Home · 2018 GMC Acadia Limited · Complaints

What 389 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 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 (389)Crash / fire / injury (10)Transmission & drivetrain (162)Electrical system (108)Engine (32)Steering (24)Brakes (21)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (12)Fuel system (9)Lane Departure (6)Backup camera & sensors (5)Seats (5)

Newest first · 389 complaints · page 14 of 16

Oct 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

1 OUT OF 2 TIMES A DAY WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IT GIVES ME A WARNING TO SHIFT TO PARK ON THE ELECTRONIC DASH. EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT IS SITTING IN THE PARK POSITION. SO I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR, TAKE IT OUT OF PARK AND SHIFT BACK TO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE WARNING GOES AWAY. THIS WARNING PREVENTS THE CAR FROM COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN

NHTSA ODI 11270904

Oct 20, 2019

I WENT TO PUT MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT SHOWED ME A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TWICE TO GET IT FIXED. TODAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT'S STUCK ON DRIVE AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON, DISCONNECT MY BATTERY AND LEAVE MY CAR FOR IT TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER TOMORROW OR MONDAY.

NHTSA ODI 11269581

Oct 19, 2019

REF MY 2018 GMC ACADIA. WHEN I'M TRYING TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF A MESSAGE APPEARS SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN PARK. THIS WONT LET THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF CAUSING A DRAIN IN BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11269551

Oct 17, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

VEHICLE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I RECEIVED AN ERROR INDICATING "ACTION REQUIRED - SHIFT TO PARK." I DID NOT LET OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE I WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE HAD ACTUALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND DRIVE, THEN SHIFT BACK TO PARK, AND RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR. WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, BUT THE ELECTRONICS WOULD NOT POWER OFF AND THE ERROR CONTINUOUSLY DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND REPEATED THIS PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED BEFORE CHANGING GEARS AGAIN, SHIFTING INTO PARK, THEN APPLYING THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT I TURNED MY ENGINE OFF AGAIN, AND THE ERROR FINALLY NO LONGER DISPLAYED. SINCE THE ERROR WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYING, I COULD ONLY HOPE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY IN PARK, BUT FELT REASSURED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY CONCERN THAT SEEMS TO BE AFFECTING MANY OF THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11269106

Oct 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER SHIFTING MY ACADIA INTO PARK AND SHUTTING IT OFF, "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING COMES US SOUNDING AN ALARM THAT WON'T GO OFF UNLESS I START THE CAR AND SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK SEVERAL TIMES. IT GETS HARDER TO GET THE WARNING TO GO AWAY EACH TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD TO RESULT TO NOT DRIVING IT TO AVOID THE BATTERY DRAINING OR HAVING TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 19000 MILES SO THE DEALER IS WILLING TO REPLACE IT BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE. ALSO, OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM RETURNS EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11267275

Oct 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE GEAR SHIFT, SINCE THREE WEEKS AGO WE CAN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE AS A NORMAL PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE SENSOR OF THE GEAR SHIFT DOESN'T DETECT THE SHIFT IS IN 'P' PARKING, WE CONTINUALLY RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM THE SCREEN. 'PUT YOUR SHIFT IN 'P', BUT IN THIS PRECISE MOMENT THE SHIFT WAS IN PARKING MODE, SO WE CAN'T TURN OF THE ENGINE. WE RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM THE MECHANICAL WORKSHOP THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, BUT THEY DOESN'T GIVE US WHEN COULD BE CHANGED, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT USE THE VEHICLE, THEY DO NOT RECEIVE A OFFICIAL FEEDBACK FOR THE PLANT YET.

