general problems of the 2018 GMC Acadia - part 1

When I put the car in park and shut off the vehicle, I am getting a shift to park message with an audible sound. The car is in park already. Happens every time almost. It’s not showing up as a recall under my VIN. Just got the car. I have seen more recall issues on google and am concerned those will also occur which are more serious and aren’t listed either.

Vehicle warning light, and noise alerts when placing in park. Vehicle does not register parked. Vehicle has to be restarted several times and shifter moved in and out of park until registers as parked. When viewed by mechanic, it was stated there has been a recall to contact manufacturer about recall, but none noted on site.

Dear general motors customer assistance center, I am writing to formally file a complaint and request assistance regarding a serious mechanical failure with my 2018 GMC Acadia slt. I purchased this vehicle when it had approximately 7,000 miles on it after it was transported from florida. Since owning the vehicle, I have properly maintained it and had it serviced through suttle motors dealership in newport news, virginia. Recently, while driving on the highway to have tires installed, the vehicle suddenly stalled while I was in traffic. This caused a very dangerous situation, as traffic behind me was forced to abruptly slow down and I was nearly rear-ended due to the sudden loss of power. Because the vehicle was no longer drivable, I had it towed to suttle motors for inspection. After examining the vehicle, the service department informed me of the following issue: “the transmission solenoid valve is stuck and it has burnt the transmission fluid. The vehicle will require a full transmission replacement. The estimated cost is $7,769 with a 3-year/100,000-mile warranty. ” I was extremely shocked and disappointed to receive this news. My vehicle currently has only 67,000 miles, and I have taken care to maintain it properly through the dealership. Experiencing a complete transmission failure at such relatively low mileage is very concerning, especially considering the dangerous situation it created on the highway. Given the circumstances, I am requesting that general motors review this matter and advise whether any goodwill assistance, repair support, or coverage options may be available to help resolve this issue. I would greatly appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. I can provide service records and documentation from suttle motors if needed. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

2018 Acadia denali with less than 50,000 miles on the vehicle. Had to replace the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat. Less than 30 days later. The check engine light came on and the code was coolant temperature sensor and thermostat. Code p0128$07e8.

I continue to get a message "steering assist is reduced drive with care " this appears to be a very common issue with my vehicle model. It is very expensive to fix. I am just outside of warranty so it is not covered. Online indicates this is so common. It is the vehicle thermostat and sensor prematurely going bad.

I have owned this vehicle less than 5 years and it has had the "shift to park" error 3 times and has now been replaced 3 times. The 2nd time was in August 2023 and yesterday it had to be replaced again. I don't understand how a part can fail this rapidly when the vehicle is only being driven approximately 10,000 miles per year. It only has 82,445 miles. I would like for gm to issue a recall for this issue or advise who the manufacturer is of the switch part number 84955381 and harness part number 84733196. The parts are not that expensive but the labor to replace was $ 462. 50 and total parts was $ 55. 56 on the invoice yesterday. As this is an ongoing issue I would like reimbursement. I am widowed and living on one income.

My Acadia has the shift to park default it has been fixed 3 times and now it is popping up again for the 4th time which means I can't turn my vehicle off it takes forever to get it to go off please help please help.

My 2018 GMC Acadia has had the "shift t park" alarm and indicator going off after my car is turned off and in "park" it only happens intermittently, but frequently enough to be annoying. The dealer and gm told me because my VIN wasn't in their recall range, they would not honor the recall. This has been happening since I purchased the car in 2018.

Battery saver ignited comes on and and the entire dash flickers and turns off ! this happened in a middle of an intersection and I could move my car. We jumped it and went to the nearest auto zone replaced the battery . It was pulling 89 amps . The next day it popped up again and we replaced the alternator. Upon replacing this there was oil everywhere! and we don’t know where it is coming from . Now shift into part light comes on !.

Faulty shifter assembly (shift to park) car stays on while in park because of this issue.

The shift to park notification keeps coming on everytime we go to put the car into park. It takes about five to ten minutes shifting back and forth to get the car to shut off.

My Acadia car has been having some problems with the shift to park. I put my vehicle on park and my doesn't turn off because it keeps saying that it hasn't shifted to park. Do to this issue my battery car has been draining and my family and I got locked in. I bought the car not to long ago and it's been an issue ever since its getting worse as time has past. I'm really wanting this fix as it can take hours to turn the car off.

Gear shift fails to register that it’s in fact in park position on gear shift but dash message reports “shift to park”, and warning beeping sound won’t stop and doors won’t lock. After restarting and reshifting the gears and / or pressing gear shift button up to 20 times or more until the dinging noise stops and only then can the car be locked. Everyday since 4/20/2025.

My arcadia shift to park appears when I park my car beginning to happen all the time now . Started last month and getting worst I have contacted the dealership and was told no recalls . My car is a 2018 with 34,000 miles on it . I am very disappointed with this vehicle . If you can't stand by your product I can't see myself buying another one. Thank you a very disappointed customer [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Shift to park does not complete. System warning comes on and will not turn off until I restart vehicle and redshift to park. Multiple shifts are required to allow the vehicle to accept park. This has been happening for approximately 1 years.

While car is in park, I get the "shift to park" warning after driving the vehicle.

Shift to park. Dash stating shift to park when vehicle has been put in park. Unable to turn vehicle completely off.

When in park dash still say shift to park . . . . Batteries died lights stay on staibility pops up on dash car have to be jumped then same issues.

Having shift to park warning and dinging after shifting the car into park and turning off the car. Cannot leave the vehicle. Then can’t move the shift lever so have to start the car and attempt to shift car into park again which does not always allow yu to shift to park and leave the vehicle again. If this is such an issue why is there not a recall? I have read many articles online about this issue.

