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2018 gmc Acadia electrical problems

moderate 67 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850

Complaints
67
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$850

What owners are reporting 7 most recent

electrical · filed 12/26/2019

MY 2018 ACADIA KEEPS GIVING ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" , IT HAS DRAINED MY BATTERY TWICE I HAD TO GET NEW ONE. IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF ERROR, I HAVE TO RESTART IGNITION AND MOVE SHIFTER TO DRIVE OR REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ERROR MESSAGE TO SHUT OFF. AT TIMES THE VEHICLE STILL THINKS IT IS ON AND THEN DRAINS BATTERY. I BROUGHT IT IN ON SEPTEMBER 2019 AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HARNESS HOW…

electrical · filed 12/22/2021

Had to replace the shifter, harness, and parking assist module to the tune of $1569.00! When it was put into park the system would not acknowledge it was in park...therefore I could not lock the vehicle and an alarm kept going off. My Acadia only has 12,000 miles on it...NO excuse for having to replace those parts with or without a warranty! Dealership said I am not the only one this has happened …

electrical · filed 12/20/2019

I AM GETTING A ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS CLEARLY IN PARK. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE MESSAGE. HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT MAY CLEAR THE MESSAGE. HAD ONE TIME I GOT OUT WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL WITH NO ONE IN IT EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTING AREA SAID "P" FOR PARK. AND SITTING…

electrical · filed 12/18/2019

ON DECEMBER 5TH 2019, I ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK TO TAKE MY SON TO HIS DR. APT. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AROUND 10:30AM. I LEFT THE CAR ON SO MY SON WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO INTO A COLD CAR, BEING HE WAY SICK. I RAN INTO MY HOUSE WHERE MY MOTHER WAS WATCHING BOTH MY SONS. I SAID TO MY MOM, LET ME USE THE RESTROOM QUICKLY BEFORE I GET HIS COAT ON. I WAS NO MORE THAN 2 MINS. AS I STEPPED OUT THE BATHROOM,…

electrical · filed 12/11/2024

The car is put in park but the it doesn’t detect that it’s in park and won’t turn off. You can’t get out of your car because the won’t turn off. There were no errors before this. I get an error message that says shift to park. I have to shift the car into drive and then park several times to make the car turn register that it’s in park The dealership has not looked at my car. Nothing has ever bee…

electrical · filed 12/08/2019

I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK." THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STAYS ON BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T THINK IT'S ACTUALLY IN PARK. I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON, SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR, SHIFT BACK TO PARK, AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO SEE IF IT REGISTERS THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK. I'VE HAD TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR ACTUALLY REGISTERS T…

electrical · filed 12/04/2019

THE SHIFT TO PARK ACTION REQUIRED KEEPS POPPING UP WHEN I GO TO TURN MY CAR OFF. THE CAR WILL BE IN PARK. I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE NOTIFICATION GOES AWAY AND THAN IM ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.

Common questions

How serious is the electrical problem on the 2018 gmc Acadia?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 67 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to electrical?

No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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