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 7 of 9

Jan 30, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. ON ONE SUCH OCCASION IT TOOK 24 ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM BUICK GMC OF GREEN BAY 3330 LOCATED AT 301 N TAYLOR ST #101, GREEN BAY, WI 54304, (800) 721-1840, TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED HOWEVER; THE FAILURE RECURRED. A SECONDARY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED WITH THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11303004

Jan 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

CAR GIVES A "ACTION REQUIRED, SHIFT TO PARK" AND DOES NOT TURN OFF ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE PUT THE CAR IN PARK. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND MOVE IT BACK TO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT SENSES IT IS IN PARK AND BEFORE IT WILL LET YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING SPOT.

NHTSA ODI 11300759

Jan 14, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE GIVES A SHIFT TO PARK WARNING EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. VEHICLE CANNOT BE SHUT OFF AND REQUIRES MULTIPLE RESTARTS AND SHUT OFFS AND MOVING OF VEHICLE TO GET VEHICLE TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK AND TO SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11299202

Jan 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM A DRIVING GEAR OR NEUTRAL INTO PARK, SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT REGISTER THAT IT HAS ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. A WARNING SHOWS UP ON THE DASH THAT SAYS "ACTION REQUIRED, SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF DURING THIS WARNING, SO YOU HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK AND FORTH FROM DRIVE TO PARK UNTIL IT FINALLY REGISTERS PARK. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS THE NEXT TRY, SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE 50. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON A SLOPE THAT THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL, ONLY A FOOT OR TWO, BUT THEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON THE BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A FIX AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11297826

Jan 1, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ONGOING ISSUES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2017. THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' PROBLEM HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES ITSELF FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK WHEN NEEDED IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM IT'S DANGEROUS, THE BATTERY HAS DRAINED AND LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED 4 TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND IT ALMOST STALLS OUT. I ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH GM TO HAVE THEM TAKE THE CAR BACK EARLY (LEASE) AND THE REQUEST WAS RECENTLY DENIED. THIS IS MY 3RD ACADIA AND IT BY FAR IS THE MOST DANGEROUS CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I AM NOW READING ABOUT A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, A DRIVESHAFT THAT MAY SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING, AND A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR AND I AM REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME WORK WITH GM ON A RESOLUTION. I ENTERED THE DATE THAT THE VEHICLE FIRST STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 20 INCIDENTS OVER A 2.5 YEAR PERIOD CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE OR LEAVING MY WIFE AND CHILDREN STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI 11292408

Dec 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY TO PARK WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS CAUSES THE PROBLEM OF MOVING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11291834

Dec 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

2017 GMC ACADIA WOULD ISSUE A WARNING SAYING VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THIS VEHICLE DEFECT IS KNOWN BY GMC AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS. A LAWSUIT IS CURRENTLY PENDING REGARDING THIS ISSUE. GMC HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAS FAILED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP AUGUST 2018 DUE TO THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2019. WHEN WE CALLED ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THE PRIOR WORK WASN'T COVERED AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE "KNOWN DEFECT" REPAIRED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11291521

Dec 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN THE SHIFTER IS PLACED INTO PARK THE SCREEN SHOWS "PLACE SHIFTER INTO PARK" THE RADIO STILL WORKS, SCREEN WILL NOT TURN OFF, AND THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED MAKING IT UNSAFE, EASY TO GET INTO OR STOLEN.

NHTSA ODI 11290900

Dec 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE VEHICLE STATES TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' BUT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK ALREADY. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF AND KEEPS THE BATTERY RUNNING. I MUST START UP THE CAR AND SHIFT IT TO DRIVE, THEN PACK TO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE CAR RECOGNIZES IT IS IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME, BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO TURN ON AND OFF TO REACH 'PARK' IS RANDOM.

