What 374 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 GMC Acadia Limited

The vehicle intermittently fails to recognize that it has been put into park, flashing a message on the dash instructing the driver to “shift to park” even when the gear lever have already been moved to the ‘P’ position. I find it amazing that GMC even has a Service Bulletin No.: 19-NA-206 to address the situation (Intermittent Shift to Park Message Displayed While Vehicle in Park) but yet I had to pay $561.47 for the repair to ensure I don't injure my passengers and/or others.

NHTSA ODI 11492195

Shift knob stuck. Car will say shift to park after turning off car. Ended up draining battery. Needed to replace it after 34000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11490802

With the vehicle shifter in park and the dash indicating in is in park I get an error message stating to "Shift into Park." This has happened serval times in the last few weeks intermittently. I am very concerned this will strand my wife and child or lead to the vehicle unintentionally rolling away while unattended. While talking to several technicians at a GM test facility I have been told this was/is a common issue. While searching the NHTSA complaints multiple multiple complaints for this issue have bee submitted.

NHTSA ODI 11489753

Can not fuel vehicle properly. Fuel nozzle continues to shut off unless you hold it at the slowest delivery possible. This is with all stations. Dealer says fuel tank has failed internally causing this problem. Cost to repair $1500.00. 51k miles

NHTSA ODI 11489047

The middle buttons in the infotainment system do not work - only the buttons around the edges (top, left, right, bottom) work.

NHTSA ODI 11486018

Car wont shut off..displays shift to park. Had to turn car off a handful of times before i got it to turn off.

NHTSA ODI 11485461

"Steering Assist reduced drive with care" displayed on screen when I was driving. The temp gauge stayed on C, the a/c did not work and engine fan came on full blast. After a couple days of this, it went back to normal. Coolant was checked and full at correct level.

NHTSA ODI 11482101

Gmc acadia keeps flashing the lamp that says to !shift to park, when the car is in park and will not turn off. Does not go off when I turn the car off and does not go off when I reshift the car to park. It takes several trys of putting it back in park then goes off, now it does this every time I park and turn the car off. I'm not the only one with this issue. Its been going on for over week now 38k-ish miles.

NHTSA ODI 11481175

Intermittent shift to park message displays on the dash. Had to turn the automobile back on to start the engine then moved gear selector to drive then to park. At this point the message disappeared allowing me to turn off the automobile.

NHTSA ODI 11477070

The Shift to Park warning message when shifter is already in park shows up on the dash information center. The gear assembly is not working properly, and the artificial intelligence does not recognize park when you are in park. You cannot turn the car off without repetitive turning car off and on and shifting back and forth between drive and park. I was going to live with this aggravation due to costly repair ($656.67), but I went online and found that the car may roll forward if it is not fixed in a timely manner and you don't know if it is in park causing danger if it rolls. Others say put the emergency brake on always. This is a safety issue. Jim Ellis said to bring it to your attention and also write a letter to GMC Corp. I also noted that there is a lawsuit against GMC as they have profited selling the Acadia with this defective gear assembly since 2012. This is the second generation 2017-2019 with the same safety issue problem. Also, you have to replace the battery due to the excessive usage it drains the battery ($219.12)

NHTSA ODI 11476670

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park(P) however, the "Shift to Park" message was displayed. The contact shifted the gear shifter back and forth and then shifted into park(P) before the proper gear was recognized. The failure caused the battery to drain. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469380

When parking the suv and placing the gear shift in park, the notification system states “shift to park”. This has been happening daily for the last 3 weeks. Sometimes I can get the notification to go away when I push the button on the gear shift. Other times, I have to cut the car off and then back on for it to clear the notification.

NHTSA ODI 11468976

When parking the suv and placing the gear shift in park, the notification system states “shift to park”. This has been happening daily for the last 3 weeks. Sometimes I can get the notification to go away when I push the button on the gear shift. Other times, I have to cut the car off and then back on for it to clear the notification.

NHTSA ODI 11467608

'Shift to Park' appears on the dashboard after the vehicle is turned off and in Park. This issue can deplete the battery. The problem was confirmed by the dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11465904

After vehicle is shifted into Park, "Shift into Park" message comes up. It requires you to restart vehicle, put in R, back into Park, sometimes jiggle the button, sometimes the entire shifter, sometimes drive around the block and start the process again. The message does not go away even if you exit the vehicle. 2017 Acadia had a recall for same issue, 2 years later still occurring but no recall. The repair is $600! GM offering nothing. Needs to be a recall, if you have an appointment it is sometimes 10-15 minutes of messing with the shifter ro driving around until you can shut your car off. I have been carrying tools and just disconnecting the battery if it won't shut off. Can't be 10-15 minutes late for work every day waiting for my car to agree it is actually in Park!