My car will not recognize when it is in park. The shifter will say park but the panel says on and all accessories are staying on. It started out doing it every once in a while but now it does it nearly every day. At work I have had to just leave it like that in the parking lot to keep from being late for work and the accessories stay on. Once I had to call for a jump start after work because my battery was dead. I’m not sure if it can be stolen or not when I have to leave it like that but I don’t think it could possibly be safe. And I can’t afford to call for jump starts all the time. Thank you and please help.

I have been having issues with shift to park message for a yr now and it just gets worse and do not have the funds to pay for it myself bu5 see that it is a recall and gm is covering cost for other makes models of my same yr for same issue takes sometimes 20 minutes to mess with my shifter until I can finally park my car where it shuts completely off. This is a safety risk as 1 it could roll away if it isn't 2 my car could drain and die leaving me stranded by not turning off fully one time. This is ridiculous I called gm and all they just pushed me off I don't understand how this is not being taken serious especially knowing this is a known problem!.

Thermostat and temp sensor issue.

Roof is leaking in vehicle without reason after seals and tubing replaced. Brakes lock up without warning!.

Vehicles does not recognize when the vehicle is parked and does not allow for vehicle to shut off. Gives shift to park error. Takes several tries for vehicle to recognize it is parked. Same issue in 2020 which was repaired by GMC since vehicle was still under warranty. Now that it is out of warranty it's my responsibility.

When I try to cut my car off, it says "shift to park", but the car is in park. Sometimes you can push the gear shift up hard and it will make the light go off, but othertimes nothing works and the car stays running and you can't get out. This is an issue on lots of models and some even have recalls. Why are thy not recalled? I have to leave my car unlocked and running until it decides to turn off. Now I am stuck having to pay for this out of pocket, when GMC knows this is an issue.

Vehicle will not shift to park- the cars engine is off and will not turn on, while the car physically will not turn off. I have to move the shifter until vehicle recognized it was in park. Resulting in me getting stuck in my vehicle. Multiple reports from other owners with no fix provided by GMC.

My 2018 GMC Acadia is experiencing an issue with the "shift to park" feature. When the vehicle comes to a stop and is put into park an alert comes up on the dashboard says "shift to park" even though the car is fully parked. This keeps the vehicle from being able to be turned off. Often times this issue is not fixed by turning the car on and re-shifting to park and I have to drive the vehicle and try again. This happens over 50% of the time I try to park this vehicle.

The transmission was failing to shift and jerking me forward in the vehicle. The check engine light came on. I was on the highway going at high speeds. Also, my vehicles internet connection dropped. I pulled off the highway and turned off my vehicle. While starting my vehicle again and attempting to go into reverse, it would not reverse and it would not drive forward . It would just rev the rpms. My vehicle has been sitting at the dealer for two weeks. They have not looked at it yet. The police were not called as there was not an accident, thankfully. The warning light came on as the vehicle was failing.

Shift to park error notice comes up on dash when car it turned off and in park. Car is clearly in park, but error code “shift to park” appears on screen. Beeping occurs until car is turned off and shifted to r or d and then shifted back to park and turned off. This error happens several times a week, including twice today 6/22/24. I have to restart my vehicle and shift it to r or d then back to park several times before the error is cleared.

Car has started displaying a "shift vehicle into park" message when I have put the car in park. Even though the care is clearly in park this warning displays and I'm unable to turn the vehicle completely off. Have re restart and mess with the shifter several times in order to be able to turn the vehicle off and lock the doors.

Gm has acknowledged that there is a "shift to park" problem with 2017 and 2018 GMC Acadia's. This design flaw/ part failure does not recognize that the vehicle is actually in "park" so you cannot shut off the engine. In addition, the dash lights remain on which eventually drains the battery. Sometimes the car will roll as if it's in neutral. Gm is very aware of this problem. However, they do not have a permanent solution. Gm should be required to issue a nationwide recall to correct the situation by totally disabling the electronic part. In six years of ownership, I've encountered this problem 3 times: 5-14-19, mileage 13,266, 1-27-21, mileage 29,381and most recently 5-30-24, mileage 65,057. This 3rd repair cost me $721. 88.

Shift to park warning when I’m in park when I turn off vehicle.

Shift to park alert popping up on. Car will not turn off.

We purchased this vehicle new in 2018. Gear shift problem. The vehicle displays a persistent “shift to park” warning on the dashboard. This usually occurs even when the gear selector is in the “park” position and I have difficulty in turning off the vehicle. The ignition remains active despite the gear selector being in “park. ” we have to go through all the gears - drive - neutral then park then try to turn it off over and over. May take 5 or 6 tries before I can leave the car safely. Unintended vehicle movement: we believe the car is safely in the “park” position and have exited the car and then it rolled. We have to jump back in and try to turn it off. I'm in my 60s and husband in 70s and this is causing us injuries. It rolled one time and hit the handicap parking sign in my parking space. It just missed hitting another car in a parking lot when it rolled about 3 times now. Called around to get it fixed but everyone says "it's been a problem for years and GMC has no fix for it. " only temporary fix is to install new gear shifter or full transmission replacement, which owner has to pay for $700 to $3000 repair! we don't have 30,000 miles as of yet. We are low income, on social security and this should be a recall since there are many complaints online for years. Praying we do not have a collision or terrible injuries.

Car does not recognize it is in park and has rolled into my garage door even though the shifter has been placed in the park position. Also it continues to alarm to "shift to park" and has caused 2 dead batteries.