NHTSA ODI 11267542

Oct 7, 2019

SHIFT TO PARK 2018 GMC ACADIA AWD ERROR MESSAGE SAYING VEHICLE ISN'T IN PARK; MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO MOVE SHIFT LEVER, TURN OFF AND ON, ETC FAIL TO TURN OFF THE ERROR MESSAGE SO THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY TURN OFF. CAR TURNS OFF BUT THE ALARM KEEPS BEEPING SAYING IT'S NOT IN PARK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR OVER 2 WEEKS WITH NO, ZERO, DATE OF REPLACEMENT TO ARRIVE. VEHICLE IS OWNED (NO FIANCING, NO LEASE). PAID FOR A $50K VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T DRIVE. NOT SAFE, NOT USEABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11266753

Oct 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFT TO PARK NOTICE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK, VEHICLE WILL GIVE A WARNING THAT VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK OR NOT. NOT SURE IF I AM JUST RECEIVING A FAULTY NOTICE OR IS THE VEHICLE NOT IN PARK AND COULD ROLL CAUSING INJURY! THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE. GMC UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PART AVAILABLE. THIS MAY HAPPEN FOR TWO OR THREE TIMES. IT HAS HAPPENED THAT I HAVE HAD TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON UP TO SEVEN TIMES BEFORE IT REGISTERED AS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11266194

Oct 3, 2019Wheels

FRONT TIRES HAVE STARTED COMING APART; SUCH AS, TEARING OR RIPPED TREAD. SIMILAR TO LOOKING LIKE THEY WERE "GOUGED" WITH SOMETHING. TIRES ARE ROTATED WITH EACH OIL CHANGE ON A REGULAR BASIS. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW WITH 440 MILES, AND CURRENTLY HAVE 33,XXX MILES ON THESE TIRES. JUST RECENTLY NOTICED THIS ON THE 2 FRONT TIRES, SO DATE "HAPPENED" IS DATE IT WAS FIRST NOTICED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT, OR OFF ROAD, OR DRIVEN RECKLESSLY.

NHTSA ODI 11265958

Oct 3, 2019

WHEN PUSHING VEHICLE IGNITION BUTTON "START/STOP" TO TURN VEHICLE "OFF" IT WILL TURN THE ENGINE OFF BUT KEEP THE VEHICLE STILL "ON" USING THE BATTERY. IF I OPEN THE DOOR AND SHUT IT, THE HORN HONKS TO ALERT THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL "ON" AND NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE IGNITION BUTTON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VEHICLE IS OFF IS BY JERKING THE GEAR SHIFT UNTIL THE GREEN LIGHT GOES TO "OFF". IT DOES NOT DO IT EVERY TIME I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT IT DOES IT ABOUT EVERY OTHER TIME. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP VERY SOON FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THIS ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11265961

Oct 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK WITH THE P LIT UP, BUT I CANNOT SHUT OFF MY CAR. A MESSAGE COMES ON THE SCREEN THAT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK THEN PUSH OFF. IT CONTINUES TO RUN UNTIL I TAKE IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN.

NHTSA ODI 11265639

Oct 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, A WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE SHIFTER READS PARK AND SO DOES THE DASH. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF OR LOCKED WITH THIS MESSAGE APPEARING. IT REQUIRES TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF, MOVING SHIFTER IN AND OUT OF PARK, JIGGLING SHIFTER BUTTONS, ETC. THIS CAN TAKE ONE TRY OR MULTIPLE TRIES. I JUST HAD THIS FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP (REPLACED SHIFT CONTROL) AND WAS DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AFFECTING MANY VEHICLES AND IT IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OWNER TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSE IF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. THE SHIFTER RUNS THE POWER TRAIN! WHY IS THIS NOT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? NOW, IN RESEARCHING, I'M SEEING THAT MANY HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUE HAS BEEN "FIXED". DEALER TECH NOTES TSB 19-NA-206 IN HIS REPORT.

