7.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$470
Average Mileage:
31,050 miles
Total Complaints:
25 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (18 reports)
  2. replace transmission control assemby (2 reports)
  3. replaced shift cable and control module (2 reports)
  4. install new wiring harness (1 reports)
  5. replace gear box (1 reports)
  6. replace the shifter harness (1 reports)
2018 GMC Acadia transmission problems

transmission problem

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2018 GMC Acadia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Mar 022022

Acadia SLE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,933 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was told by my mechanic that a Chevrolet dealer would fix it free. I took it to my GMC dealer (Simpsons GMC Buena Park California) and they charged me $630 dollars. Why would a Chevrolet dealer fix it but a GMC dealer where I bought it would not?

I had to get if fixed because the beeping would not turn off after shutting down the engine. It would beep all night and run the battery down if we didn't get it fixed. GMC knows about this problem. Why can some dealers deal with it and others can't?

- Dehlin G., Brea, CA, US

problem #24

Sep 012019

Acadia SLT V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,861 miles

Can not shift into park without several attempts. This is exasperating setting in in a public parking lot having to restart several times before I can park my vehicle and exit without the ding, ding like it is still not in park. My SUV only had 13 miles when I drove it off the dealer lot. WE paid cash on that day and I feel we need some assistance until this problem is corrected. I have been told that the part is on back order. WE are planning to take a trip in a couple of weeks and we do not want to drive more than 500 miles and have issues. I understand that UAW are on strike, which is not my problem, this SUV was purchased after recommendations from friends and ratings.

- Helen S., Nashville, TN, US

problem #23

Sep 102019

Acadia Denali Awd

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,500 miles

I stop the car and put it in Park. When I shut the car off it says it is not in Park. I start it and move it slowly to drive and then back to Park. I shut the car off and it says the same thing to put the car in park. I shake, hit, and restart a dozen times to get it into park. I had to leave it on in park while I brought my daughter into school. I'm sure this is not good for my battery.

- Kristine G., Chelmsford, US

problem #22

Jul 172021

Acadia Denali 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,203 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I think there should have been a re-call for this problem. This was the second time I have had the vehicle in for the same problem. Once on factory warranty, then on extended warranty that cost me not only time, but also $100. GMC don"t want to do anything about it. They offered coupons that you would problem never use. NOT HAPPY.

- zambarano, North Providence, US

problem #21

Nov 102019

Acadia Denali 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

I see this problem all over the internet and GMC doesn't have a fix.

- gdavisfrontiergd, Meadview, US

problem #20

Feb 012020

Acadia All Terain

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Bought 50k car and I have issues at 20k miles. I'm not looking forward to the next shoe drop. When the car doesn't recognize you're in park and rolls off, hitting something, GMC will pay.

- Douglas H., Sterling, CT, US

problem #19

Jan 282020

Acadia SLE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,856 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am taking my Acadia tomorrow to get them to look at it. I'm reading that this is a major issue... GM needs to get serious and recall this vehicle, before a Cobalt fiasco happens.

- Melissa F., POWDERLY, TX, US

problem #18

Feb 172020

Acadia ELS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

click to see larger images

Started last night. Pulled into my driveway and put it in park. Got the error message after shutting off the car. I then turn it back on and shift to drive and back to park, four times, before it finally registered it was in park. Didn't think much of it. Drive to work and again the same thing but worse! I call the dealership and I'm told that since my warranty expired at 36k miles its not covered to fix but it is a KNOWN issue and no recall has been made because it doesn't happen to ALL Acadia's.

Are you freaking kidding me?!? I'm at 42k miles and you won't cover a KNOWN problem?!? Needless to say I am contacting an attorney! With this many complaints something needs to be done!! It's not considered a drive/power train issue because it's electrical! I am beyond livid! Contact me if you would like to work with me in a class action lawsuit! awindsor872@gmail.com

- Amanda P., Conroe, TX, US

problem #17

May 062020

Acadia

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Dropped my 2018 GMC Acadia off this morning for the SECOND time to have the shift to park problem fixed...or so I hope! It was supposedly fixed six months ago at the dealership. Started having the same problem last week again, only this time I have to repeatedly turn the car back on, put it in reverse and SLAM it to park. It happens every single time I go to turn the car off. I am ready for this to get corrected by GMC once and for all. This should not be happening in a two year old vehicle!!

- Jennifer C., Jonesboro, US

problem #16

Apr 192020

Acadia 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,120 miles

It was hard to get the shift to park indicator to go off. Had to play with it for 10 - 30 mins to get it to go off. Took it to the dealer to replace the shiftier harness for $282.88. This item should’ve been covered under power train warranty or my extended warranty. More importantly, many people have had this problem so it should be a recall.