NHTSA ODI 11465218

Vehicle has had a hard shift since 15000 miles, always told at dealership it was normal. At 87493 my check engine light came on and code P2097-00- I was told it was that I had a bad battery and GM would not provide me one. Light was reset. Now at 98000 miles, shifting harder (automatic) like a jolt and vibrates going up hill- told I needed transmission fluid changed, this did nothing. This was confirmed by dealership prior to fluid change and then the dealership would not set up another appointment. Had this confirmed also by an independent service center. Occasionally a light will come on to say shift into park, despite being in park. No other messages related to this.

NHTSA ODI 11458936

My vehicle would not turn completely off, I would have to start it about ten times before the warning sounds and the yellow light on the ignition switch would go off. I took my Acadia to Rod Hatfield Chevrolet Lexington, KY. I was told that there was an internal short with the transmission shifter, the shifter and harness would need to be replaced. considering that I purchased this vehicle new, and it has 39,793 miles I feel like it should have been covered under the warranty however, it cost me $903.3. I have an open case with GMC who suggested that I contact you to see if my Vehicle Identification Number could be added to for recall.

NHTSA ODI 11457811

Intermittent Shift to Park Message Displayed While Vehicle in Park, as detailed in NHTSA Bulletin 19-NA-206.

NHTSA ODI 11453770

The headlights barely light up enough roadway to be of any use at night. Obviously can't drive with high beams constant. The only help is to use the fog/driving lights. However, that only lights up about 30 feet in front of the vehicle. Driving at night is hazardous to one's health as you cannot see far enough down the road to avoid anything that is imminent on the side of the road, you can not see to avoid anything on the side. PLEASE HELP. Also, the manual is explicit about not using aftermarket headlamp bulbs to try to correct the problem.

NHTSA ODI 11451392

2019 Acadia will be shifted into park and parking break applied. Vehicle will then be turned off. When opening the door a message appears on the dash stating "Place vehicle into Park". It takes multiple times of turning on the car, Shifting into another gear, then shifting back to park for the vehicle to realize it is in Park to allow vehicle to shut off. It has happened multiple times. We then received an email from on-star there is a diagnostic code SAC001 (Battery Service) needs to be addressed. This is unacceptable for a vehicle to be this new and have electrical issues.

NHTSA ODI 11450955

Can not see at night with low or high beams. Lights are very poor and dim. Transmission always feels like it's slipping( 50,000 miles ). Shifts hard.

NHTSA ODI 11450856

I’m not sure but a warning came on that said steering assist reduced drive with care and my temperature gage and AC weren’t working all of a sudden when it happened

NHTSA ODI 11450086

Once vehicle is in park and ignition is shut off, a message will show to "shift in park" when it is in park. When this message appears, it takes several times to shift the car back and forth in order for it to register that it is in park. This occurs occasionally...sometimes more frequent than other times. It just did it today and it hadn't done it in a couple of weeks. The vehicle will not turn completely off or lock until you can get the stick to register it is in park. Sometimes it takes me a second to get the message to go away, other times it takes several mins. Really aggravating! These models are not cheap. This has occurred for well over a year now. I purchased the car November 2019.

NHTSA ODI 11446638

I purchased my vehicle brand new off the truck in march of 2020 with zero miles on it. Feb 2021 in negative degree weather, the heat on my vehicle stopped working. I called my local GM dealership and they told me they needed to diagnosed the vehicle. They had kept my vehicle for two weeks trying to diagnose the vehicle. It turned out to be the thermostat. they replaced that part on my vehicle. Now Dec 2021 I again have experienced the same problem this time it was in a blizzard. Dealership told me it cant be the same problem, however it will be another two weeks before they can get my vehicle in for service and do not have a loaner vehicles for use. I purchased a new vehicle with warranty as I have two small children and am currently pregnant.

NHTSA ODI 11443098

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed however the vehicle failed to increase in speed and started to jerk. The “service stability track” warning message was displayed. The failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to an auto store where there were no codes reported by the diagnostic tool. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,600.

NHTSA ODI 11442872