NHTSA ODI 11265360

Oct 1, 2019

ONE DAY MY CAR STARTED TELLING ME SHIFT TO PARK WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED IT BECAME WORSE AND WORSE. RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT SHUTTING OFF. PUTTING IT INTO GEAR AND BACK TO PARK WAS NOT HELPING. THE LAST TIME IT TOOK NEARLY 30 MINUTES BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AS IT KEPT STARING SHIFT TO PARK. CAR WAS NOT MOVING HAD ONLY GONE WITHIN CITY LIMITS WITH MAX SPEEDS OF 45MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11265447

Sep 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN SHUTTING THE ACADIA OFF IT PROMPTS A MESSAGE SAYING MUST BE IN PARK. IT IS IN PARK BUT COMPUTER IS NOT RECOGNIZING IT. THIS FORCES YOU TO LEAVE CAR RUNNING. IF YOU DONT THEN YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. WHEN SPEAKING TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY ARE AWARE OF ISSUE BUT DONT KNOW ANYTHING TO RESOLVE IT. CUSTOMERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11258361

Sep 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR WARNS TO PUT IN PARK WHEN IT IS IN PARK. DEALER FIXED IT A YEAR AGO AND IT HAS STARTED AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11258432

Sep 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESSING THE ENGINE OFF BUTTON, I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE BEEPS AND WILL NOT TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL, BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO PRESS START AGAIN AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REGISTER THAT IS IN PARK AND ALLOW ME TO SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE IN PARK WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK. I DO NOT WANT IT TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED IT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ELECTRICAL AND KILL MY BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11258153

Sep 24, 2019

THE VEHICLE WOULD DISPLAY A DASHBOARD WARNING "SHIFT TO PARK." EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO "PARK" THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REGISTER THAT IT WAS IN PARK. THIS WOULD PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING TURNED OFF. A DRIVER WOULD THINK THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AND TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REGISTER IT WAS IN PARK AND WOULD DISPLAY A WARNING ON THE DASH "SHIFT TO PARK." YOU WOULD THEN HAVE TO SHIFT BACK AND FORTH, FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE AND THEN BACK INTO PARK FOR THE VEHICLE TO FINALLY REGISTER IT WAS IN PARK. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND SITTING ANYWHERE YOU WOULD PARK THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11257619

Sep 24, 2019

WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF I RECEIVE THE MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK. THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK AND I HAVE TO SHIFT MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE CAR TO REGISTER IT AS PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11257635

Sep 17, 2019

WHEN I TRY TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF IT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. MY VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN PARK AND I CANNOT SHUT IT OFF. IT JUST CONTINUES DO DING AS WELL AND I CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11256286

Sep 13, 2019Engine

WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM DRIVER OR REVERSE INTO PARK MY CAR ISN'T REGISTERING THAT I SHIFTED TO PARK AND IF GIVING ME THE MESSAGE OF 'SHIFT TO PARK'. I HAD TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE THAT MY CAR WAS IN PARK AND SO I COULD TURN OFF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11255223

Sep 12, 2019Electrical system

WHEN PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESSING THE ENGINE OFF BUTTON, I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE BEEPS AND WILL NOT TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL, BUT THE CARE IS ALREADY IN PARK. I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO PRESS START AGAIN AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REGISTER THAT IS IN PARK AND ALLOW ME TO SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE IN PARK WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK. I DO NOT WANT IT TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED IT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ELECTRICAL AND KILL MY BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11255015

Sep 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE STATES "ACTION REQUIRED - SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS IN PARK. ACCESSORIES STAY ON AND VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDS WARNING CHIME. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS SHIFTED TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11254619

Sep 11, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, "ACTION REQUIRED, SHIFT TO PARK" APPEARED AND A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF, THE BEEPING NOISE CONTINUED. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING NOISE AND INDICATOR TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. BUDD BAER AUTO (71 MURTLAND AVE, WASHINGTON, PA 15301, 724-914-6670) WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11254738

Sep 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A WARNING THAT THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. THE CAR THEN WON'T TURN OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI 11254470

Sep 7, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE SHOWS A WARNING WITH A BELL TONE 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHEN THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. IT STOPS ONLY AFTER WIGGLING GEAR SHIFTER NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11253803

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Working with the data? Download all 389 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 2018 GMC Acadia Limited verdict →