Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 GMC Acadia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and restart daily and required to be jumpstarted. Additionally, while the transmission was shifted into park(P), the "Shift to Park" message was displayed, and the vehicle failed to turn off, causing the battery to become drained. Roadside Assistance was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone and Firestone, where the battery and alternator were tested; however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact purchased a battery jump starter to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to Pep Boys, where the alternator, battery, and starter were all tested, and it was determined that the engine switch had failed. Pep Boys advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while shifting the gear shifter into park(P), the "Shift to Park" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was forced to shift from drive(D) to Park(P) repeatedly before the failure was corrected. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would become sticky with the "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care," message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the infotainment system glitched and performed independent functions, causing the driver to be distracted. The contact stated that the infotainment system was replaced when the vehicle was purchased due to the failure; however, the failure recently recurred. …
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear liftgate warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon inspection, the liftgate was closed. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the liftgate failed to latch securely and a bungy was used to keep the liftgate closed. The contact stated that the dome light illuminated indicating that the doors were open; however, the doors were securely closed. The contact stated that the roof light was turned off and the radio failed to operate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The VIN was not included.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle and attempting to release the key from the ignition switch, the key seized inside the ignition switch. The contact stated that either the "Parking Assist" or the "Steering Assist" warning light was illuminated during the failures, and the A/C system became inoperable. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with Parking Assist and Steering Assist failures. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000. The VIN was not available.
Sold 2018 GMC Acadia by LEE GMC in auburn. Acadias shift to park was defective, dealership replaced before sale did not disclose, shift to park and transmission malfunctions occurred. I returned Acadia to the dealership several times and they would never properly fix or address my concerns now my vehicle is unsafe to drive. I have documentation to support the claims in my letter, I can send as well if you'd like. Thank you Will send attachment
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted to the park position however, the gear shift indicator failed to show that the vehicle was in park. There were several attempts made before the shift indicator showed that the vehicle was in Park. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
We purchased our 2018 GMC Acadia, used with 15,798 miles on the odometer, on [redacted] from John Wiesner, Inc. On [redacted], with 20,344 miles on the odometer, we began experiencing a "Shift to Park" message when trying to turn the vehicle off, even though the vehicle shifter indicated that the vehicle was in park. Though the vehicle would turn off, we could not clear the "Shift to Park" message or stop the associated audible alarm without a great deal of effort. A Wiesner dealership confirmed the problem, determined that a switch in the shifter assembly was not grounding, and replaced the transmission control assembly under warranty. All was well until early 2024, at approximately 47,500 miles, when we began experiencing the same problem. …
The vehicle has experienced repeated electrical and engine-related malfunctions, including random engine shutdowns while driving and random no-start conditions. The thermostat and cooling system failed and were replaced in 2024. Multiple sensors have failed. The braking system remains noisy even after brake replacement. The lane detection safety system does not provide audible alerts. The vehicle is currently operational and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle has randomly shut off while driving on both highways and city roads in Azle, Texas. This occurred while my two children were in the vehicle. When the engine shut off, there was a risk of losing power steering and braking assist, which could have caused an accident, especially at highway speeds and in traffic. …
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. …
Shift to park message has appeared again and the engine will not cut off. First happened in Feb 2020, mileage was 31,143. Took to Dealer and new wiring harness was installed. Had to take back to dealer April 2020 for same problem; shifter assembly was replaced at that time. Shift to park message came back on August 2023. Took back to Dealer and shifter harness replaced again and jumper harness was installed. Mileage was 52,993. Shift to park message has once again appeared, December 2025. Having to put car in park and push engine on/off button numerous times before engine will finally shut off.....sometimes having to unhook battery in order to kill the engine. This will be the fourth time we have had the same recurring issue repaired. My husband read through over half the 352 registered complaints and at least three fourths of them were all about the SHIFT TO PARK problem! …
Electrical complaints in other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA has 109 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 GMC Acadia, 28% of the model year's 396 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 GMC Acadia electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2018 GMC Acadia, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 GMC Acadia electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 32,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.