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2018 Gmc Acadia

The Verdict

35 Check Engine

The 2018 Gmc Acadia has 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (149 complaints) and body (123 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 35/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Gmc Acadia, consider the 2023 model year which has 88% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2023 has 88% fewer complaints

View the 2023 Gmc Acadia dashboard →

35

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2007111410065151
200819921250152235
20091292658354
20101594628637
20111087826419
20121335725834
2013301622621
20146562397130
20157141192519
20165141101418
20171683220273216
2018123156841149
201994117663142
2020276233911
20213319325713
202214112203
20231238159
202416228104
20251439662

By Category

Transmission
149
Body
123
Electrical
68
Engine
41
Brakes
15

By Severity

1
203
2
183
3
1
4
9

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 2

I get error electric Steering assist reduced or unavailable drive with care at around 84234 miles on my car . Upon looking up problem on Internet it has to do with the Thermostat. I also found where Gm has a bulletin N252508350 which only seems to cover certain vehicles with the same problem. This seems to happen at all different miles driven on vehicles. I don't see how Gm can get away with only fixing certain vehicles with this safety problem when it shuts down the electric steering assist . This problem from what I can find on the internet is common to all years from 2017 up in Acadia with the 3.6L engine . The Thermostats seem to be defective and I feel Gm needs to address this problem for all of these vehicles . Not just for there special bulletin N252508350 which covers some vehicles in 2021with 3.6L engines. If the engine design was like the old engines and easy to replace the Thermostat by just taking out 2 bolts , I would say no problem I will replace it .But when you have to take half the Engine apart just to replace a 20.00 part that is defective that affects the steering of the vehicle, they need to have a safety recall.

27d ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering message was displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the temperature gauge remained at zero. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed high-pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,300.

1mo ago
Body 1

Urgent code going off due to thermostat not being red gauge is stuck

1mo ago
Engine 1

The car will frequently but not always fail to shut off when the start/stop button is pushed while in Park. The message "shift to park" come up on the display and a yellow light comes on in the button. I have to restart the engine and it often takes as many as 10 attempts to finally shut off the engine. Between each attempt I have to shift the transmission out of park and back into park. This has been happening for more than a month.

1mo ago
Body 2

I am unknown of what the issue is with the seatbelts on all seats will not properly lock.

1mo ago
Body 2

I’m getting a shift to park on my dash after it’s already in park. This causes the break to get stuck when driving.

1mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park(P); however, the message “Shift to Park” was displayed. The gear shifter was moved back and forth, then shifted into park (P) before the proper gear was recognized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the gear shifter was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the gear shifter, switch, and harness were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.

2mo ago
Transmission 1

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after parking and then attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message " Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be parked and turned off successfully after various attempts, which included restarting the vehicle and engaging the parking brake. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

3mo ago
Body 2

When trying to put car in park a "shift to park" notice appears on dashboard not allowing the car to be turned off. It takes multiple attemps be able to get the car into park and turn OFF. This has been an ongoing problem for several years and reported to the dealer. To date the dealer tells me there is nothing wrong with the car. Battery has been changed multiple times.

3mo ago
Body 2

While driving the temperature gauge drops from normal to cold , the dash displays " steering assist reduced" and the fan is very loud . My mechanic said the thermostat and or sensor needs to be replaced . When he resets with the reader its good for about a week and temperature gauge is normal. After seven days it repeats I only have 40,000 miles on the vehicle and its a 1,400 dollar job. I believe this should be a recall because i have seen a lot of the same complaints in this forum and what about the people who have the same problem but don't complain ?

3mo ago
Body 2

When I’m driving on the highway, I get a message on my dashboard saying steering assist reduced, drive with care. I have taken to the GMC dealership and they will not cover this repair even though it would be covered for 2021 GMC. When this happens, my car makes a loud noise and my steering wheel does not feel right. I do not feel safe.

3mo ago
Transmission 1

Gear shifter is not registering that the vehicle is in park. Because of this issue I have to sit in the vehicle for up to 15 mins trying to get it to register that it is in fact in park and can turn off. If I didn't take the time to do this, it would kill my battery. Unfortunately with the heat index, the vehicle gets hot very quickly and im now worried about getting hot stroke trying to get it to register it is park. This is a known issue with the vehicle that has an active recall for other vin numbers with the same issue.

3mo ago
Engine 2

Hesitants and Shudders when shifting into 2nd gear.

3mo ago
Body 2

this is the second time I am having to replace gear shift with under 160000 miles. Turn the car off and it tells me the car is not in park when it is. It can not tell what gear it is in or when. AGAIN. This is the second repair

4mo ago
Electrical 2

Shift to park Malfunction again, 4 th time!! 1000$ to fix is ridiculous

4mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speed, the steering assist reduced warning light illuminated. The contact's husband attached a portable diagnostic tester to the vehicle, and P0128 was the failure code. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

4mo ago
Body 2

When I put the shifter to park, it still dings and tells me "shift to park" and I struggle to make it go away and to be able to make it stop and be able to lock the car. It happens every time I drive it. Thank you

5mo ago
Electrical 1

Shift to park error Vehicle won’t shut off

5mo ago
Engine 1

I am getting the known P0128 code. My engine says it's cold when it's not, my AC isn't working, and I am getting a message that says "Steer assist reduced. Drive with care". This is a known problem and complaint of the GMC Acadia.

5mo ago
Engine 2

the transmission kept slipping. the car continued to lose power until it just wouldn't go anymore. The mechanic said it is definitely the transmission and drive shaft but my particular VIN is not included. I am looking at $7,000 in repairs on a car I owe $13,000.00

5mo ago

396 total

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