - I WAS ABLE TO - HOWEVER IF ONE IGNORES IT WILL END UP DRAINING THEIR BATTERY AND/OR ROLLING IF YOU ARE ON AN INCLINE. KINDLY STEP FORWARD AND FIX THIS ISSUE IF YOU WANT SATISFIED CUSTOMERS. AS I CAN PUT ONLY ONE DATE - I PUT THE FIRST ONE 01/13/2020 SECOND REPLACEMENT 03-21-2020 27,109 MILES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11318888

Feb 28, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

RANDOMLY WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK AND THE BUTTON IS PRESSED TO STOP THE ENGINE A MESSAGE COMES UP ON DASHBOARD STATING SHIFT TO PARK... SOMETIMES YOU CAN WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT AND THE MESSAGE GOES AWAY, SOMETIMES YOU MUST START, MOVE, AND STOP THE CAR AS MANY AS 15 TO 20 TIMES TO GET THIS TO GO AWAY. IF YOU EXIT THE CAR WHY THE MESSAGE IS ON DASHBOARD, THE HORN WILL CHIRP AT YOU, AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE, IF IT IS ON A DECLINE IT WILL ROLL, THE RADIO STAYS ON ETC. I FOUND A GM SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS, STATING THE PART TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ACADIA WAS 13528228. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPT WITH THE LOCAL GM DEALER TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS GIVEN THE RIGHT SCENARIO, IF A KID OR SOMEONE HOPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IT WASNT IN PARK. THE CAR HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11312028

Feb 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE BUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FLOOR SHIFTER AND ELECTRICAL HARNESS.

NHTSA ODI 11311587

Feb 12, 2020SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine

SHIFT TO PARK PROBLEM, THE DEALER TRIED FIXING IT 3 TIMES NOW AND HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL. WHEN SOMETIMES TURNING THE CAR. I CAN FEEL SOMETHING IS LIKE STOCK ON TGE WHEEL MAKING ME FEEL LIKE THE WHEEL IS GONNA GET OFF. I TRUED CONTACTING THE DEALER AND CHEVY OFFICE FOR A BUYBACK BUT THEY AREN'T APPROVING IT COS THEY SAID I DONT HAVE ENOUGH REASON FOR THEM TO APPROVE IT. EVEN THO I KEEP TELLING THEM I AM NOT GONNA WAIT FOR ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE A 5 MONTH OLD BABY WITH ME. TGE OBLY THING THEY SUGGESTING IS HAVING IT CHECKED. AND THAT'S IT.

NHTSA ODI 11308842

Feb 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

SHIFT TO PARK WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. HEADLIGHTS STAY ON.

NHTSA ODI 11306895

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Working with the data? Download all 639 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 GMC Acadia Limited verdict →