Second generation
2018 GMC Acadia
The most reported problem on the 2018 GMC Acadia is shift to park warning, with 163 complaints, usually around 34,000 miles.
- 396owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 8involved a crash
- 32,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Acadia doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 GMC Acadia reliable?
The 2018 GMC Acadia has 396 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 331 for 2018 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Acadia model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017 and 2019
- At 44 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs below the 2017 (70) and close to the 2019 (48).
- Top problem
- One problem takes up much of the file: shift to park warning, named in 163 of the 396 complaints (41%). A quarter of the 85 owners who gave a mileage for shift to park warning saw it by about 23,000 miles, and half by about 34,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- Only 10 of the 396 complaints (3%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, well under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 12 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 4 of 8, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Shift to park warning has a recall on the same system (17V-516). Stalling and infotainment have none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 84 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 74. So far in 2026, 40 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: "shift to park" or "service shifter" warning comes on, 163 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
396 complaints is 1.4 times the median 2018 model on this site and 1.2 times the median 2018 SUV. Among the 8 Acadia model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 GMC Acadia
GMC filed 1,070 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 GMC Acadia. 39 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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.
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 3 bulletins · 163 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
1 more on this problem
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of message displaying shift to park when in park.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 2 bulletins · 57 complaints
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This engineering informational bulletin is requesting information from the field on vehicles that have the condition of Vehicle No Start, Stalls Repeatedly and/or Smoke from Under Hood at Battery.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 14 bulletins · 36 complaints
This Preliminary Information communicates to the technician that some customers may comment on the operation of their haptic seat during a Lane Keep Assist event. Lane Keep Assist works differently than Lane Departure Warning.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of the Service Engine Soon Lamp illuminated and/or Service Power Brake Assist message displayed, with DTCs P0557 or P0558 Stored.
12 more on this problem
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the HMI module to correct a condition of Radio Control (ICS) Display Does Not Remain Off at Times after it Has Been Turned Off in the Radio Settings Menu due to a software concern.
This informational bulletin provides information for the technicians on multi-media infotainment tester (MIT), does not function properly when diagnosing infotainment complaints, which may lead to mis-diagnosis.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to clear the codes and re-evaluate the XM radio channels to correct a condition of audio muting when listening to some Sirius XM channels but if they change channels they will find others that experience normal ...
This preliminary information bulletin provides a procedure on how to check for the customer concern of a blank radio with/without audio, by checking the the wiring harness, ECU and reprograming the HMI software update, if the wiring or ECU are not the cause.
This technical bulletin provides repair information for repairing the IP to body harness connector to correct a customer concern for intermittent Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated with Reduced Engine Power displayed and DTC P2138 set.
This informational bulletin provides information to the customer on the radio display "info pages" being blank and to make sure to select in the "active info pages" menu.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D-37 history in the Vehicle Communication Interface Module or telematics communication interface control module.
Rear View Camera Guidelines Not Present at Times Condition Some customers may report that the Rear View Camera (RVC) guidelines are temporarily not available at times but the RVC will remain on during the concern.
Plus 2 older ones not listed here.
Battery dies or the car will not start 3 bulletins · 30 complaints
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct customer concerns of multiple electrical issues, dead battery, start/stop inoperative, instrument cluster and switch backlighting remain illuminated.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a no start or another concern after swapping an Engine Control Module or other modules from one vehicle to another.
1 more on this problem
This Preliminary information communicates an Intermittent No Crank, No Start, or Reduced Power loss of data multiple U codes or Intermittent Power Door Locks inoperative, unwanted seat or mirror movement.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 6 bulletins · 21 complaints
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of a rear brake squeal noise.
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
4 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides a procedure for replacing the oil pump, power brake booster and power brake booster vacuum hose to eliminate a hard brake pedal and/or air type noise heard upon brake apply due to oil in the brake booster.
This Preliminary information communicates information to diagnose DTC C056D or C056E.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the front brake pads with single shim pad kit to correct a condition of Squeal Noise Originating from Front Brakes During Brake Apply.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to apply grease to the shims on the front brake pads to correct a condition of Squeal Noise Originating from Front Brakes During Brake Apply.
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 4 bulletins · 16 complaints
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles thatmay have Service Front Camera, Service Lane Departure Warning, and Service Lane Keep Assist Message.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the power steering control module to correct a condition of Reduced Steering Assist Message with DTC C0460 Sym 5A due to a software abnormality.
2 more on this problem
Reduced Steering Assist Message with DTC C0460 Sym 5A Condition Some customers may comment on a Reduced Steering Assist message on the DIC with no loss of steering assist. During diagnosis a technician may find DTC C0460 Sym 5A.
This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 2 bulletins · 14 complaints
PI to help diagnose A/C concern
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 5 bulletins · 11 complaints
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.
3 more on this problem
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the upper and lower valve body housings to correct launch shudder, 2-3 Upshift or 3-2 Downshift concerns.
Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to replace the upper and lower valve body housings to correct the customer concern of launch shudder.
Complaints filed by year
84 complaints came in 2019, 9.3 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2018 GMC Acadia
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
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
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.
All 2 recalls on the 2018 GMC Acadia, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 GMC Acadia?
Shift to park warning, with 163 of the 396 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 34,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 GMC Acadia problems start?
Of the 198 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 20,000 miles and half by about 32,000.
Is the 2018 GMC Acadia better or worse than the 2017 and 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has fewer complaints than the 2017 and about as many complaints as the 2019: 44 a year against 70 and 48.
How many 2018 GMC Acadia complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (3%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for shift to park warning on the 2018 GMC Acadia?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 17V-516. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.