NHTSA ODI 11288529

Dec 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF MY CAR, IT BEEPS AND TELLS ME THAT I HAVE TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO PARK. (ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS ALREADY PHYSICALLY IN PARK)THIS TAKES ME, AT TIMES, SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SOMETIMES I CAN WIGGLE THE SHIFTER, OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND ON AND SWITCH I TO DRIVE AND REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT LETS ME SHUT OFF MY CAR PROPERLY SO I CAN EXIT. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND IT JUST STARTED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM STOPPED AND TRYING TO EXIT MY CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO GO INTO WORK (IT MADE ME LATE!), WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN (4 ATTEMPTS JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT!). ONE OF THESE TIMES I'M GOING TO LITERALLY BE STUCK TRYING TO GET MY CAR SHUT OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS PARKED, IT MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE "LOCKED" INTO PARK AND COULD POSSIBLY STILL BE IN NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ODI 11286763

Nov 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR CONTINUES TO TELL YOU TO SHIFT TO PARK AFTER IT HAS BEEN PLACED IN PARK. THE CAR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. TO REMEDY YOU MUST SHAKE THE GEAR SHIFT, OR WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME, START THE CAR, PLACE IN DRIVE AND SHIFT BACK TO START. SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WILL REALIZE IT IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11282422

Nov 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFT TO PARK WARNING COMES ON 3 TIMES IN 5 DAYS. CAR WON'T TURN ON OR OFF FOR SHORT PERIOD.

NHTSA ODI 11281423

Nov 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN CAR IS PARKED. A MESSAGE POPS UP TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. THIS PREVENTS ME FROM LOCKING MY DOORS! IT DINGS, HONKS, ETC BECAUSE MESSAGE WHEN OUT IN PARK MESSAGE IS ON!

NHTSA ODI 11281437

Nov 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

UPON STOPPING VEHICLE AND SHIFTING IN TO PARK I GET A 'SHIFT TO PARK' NOTIFICATION ON THE DRIVERS' INFORMATION SCREEN ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF SHIFTING FROM AND BACK TO PARK FOR THE SCREEN TO CLEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11278824

Oct 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE A 2017 GMC ACADIA SL-2 ALL TERRAIN WITH 16,000 MILES THAT WAS IN FOR SERVICE A MONTH AGO FOR THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' PROBLEM FOR 2 WEEKS. GM WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY INSTEAD A HARNESS WAS INSTALLED. ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS BACK IN FOR SERVICE AND HAS BEEN IN THERE FOR LAST 10 DAYS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO HAVE A LOANER WHICH I APPRECIATE BUT I WANT MY CAR REPAIRED. I AM TOLD THE GM STRIKE IS AFFECTING THE DELAY IN GETTING PARTS TO THE DEALER. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND ASCERTAINED THAT THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT SHIFT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENTS. THE FIRST FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS PART NO. 84159722. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT NUMBER IS 13528228 WHICH REPLACES THE 84159722. MY CAR NEEDS PART NO. 13528228 SO WE HAVE NO FURTHER ISSUE WITH THE SHIFT TO PARK PROBLEM. (IF IN FACT THIS IS A 'FIX.')

NHTSA ODI 11271795

Oct 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN THE CAR IS INTENTIONALLY STOPPED AND SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A WARNING THAT THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. IT REQUIRES MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT IN AND OUT OF DRIVE UNTIL THE ELECTRONICS RECOGNIZE THE CAR IS IN PARK. UNTIL THEN, ALL THE CAR ELECTRONICS REMAIN ACTIVE. WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AN ALARM SOUNDS BECAUSE THE ELECTRONICS THINKS THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. THE GMC DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CLAIMS THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX IT ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS FIRST HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, BUT CLAIMS THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11271333

Oct 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

2017 GMC ACADIA HAS 'SHIFT TO PARK' ERROR FOR THE LAST 6 MTHS. WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CAR IS IN PARK AND WILL NOT TURN CAR OFF COMPLETELY. IT HAS CAUSED OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR LIKE BATTERY/CAR HESITATING TO START IN THE MORNING. ALSO THE RADIO/BLUETOOTH NOT DISCONNECTING AFTER TURNING CAR OFF. YOU HAVE. THIS IS A LONG PROCESS TO GET THE CAR TO REALIZE IT IS IN PARK. AFTER TURNING CAR ON AND OFF, SHIFTING CAR OUT OF PARK AND BACK INTO PARK. AND ALSO WIGGLING THE SHIFT GEAR. THIS AFTER KNOWING IT IS AN ON HOING ISSUE FOR WELL OVER A YEAR IS STILL NOT A RECALL AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT MADE A FIX FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11271173

