2017 GMC Acadia · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 27owner reports
- 78,588median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
235 of the 703 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 27 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 27 reports
Transmission shudder on other Acadia years
No other Acadia model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Acadia year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the torque converter (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
All 4 recalls on the 2017 GMC Acadia, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 34,000 and 138,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 12 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 GMC Acadia that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to replace the upper and lower valve body housings to correct customer concerns of launch shudder, 2-3 Upshift or 3-2 Downshift concerns.
This informational bulletin provides information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
8 more on the 2017 GMC Acadia page.
What owners wrote
“My transmission is burning on the inside with no warning or indication. Transmission fluid is black and burned. Experienced jerking and hesitation when gears are automatically shifting.”
Filed Jan 29, 2025
“Violent shifting in the transaxle when vehicle is shifting between lowers gears. Transaxle causing a shuddering vibration on inclines. It feels like the engine is misfiring, but it is the torque converter/transmission/transaxle failing.”
Filed Sep 10, 2024
“This model is know for transmission shudder and you put out a memo. I brought the car back under warranty and said it was fine. Now it needs what the memo said and torque converter. Car is out of warranty and they want to charge full price. There should be a recall on this model”
Filed Jul 1, 2024
“There's a shuddering, clanking sound coming from the torque converter when the engine shifts gears at 25-35 mph. I also noticed that it happens when it transitions from 4 cylinders to 6 cylinders. There's a sweet spot somewhere in there. It has also happened on the highway from 65-75 mph. This also happens when it's switching from 4 cylinders to 6 cylinders.”
Filed Mar 6, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 27 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 202 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 93 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 76 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 57 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 40 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 36 reports