THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK WITH THE P LIT UP, BUT I CANNOT SHUT OFF MY CAR. A MESSAGE COMES ON THE SCREEN THAT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK THEN PUSH OFF. IT CONTINUES TO RUN UNTIL I TAKE IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN.
2018 GMC Acadia
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Acadia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 256.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Acadia years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
179 reports with mileage · 214 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 163 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
163 reportsWHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, A WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE SHIFTER READS PARK AND SO DOES THE DASH. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF OR LOCKED WITH THIS MESSAGE APPEARING. IT REQUIRES TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF, MOVING SHIFTER IN AND OUT OF PARK, JIGGL…
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WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, A WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE SHIFTER READS PARK AND SO DOES THE DASH. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF OR LOCKED WITH THIS MESSAGE APPEARING. IT REQUIRES TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF, MOVING SHIFTER IN AND OUT OF PARK, JIGGLING SHIFTER BUTTONS, ETC. THIS CAN TAKE ONE TRY OR MULTIPLE TRIES. I JUST HAD THIS FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP (REPLACED SHIFT CONTROL) AND WAS DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AFFECTING MANY VEHICLES AND IT IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OWNER TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSE IF THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. THE SHIFTER RUNS THE POWER TRAIN! WHY IS THIS NOT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? NOW, IN RESEARCHING, I'M SEEING THAT MANY HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER THE ISSUE HAS BEEN "FIXED". DEALER TECH NOTES TSB 19-NA-206 IN HIS REPORT.
CAR WARNS TO PUT IN PARK WHEN IT IS IN PARK. DEALER FIXED IT A YEAR AGO AND IT HAS STARTED AGAIN
WHEN SHUTTING THE ACADIA OFF IT PROMPTS A MESSAGE SAYING MUST BE IN PARK. IT IS IN PARK BUT COMPUTER IS NOT RECOGNIZING IT. THIS FORCES YOU TO LEAVE CAR RUNNING. IF YOU DONT THEN YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. WHEN SPEAKING TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY ARE AWARE OF ISSUE BUT DONT KNOW ANYTHING TO RESOLVE IT. CUSTOMERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO…
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WHEN SHUTTING THE ACADIA OFF IT PROMPTS A MESSAGE SAYING MUST BE IN PARK. IT IS IN PARK BUT COMPUTER IS NOT RECOGNIZING IT. THIS FORCES YOU TO LEAVE CAR RUNNING. IF YOU DONT THEN YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. WHEN SPEAKING TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY ARE AWARE OF ISSUE BUT DONT KNOW ANYTHING TO RESOLVE IT. CUSTOMERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
WHEN PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESSING THE ENGINE OFF BUTTON, I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE BEEPS AND WILL NOT TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL, BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO PRESS START AGAIN AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK, SOMETIMES …
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WHEN PUTTING MY VEHICLE IN PARK AND PRESSING THE ENGINE OFF BUTTON, I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE BEEPS AND WILL NOT TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL, BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO PRESS START AGAIN AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK TO PARK, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REGISTER THAT IS IN PARK AND ALLOW ME TO SHUT OFF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE IN PARK WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK. I DO NOT WANT IT TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED IT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ELECTRICAL AND KILL MY BATTERY.
VEHICLE STATES "ACTION REQUIRED - SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS IN PARK. ACCESSORIES STAY ON AND VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDS WARNING CHIME. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS SHIFTED TO PARK.
WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE DASHBOARD SHOWS A WARNING THAT THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. THE CAR THEN WON'T TURN OFF COMPLETELY.
THE VEHICLE SHOWS A WARNING WITH A BELL TONE 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHEN THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. IT STOPS ONLY AFTER WIGGLING GEAR SHIFTER NUMEROUS TIMES.
SHIFT TO PARK I SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TRY AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT STILL SAYS SHIFT TO PARK LIKE THE CAR ISNT IN PARK BUT IT IS. IT WONT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS OR JIGGLE THE SHIFTER FOR IT TO REGISTER. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO REMOVING THE BATTERY CABLES OFF TO TURN …
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SHIFT TO PARK I SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TRY AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT STILL SAYS SHIFT TO PARK LIKE THE CAR ISNT IN PARK BUT IT IS. IT WONT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS OR JIGGLE THE SHIFTER FOR IT TO REGISTER. I HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO REMOVING THE BATTERY CABLES OFF TO TURN IT OFF ONE TIME AS WELL. THE CAR WHEN IT DOES SHUT OFF FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION ISNT FULLY ENGAGED.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED BY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF GMC ACADIA OWNERS. I RECEIVED THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE MONTHS AGO WHILE IT STILL WAS UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL LAST WEEK. I GOT A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN THE S…
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FIRST OF ALL, THIS ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED BY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF GMC ACADIA OWNERS. I RECEIVED THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE MONTHS AGO WHILE IT STILL WAS UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL LAST WEEK. I GOT A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR WAS IN THE SHIFT POSITION. THIS CAUSED A NUMBER OF SECONDARY ISSUES THAT ARE NOW COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE I AM ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON AFTER IT DRAINS OR KILLS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, I AM GETTING A NUMBER OF ISSUES. HOWEVER, THE ONES THAT CONCERN ME THE MOST ARE THE ROLLS EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF AWD, LOSS OF STABILITRACK, LOSS OF ABS, BRAKING SYSTEM ERROR AND POWER SURGES. THESE ARE THE MOST CONCERNING BUT I AM ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH MY DASHBOARD, NAVIGATION, AND VEHICLE INSTRUMENTS. I CALLED THE GMC DEALER WHO HAD NO PROBLEM TELLING ME THE GEAR SHIFT BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. WHAT REALLY DISTURBS ME IS THAT THERE ARE LAWSUITS GOING ON DEALING WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND THAT LITERALLY IT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND NEITHER GMC OR THE NHTSA HAVE ACTED ON THIS. I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS TO OPERATE A VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. YOU CAN LITERALLY BE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE HAVE A POWER SURGE WHICH MAKES YOU LOSE CONTROL CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION IN THE GEAR SHIFT BOX. I AM ASSUMING THAT NO ONE WILL DUE ANYTHING UNTIL SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EITHER KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS ISSUES HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MODELS GOING BACK TO 2017 AND HERE WE ARE IN 2019 AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US, THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS AND IT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA OR GMC. PLEASE RECALL OR STOP SELLING
Official recalls
218V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 31, 2018
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
17V516000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Aug 22, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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