Oct 21, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE COMES ON AFTER I PARK THE CAR. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO GO OFF OR THE CAR STAYS ON ELECTRONICALLY. THE DOOR LOCKS GO ON/OFF (AND UP AND DOWN) WHILE DRIVING (PURPORTEDLY DUE TO THE CAR GOING IN AND OUT OF PARK WHILE DRIVING) WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY (47,000 MILES) MY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD BE $700-$800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH GMC HAS PUT OUT A BULLETIN TO TELL THE DEALERSHIPS HOW TO FIX IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IF THE CAR ISN'T READING IT'S IN PARK, IT COULD ROLL AND CAUSE INJURY AND DAMAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED PRETTY REGULARLY FOR 2 WEEKS GOING ON 3 WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 11269911

Oct 18, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2017 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FATHER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BENT INWARDLY INTO THE WHEEL WELL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED BODY DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. SUMMIT CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 318 GRANT AVE, AUBURN, NY 13021, 315-258-2000) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V516000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 11269368

Oct 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2017 GMC ACADIA HAS A "SHIFTER" PROBLEM. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK BUT I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT STATES "SHIFT TO PARK" AND THE CAR DOESN'T COMPLETELY TURN OFF EVEN THOUGH YOU TURN THE CAR OFF PHYSICALLY. SOME ELECTRONICS STAY ON LIKE THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS. YOU CANNOT COMPLETELY SHUT THE CAR DOWN - AGAIN - EVEN WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY TURN THE CAR OFF. THE CAR IS IN PARK AND STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11268468

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN CAR IS STOPPED AND SHIFTER IS PUT INTO PARK. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT DOWN PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 11267574

Oct 5, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

VEHICLE STATES, 'SHIFT TO PARK,' WHEN TRYING TO TURN OFF ENGINE WHEN IT IS ALREADY IN PARK. TURN VEHICLE BACK ON AND HAVE TO SHIFT MULTIPLE TIMES OUT AND THEN BACK INTO PARK BEFORE CAR WILL RECOGNIZE IT IS IN FACT IN PARK TO SHUT DOWN ENTIRE ENGINE. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY ONCE ALREADY. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND FOOT IS ON BREAK WHEN TRYING TO TURN CAR OFF. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASE BUT, JUST GOT FED UP WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11266510

Oct 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SAYS THAT THE CAR MUST BE SHIFTED TO PARK, ALTHOUGH IT IS HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK. THE CAR MUST BE RESTARTED, AND RESHIFTED TO PARK, MULTIPLE TIMES. (AS MANY AS A DOZEN TIMES.) WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT SHUT DOWN. THE CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED. UNSURE WHETHER CAR IS/ IS NOT ACTUALLY IN PARK, OR WHETHER THERE IS A DANGER OF CAR ROLLING AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11265550

Sep 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I AM GETTING A MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK! ON 2017 GMC ACADIA AFTER PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK UNABLE TO LOCK CAR AND LIGHTS AND RADIO REMAIN ON. IT TOOK ME MORE THAN AN HOUR TO GET MY VEHICLE TO STOP DISPLAYING MESSAGE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND APPALLED AT THE SAME TIME UPON INVESTIGATING I HAVE DISCOVERED GMC IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. I REALLY WISHED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REVEALED AND I COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS VERY BAD BUSINESS PRACTICES MY VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11257936

Sep 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, AN ERROR IS DISPLAYED STATING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER IS IN P. IN ORDER TO GET THIS MESSAGE TO GO AWAY, I HAVE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER UP AND DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES. COULD TAKE UP TO 20 MIN TO GET THE ERROR TO GO AWAY. I CAN NOT LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ERROR IS OFF BECAUSE THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLS A LITTLE MORE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET ERROR MESSAGE OFF. THIS IS CONCERNING THAT IT MAY NOT REALIZE ITS IN PARK AND ROLL INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH OR ROLL AWAY. I TOOK TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A 'KNOWN' ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, NOR IS THERE A RECALL. I JUST PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR NEW TIRES BECAUSE GM KNEW THE TIRES PLACED WERE 'WEARING' TOO SOON BASED ON MILEAGE. NOW, I AM BEING TOLD I WILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $600 TO GET THIS FIXED. GM KNOWS OF ISSUES AND NOT FIXING THEM IS WRONG. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE, HAS BEEN LISTED AS COMPLAINTS FOR THE PAST YEAR, YET GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THE VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. FRUSTRATING THAT I HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX AN ISSUE THEY KNOW ABOUT! THIS NEEDS PUSHED BACK TO GM TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. THE SHIFTER ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11256122

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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 →