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 Sep 9, 2026

235 of the 702 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 27 of those describe transmission shudder.

Tick what matches of 27 reports

shudders or vibrates at low speed

slips or revs without pulling

bangs or clunks into gear

hesitates when I accelerate

fluid was changed or flushed

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.

17V-516Aug 22, 2017

Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 34,000 and 138,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

117

118

219

220

222

323

924

525

226

What owners wrote

“The transmission failed at 90k miles, causing shuddering and stalling on acceleration. This has occurred several times on major highways and is very dangerous.”
Filed Jul 28, 2025 · 90,000 miles

“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

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.