CSR

GMC · NHTSA safety record

2018 GMC Acadia

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

390

Complaints

8

Crashes

1

Fires

12

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 GMC Acadia have filed 390 safety complaints with NHTSA between April 2018 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 163 of them (42%). The typical failure was reported at 32,000 miles, the median across the 179 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose 33% year on year: 68 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 51 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V358000 · May 31, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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 · up to 895 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

17V516000 · August 22, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,905 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 390.

POWER TRAIN 163 42%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 116 30%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 108 28%
ENGINE 32 8%
STEERING 24 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 21 5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 12 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 2%
LANE DEPARTURE 6 2%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 5 1%
SEATS 5 1%
SUSPENSION 5 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 84.

2018 2019 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

4 injured · crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A PARTITION AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALL FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CHEST PAIN, ANOTHER OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A CUT ON THE HEAD, AND THE OTHER TWO OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FRACTURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11190983, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

4 injured · crash · towed

IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY 401 NORTH ONTARIO CANADA, THE VEHICLE ERRATICALLY INCREASED SPEED AND BRAKES WERE NOIR EFFECTIVE, LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED A MASSIVE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MULTIPLE CARS AND RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES. *DT

NHTSA complaint 11191133. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 injured

Shifting to park and vehicle stating the vehicle is not in park, won't let me turn the vehicle off. Transmission going out, brought to many shops letting me know that the transmission is not working properly but won't give an engine light if anything is wrong with vehicle, Wont show on readers what is wrong with vehicle. Electrical, Doors will automatically lock and unlock most times lock and locks me in the vehicle having me have to climb through the windows and having to leave my windows open or locks me out the vehicle and can only get in by climbing in the trunk. Testing has been done and brought to GM to figure out the issue, and they replace the computer in it but still has the

NHTSA complaint 11689335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · towed

On July 26, 2024, I was driving my 2018 Acadia, with my cruise control set to 48 in a 45 MHP zone. Nearing a bad curve, I sneezed. When this happened, I tapped the brakes to disengage the cruise control, my passengers side tires exited the road and with both hands on the wheel I tried to slowly bring my tires back to the road. However, I was unable to gain control and totaled the vehicle. A witness stated that she heard a loud pop coming from the vehicle before the wreck happened. I later learned from my insurance that the vehicle had a Recall 17V516000 on it and I was never made aware of it. I believe that this was a factor in me not being able to control the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11605906. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

10,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11755898. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

80,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11751749. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.

NHTSA complaint 11749867. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 ?

NHTSA complaint 11749432. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
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.

NHTSA complaint 11748910. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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.

NHTSA complaint 11748238. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Acadia

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 61 0
2024 55 0
2023 41 4
2022 48 3
2021 146 2
2020 97 6
2019 379 2
2017 701 4
2016 234 4
2015 242 4
2014 461 6
2013 135 3
2012 296 5
2011 269 5
2010 343 4 1

Other 2018 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 144 vehicles, 425 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst