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2018 GMC Acadia problems, recalls and owner complaints

What the 2018 GMC Acadia has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.

  • 2safety recalls
  • 396owner complaints
  • 8crash reports
  • 1fire report
  • 12injuries reported

396 complaints, against an average of 213 for the other 14 GMC Acadia model years.

Every GMC Acadia model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.

What goes wrong with the 2018 GMC Acadia?

The components named most often in the 396 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  1. Power Train163 (41.2%)
  2. Electrical System109 (27.5%)
  3. Engine34 (8.6%)
  4. Steering24 (6.1%)
  5. Service Brakes21 (5.3%)
  6. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)12 (3%)
  7. Fuel/Propulsion System7 (1.8%)
  8. Lane Departure6 (1.5%)

Has the 2018 GMC Acadia been recalled?

2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump 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. NHTSA campaign 18V358000 · May 31, 2018 · Risk and fix

Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft 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. NHTSA campaign 17V516000 · August 22, 2017 · Risk and fix

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.

Fix: 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.

What do 2018 GMC Acadia owners report?

12 of the 396 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.

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…
Electrical System, EngineNHTSA complaint 11767917 · Sep 29, 2026
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.
EngineNHTSA complaint 11763610 · Sep 11, 2026
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.
Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11755898 · Aug 10, 2026
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.
Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11751749 · Jul 21, 2026
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.
SteeringNHTSA complaint 11748910 · Jul 7, 2026
Hesitants and Shudders when shifting into 2nd gear.
Power Train, EngineNHTSA complaint 11748054 · Jul 2, 2026
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
SteeringNHTSA complaint 11743789 · Jun 12, 2026
Shift to park Malfunction again, 4 th time!! 1000$ to fix is ridiculous
Electrical System, Exterior LightingNHTSA complaint 11742706 · Jun 8, 2026
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
Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11738766 · May 19, 2026
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…
Electrical System, Service Brakes, EngineCrashNHTSA complaint 11716369 · Feb 7, 2026
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…
Lane Departure, Electrical SystemNHTSA complaint 11715106 · Feb 2, 2026
SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK. TURN VEHICLE OFF. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK." TURN VEHICLE BACK ON. MOVE SHIFTIER FROM PARK TO 3RD GEAR. TURN VEHICLE OFF. WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK." DO THIS A FEW MORE TIMES AND IT FINALLY STOPS GIVING ME THE WARNING. IT DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)NHTSA complaint 11351844 · Aug 28, 2020

2018 GMC Acadia: questions owners ask

Is the 2018 GMC Acadia reliable?

NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 396 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Acadia; the most common categories were power train (163, 41.2%), electrical system (109, 27.5%), engine (34, 8.6%). There are 2 safety recalls. 8 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 12 injuries were reported.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 GMC Acadia?

Across 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (41.2% of complaints), electrical system (27.5% of complaints), engine (8.6% of complaints), steering (6.1% of complaints), service brakes (5.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.

Does the 2018 GMC Acadia have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 GMC Acadia; the most recent (campaign 18V358000, 2018-05-31) concerns Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Check your own Acadia

Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only.

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