2018 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Gmc ACADIA has 521 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: when you put the shifter in park it does not recognize & cabin alarm starts to beep. the vehicle will also leave its headlights on overnight & drain your battery. took to dealer and they couldn't do anything about it. it's been 2 weeks and no letter of resolution from manufacturer as the dealer sai. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 17 crash reports 25 injuries

521

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

159 complaints

31%

• WHEN YOU PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE & CABIN ALARM STARTS TO BEEP. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO LEAVE ITS HEADLIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT & DRAIN YOUR BATTERY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS AND NO LETTER OF RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER AS THE DEALER SAI
• WHEN I PUT THE IN PARK, IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY ENGAGED. THE CONSOLE DISPLAYS TELLS ME TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND BEEPS. I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL TO PARK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT RECOGNIZES THE VEHICLE IN ENGAGED IN PARK. THIS HAS BEEN HA
• I FINANCED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY 2018 THROUGH A GMC DEALERSHIP. IT IS JANUARY 2019 I STARTED GETTING ALERTS ONCE I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. THE WARNING ALERTS STATED ON THE DASHBOARD "ACTION REQUIRED -SHIFT TO PARK-" EVEN THOUGH IT IS IS PARK. THE ALERT IS LOUD AND WILL NOT GO OFF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“WHEN YOU PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE & CABIN ALARM STARTS TO BEEP. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO LEAVE ITS HEADLIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT & DRAIN YOUR BATTERY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS AND NO LETTER OF RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER AS THE DEALER SAI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

115 complaints

22%

• EXPLODED SUNROOF - THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHEN I WAS NOT IN THE CAR. I HEARD THE GLASS FALLING IN TO THE SUN SHADE WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR. TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS TO RECOGNIZE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOUND WAS. NO ROCKS, NO SIGN OF ANYTHING FALLING ON THE ROOF TO DAMAGE. THE GLASS APPEARED TO BE PUSH
• WATER LEAKING IN THREW BACK WINDOWS, SIDE WALLS , WATER COMING IN THERE PLASTIC IN DOORS BOTH FRONT AND BACK, WATER COMING IN BACK UP UNDER HEAD LINER. THIS ALL HAPPENING AFTER RAINFALL AND THE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVE. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2018 OFF SHOW
• GMC ACADIA "SHIFT TO PARK". THE SUVS FAIL TO DETECT WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED TO PARK. THE DASH BOARD SHOWA A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS THAT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVERS ARE ALREADY IN PARK. IN ADDITION TO LOSING THE ABILITY TO SHUT OFF AND LOCK THE SU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“EXPLODED SUNROOF - THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHEN I WAS NOT IN THE CAR. I HEARD THE GLASS FALLING IN TO THE SUN SHADE WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR. TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS TO RECOGNIZE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOUND WAS. NO ROCKS, NO SIGN OF ANYTHING FALLING ON THE ROOF TO DAMAGE. THE GLASS APPEARED TO BE PUSH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

108 complaints

21%

• I PURCHASED THE WIRELESS CHARGER. I RECEIVED THE GM DOCUMENT STATING WHAT VERSION OF PHONE I NEEDED FOR THE CHARGER TO WORK. I PURCHASED A PHONE AND THE CHARGER DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER RESEARCHED THE PHONE AND THERE ARE ONLY SPECIFIC MODELS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR THAT WORK FOR THE CHARGE
• THE SERVICE STABILTRAK NOTIFCATION KEEPS COMING ON AND SHUTTING OFF ON ITS OWN WHILE IN MOTION ON A STREET AND IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND SEVERAL TIMES WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE DRIVING.THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY AND IT DOESN'T SHOW IT EVE
• "TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2018 GMC ACADIA BEEN HAVING IT SINCE JULY 2018. TODAY I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED TO THE BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF BUT IN THE DASH IT WAS DINGING AND SAID "SHIFT INTO PARK". I TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD SHUT ALL T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I PURCHASED THE WIRELESS CHARGER. I RECEIVED THE GM DOCUMENT STATING WHAT VERSION OF PHONE I NEEDED FOR THE CHARGER TO WORK. I PURCHASED A PHONE AND THE CHARGER DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER RESEARCHED THE PHONE AND THERE ARE ONLY SPECIFIC MODELS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR THAT WORK FOR THE CHARGE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

32 complaints

• 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
• 1* PURCHASED MARCH 2018 (ACADIA DENALI) SINCE AUGUST 2018 IN MOTION WHEN I ACCELERATE IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOUD LAWNMOWER & CRACKLING SOUND IN REAR MUFFLER AREA. TOOK IT CHEVY PLACE IN GLENPOOL, OK. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. 2* ON 2 OCCASSIONS, IN MOTION, THE CAR ACCELERATED WITH A LOUD NOISE & AS
• "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR 90% OF THE TIME WHEN I ATTEMPT TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. IT IS IN PARK AND IT'S NOT RECOGNIZED AS BEING IN PARK. IT CAN TAKE ME ANYWHERE FROM 30 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES TO JIGGLE IT THE RIGHT WAY TO GET IT TO REGISTER. PROBLEM IS UNTIL IT DOES REGISTER IN PARK I CAN'T SECURE THE VE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

23 complaints

• 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
• ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BOTH PARKED TURNED OFF AND RUNNING DOWN HIGHWAY, THE DASH LIGHTS LIT UP AND ALARMS CHIMED. CAR WOULDN'T START, NO COLD A/C. THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. CAR DIDN'T TURN AS WELL. COULDN'T SHIFT. AFTER DOING SO FOR A ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMA
• SHIFT TO PARK KNOWN ISSUE HAS STARTED. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YR. 5 MONTHS. I KNOW THERE ARE LAWSUITS ON THIS ISSUE. CONTINUOUS ISSUE AND GETTING WORSE. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM. IT IS EPIDEMIC IN THEIR ACADIAS. STATIONARY AND PUTTING IT INTO PARK. IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK! I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 521 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WHEN YOU PUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE & CABIN ALARM STARTS TO BEEP. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO LEAVE ITS HEADLIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT & DRAIN YOUR BATTERY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS AND NO LETTER OF RESOLUTION FROM MANUFACTURER AS THE DEALER SAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: EXPLODED SUNROOF - THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHEN I WAS NOT IN THE CAR. I HEARD THE GLASS FALLING IN TO THE SUN SHADE WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR. TOOK ME SEVERAL DAYS TO RECOGNIZE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SOUND WAS. NO ROCKS, NO SIGN OF ANYTHING FALLING ON THE ROOF TO DAMAGE. THE GLASS APPEARED TO BE PUSH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I PURCHASED THE WIRELESS CHARGER. I RECEIVED THE GM DOCUMENT STATING WHAT VERSION OF PHONE I NEEDED FOR THE CHARGER TO WORK. I PURCHASED A PHONE AND THE CHARGER DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER RESEARCHED THE PHONE AND THERE ARE ONLY SPECIFIC MODELS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR THAT WORK FOR THE CHARGE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)