- Lorie B., Baltimore, US

problem #15

Jul 152020

Acadia Denali

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,486 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When parking my vehicle and putting in park, don't expect an action required to turn off my vehicle, have to turn on the vehicle and attempt many times to manipulate the wheel or change to reverse then park to get the vehicle to turn off. Very annoying and most of the time, I don't have time for this. Will not get another Acadia!

- Theresa M., Bainbridge, US

problem #14

Apr 052021

Acadia SLT 1 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

Our 2018 Acadia SLT1 has a known issue with the park shift message that won't let me turn off the car. GMC dealer, Coulter Cad/GMC, made the repair in 7/2019 and now 4/2021, 20K miles later, the same problem and they tell me the work they performed isn't guaranteed. I find GM issued a tech bulletin in 2018, TSB PIT5616A, relating to this problem and what they needed to do to fix it, however, here I am again unable to lock my car and getting the same message. The dealer, Coulter Cadillac, GMC in Tempe AZ says it's not in warranty. How many times do I need to get something fixed. This will be the 3rd shifter set for our 2018 Acadia. Reference GMC service bulletin TSB PIT5616A. HELP!!!

- Steve F., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #13

Oct 022020

Acadia Denali V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Shift to Park issue occurred numerous times and reported by many other users.

- Barton R., Papillion, US

problem #12

Mar 012021

Acadia Denali 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,500 miles

In June 2020, my car would not fully shut off after I parked and pressed the button. It beeped 1,000 times saying "Shift to Park." We messed with the gear shifter a while but it would not budge. We ended up taking the vehicle to the dealer where it was fixed under warranty.

Well, now its March 2021, my vehicle has passed its bumper to bumper warranty.The problem came back and GMC is trying to charge me 500$ to fix the issue. They claim the TSB has two parts but they only did one. If the first part fails, they go for the second. An auto manufacturer that has been designing vehicles for 100 years cannot design a gear shift assembly unit. Just remember that when you buy another car.

Very odd that GM is not forced to recall this issue. Almost seems like Toyota is the only company forced to do recalls. Absolutely love my car, but this problem is very big. The car refuses to shut off so the battery dies. You restart the motor and move the shifter 100 times placing wear and tear on the vehicles motor units. Ends up being a waste of time.

- hamdee, Oak Lawn, US

problem #11

Apr 302021

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,400 miles

It’s scary, aggravating, annoying, worrisome, and I'm not sure what to do when it's happening. Should be a recall!

- tomblin, Harts, US

problem #10

Jul 042020

Acadia SLT-2 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,400 miles

click to see larger images

I just bought this 2018 Acadia with 26k On July 3rd, 2020 and on the 2nd day this park issue started giving me problems. I am planning on going back to the dealership I purchased it from (Honda world) not a GMC dealer and ask them to buy it back from me and give me back my down payment. Wish me luck :)

- dlstevenson, El Dorado, US

problem #9

May 012020

Acadia SLT-1 3.6L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

This problem was very annoying, but I don't know how unsafe the vehicle was to drive. The problem occurred when you would put it in park but it would not allow you to turn it off. I had to take it back to the GMC dealer a 2nd time because the first "fix" did nothing.

If this is a known design flaw which is causing a safety issue with the owner not being able to leave a parking lot, GMC should step up and recall the issue.

- Eric A., Hilliard, OH, US

problem #8

Nov 012019

Acadia SLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

The problem seems to be like everyone else. When you park and shift to park and turn off the car you get a message that you need to shift to park. I have to shift back and forth several times before it thinks the car is in park. If the car is not in park it stays on and drains the battery. Once I got the car back from the dealership after about a week the problem is still occurring.

- blacksuntzu, Severn, MD, US

problem #7

Jan 012020

Acadia V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Tried to park the other day and put my 2018 Acadia into park and pushed the off button....it kept dinging, the lights stayed on - inside & out and I got out and tried to lock it...and it wouldn't lock. The message said "shift to park" - well it was in park, but wouldn't turn off all the way. I started it back up and pushed the off button again....samething happened. I kept starting it, putting it in drive and reverse and back to park and it still didn't turn off. After sitting in my car...because I couldn't leave it dinging like that with all the lights on, I googled SHIFT TO PARK and saw the lawsuit and various videos on how other people dealt with the same problem. So the next day when I parked at work of course it did the samething and I jiggled the gear shift and it eventually made the message disappear and all the lights went out. Very annoying not being able to get out of your car when your ready to. This car is practically new and its doing this?! I started loving this car, but not now!

- Carmen W., Saint Louis, MO, US

problem #6

Sep 022019

Acadia SL1 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

When I put car in park and shut it off, it dings and flashes shift car to park. I have to turn car back on put car in lowest gear it will go in and then put it in park again. Not sure what the problem is but seems like computer is not recognizing the park mode.

- Esther E., Deltona, US

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