2018 Gmc ACADIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
392 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 179 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 151 of 392 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 100 | 25.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 16.3% |
| Braking behavior | 29 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 151 |
| Unknown Or Other | 117 |
| Electrical System | 106 |
| Engine | 32 |
| Steering | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 9 |
Power Train: 151; Unknown Or Other: 117; Electrical System: 106; Engine: 32; Steering: 24; Service Brakes: 21; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 84 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 84; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (84). 213 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 84 |
| 2020 | 61 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 39 |
| 2025 | 74 |
| 2026 | 36 |
2018: 9; 2019: 84; 2020: 61; 2021: 29; 2022: 30; 2023: 30; 2024: 39; 2025: 74; 2026: 36
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 100 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11111356 · 2018-07-14 (July 14, 2018)
FRONT SEATS FEEL LOOSE AND LIKE THEY SHIFT. WHEN THEY SHIFT AND MOVE A POPPING NOISE IS HEARD. THE SHIFTING AND POPPING NOISE HAPPENS IN AND OUT OF CORNERS, GOING OVER DRIVEWAY/PARKING LOT APRONS. THE SENSATION IS UNPLEASANT AND IRRITATING. HAVE SPOKEN TO DEALER AND AUTO BODY SHOP. ASSOCIATES CLAIM SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTING WITH YUKON'S. DOES GMC HAVE A SEATING PROBLEM OR RECURRING DEFECT?
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194785 · 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)
"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 THE WAY OFF. IT HAS DOWN IT EVERY TIME I WENT TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TODAY. COULDN'T LEAVE IT AT WORK IN THE PARKING LOT LIKE THAT SO I HAD TO KEEP TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF AND SHIFTING IT INTO REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK UNTIL IT SHUT OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11110057 · 2018-07-07 (July 7, 2018)
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 SAID.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11110057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11216930 · 2019-05-30 (May 30, 2019)
"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 VEHICLE. AND IT DINGS NONSTOP DRAINING THE BATTERY. I UNDERSTAND GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DOESN'T HAVE A FIX. IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION IN MY OPINION. I'M STUCK IN A LEASE PAYING FOR A CAR THAT ISN'T SAFE FOR ME. IT JUST STARTED 6 DAYS AGO AND HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,754 miles reported. Look up ODI 11216930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11190983 · 2019-03-22 (March 22, 2019)
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 MANUFACTUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11190983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191133 · 2019-03-23 (March 23, 2019)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11191133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222601 · 2019-06-25 (June 25, 2019)
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 NORMAL. THE ATTACHED PHOTO WAS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD YOU'LL NOTICE IT DOESN'T MEASURE ANY RPM'S HOWEVER THE CAR IS MOVING ABOUT 40MPH
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180959 · 2019-02-18 (February 18, 2019)
MY ACADIA STALLS DURING ACCELERATION USUALLY WHILE GOING ABOUT 40-50 MPH AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ITS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
Owner-reported narrative. 24,985 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252624 · 2019-08-31 (August 31, 2019)
FIRST OF ALL, THIS ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED BY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF GMC ACADIA OWNERS. I RECEIVED THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE MONTHS AGO WHILE IT STILL WAS UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL LAST WEEK. I GOT A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN THE SHIFT POSITION. THIS CAUSED A NUMBER OF SECONDARY ISSUES THAT ARE NOW COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE I AM ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AFTER IT DRAINS OR KILLS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I AM GETTING A NUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11649181 · 2025-03-19 (March 19, 2025)
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the reduced engine power message was displayed. The RPM increased to high, and the engine revved. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was no…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11649181 at NHTSA ↗