What 389 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Acadia Limited

The vehicle has experienced repeated electrical and engine-related malfunctions, including random engine shutdowns while driving and random no-start conditions. The thermostat and cooling system failed and were replaced in 2024. Multiple sensors have failed. The braking system remains noisy even after brake replacement. The lane detection safety system does not provide audible alerts. The vehicle is currently operational and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle has randomly shut off while driving on both highways and city roads in Azle, Texas. This occurred while my two children were in the vehicle. When the engine shut off, there was a risk of losing power steering and braking assist, which could have caused an accident, especially at highway speeds and in traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The thermostat and cooling system failure were confirmed and repaired by a service center in 2024. Electrical and sensor issues have occurred repeatedly but have not been fully diagnosed or resolved. Brake noise persists despite replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? UNKNOWN. The vehicle has been serviced by repair facilities, but the manufacturer has not provided a definitive diagnosis for the engine shutdown and electrical failures. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure? When did they first appear? Yes. Various warning lights and symptoms appeared prior to failures, including cooling system warnings and sensor alerts. Electrical issues and battery failures have occurred repeatedly, with batteries lasting only 2–3 years. Symptoms began after purchase and have continued throughout ownership. Additional details The brakes have been noisy even after replacement, and the lane detection system does not produce audible warni

NHTSA ODI 11716369

Shifting to park and vehicle stating the vehicle is not in park, won't let me turn the vehicle off. Transmission going out, brought to many shops letting me know that the transmission is not working properly but won't give an engine light if anything is wrong with vehicle, Wont show on readers what is wrong with vehicle. Electrical, Doors will automatically lock and unlock most times lock and locks me in the vehicle having me have to climb through the windows and having to leave my windows open or locks me out the vehicle and can only get in by climbing in the trunk. Testing has been done and brought to GM to figure out the issue, and they replace the computer in it but still has the problem. I have had shops tell me these are all huge issues that needs to have a recall because my vehicle is not the only GMC Acadia that does all this. How is any of this safe for me and my kids.

NHTSA ODI 11689335

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia C1. The contact stated that his wife was parking in the driveway and upon shifting into the park gear, the vehicle sensor would not register that it was in park, therefore not allowing the engine to be shut off. The contact stated that his wife proceeded to turn the vehicle on and off while continuously shifting the gears until finally placing the shifter into park, and successfully turning the vehicle's engine off. The contact noted that his wife exited the vehicle; however that moments after a loud bang could be heard, and upon inspection, the contact noticed that the vehicle rolled into the garage with the entire front bumper. No property damage was reported. The vehicle came to a stop upon impact. The vehicle was going 3 MPH at the time of the crash. The vehicle did not need to be towed. No warning lights were illuminated however, the "Shift to Park" message will display on the instrument panel. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed as the contact was advised that the vehicles VIN was not included in any open recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11673986

Sold 2018 GMC Acadia by LEE GMC in auburn. Acadias shift to park was defective, dealership replaced before sale did not disclose, shift to park and transmission malfunctions occurred. I returned Acadia to the dealership several times and they would never properly fix or address my concerns now my vehicle is unsafe to drive. I have documentation to support the claims in my letter, I can send as well if you’d like. Thank you Will send attachment

NHTSA ODI 11647553

On July 26, 2024, I was driving my 2018 Acadia, with my cruise control set to 48 in a 45 MHP zone. Nearing a bad curve, I sneezed. When this happened, I tapped the brakes to disengage the cruise control, my passengers side tires exited the road and with both hands on the wheel I tried to slowly bring my tires back to the road. However, I was unable to gain control and totaled the vehicle. A witness stated that she heard a loud pop coming from the vehicle before the wreck happened. I later learned from my insurance that the vehicle had a Recall 17V516000 on it and I was never made aware of it. I believe that this was a factor in me not being able to control the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11605906

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED REMOTELY WHILE STILL IN PARK, HOWEVER IT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE YARD ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOBODY SHOP BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,972.

NHTSA ODI 11395733

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS IN PARK. FORCES ELECTRICAL TO STAY ON, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT ENGAGE PARK SO VEHICLE CAN MOVE AS IF I'M NEUTRAL. HAS THUS FAR HAPPENED WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, BUT YOU CAN SOMETIMES SHUT OFF ENGINE AND EXIT VEHICLE WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK AND CAN ROLL AGAINST YOU, OR ON KIDS EXITING ETC. VEHICLE ROLLED IN GARAGE AND STRUCK, AND COULD HAVE CRUSHED CHILD AGAINST DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11315398

ON DECEMBER 5TH 2019, I ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK TO TAKE MY SON TO HIS DR. APT. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AROUND 10:30AM. I LEFT THE CAR ON SO MY SON WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO INTO A COLD CAR, BEING HE WAY SICK. I RAN INTO MY HOUSE WHERE MY MOTHER WAS WATCHING BOTH MY SONS. I SAID TO MY MOM, LET ME USE THE RESTROOM QUICKLY BEFORE I GET HIS COAT ON. I WAS NO MORE THAN 2 MINS. AS I STEPPED OUT THE BATHROOM, I HEAR MY HUSBAND SCREAMING FROM UP STAIRS THE CAR IS ON FIRE! HE COMES RUNNING DOWN THERE STAIRS AS FAST AS HE CAN, ALMOST INJURING HIMSELF BECAUSE HE DIDN'T SEE ME YET AND THOUGHT I WAS IN THE CAR! HE THEN SEES ME AND GRABS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE RUNS OUTSIDE TO TRY AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE..AS I CALLED THE FRANKLIN SQUARE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND 911. BUT IN UNDER THE 5 MINS THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES! WE HAD TO THEN EVACUATE THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE GARAGE IS AN ATTACHED GARAGE AND THE CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE GARAGE. MY POOR KIDS WERE FRIGHTENED FOR THEIR LIFE AS WE RUSHED THEM OUT THE HOUSE AS THEIR MOMMYS CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES..THEY WERE CRYING THEIR EYES OUT IN FEAR. THE FIRE CAUGHT ONTO THE TREE ON THE FRONT LAWN AS WELL AS DESTROYING THE GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY. I CRIED EXTENSIVELY THINKING OF THE WHAT IFS...WHAT IF I PUT MY SON AND I DIRECTLY INTO THE CAR, WITHOUT USING THE RESTROOM THAT DAY. WHAT IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS A DEATH TRAP THAT ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. WE FOUND THAT THEIR HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE GMC ACADIA FOR THE 2017-2018 EDITIONS. I HAVING A 2018, WHERE WAS MY NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL? WHERE WAS MY LETTER..EMAIL..CALL FROM GM? I HAVE NUMEROUS FRIENDS THE RECOMMEND THE GMC ACADIA AS A GREAT FAMILY CAR. THEY ARE ALL NOW SCARED TO DEATH BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. NON FEEL SAFE USING THEIR VEHICLE NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11289836

IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY 401 NORTH ONTARIO CANADA, THE VEHICLE ERRATICALLY INCREASED SPEED AND BRAKES WERE NOIR EFFECTIVE, LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED A MASSIVE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MULTIPLE CARS AND RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES. *DT

NHTSA ODI 11191133

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A PARTITION AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CHEST PAIN, ANOTHER OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A CUT ON THE HEAD, AND THE OTHER TWO OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FRACTURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. .*BF .*BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11190983