Multiple GMC Acadia Owners Report ‘Shift To Park’ Issue
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Multiple GMC Acadia owners have reported a similar problem with the crossover’s transmission.
Columbus ABC affiliate ABC6 recently spoke to a Westerville, Ohio family who had been experiencing problems with their 2018 GMC Acadia. They claim the crossover will sometimes fail to recognize that it has been put into park, flashing a message on the dash instructing the driver to “shift to park” even when the gear lever have already been moved to the ‘P’ position.
This sounds like the same problem experienced by a number of other GMC Acadia owners currently involved in a class action lawsuit against GM. The plaintiffs in the class action suit, which is being led by Connecticut attorney Sergei Lemberg, say their 2017 and 2018 model GMC Acadia crossovers will instruct them to “shift to park” even when the vehicle is already in park. As a safety measure, the vehicle will refuse to fully shut off or lock when it is not in park, leaving the owner stranded. One plaintiff in the suit took their vehicle to a GM service center, where mechanics were able to confirm the problem, but told her there was no fix available at this time.
The problem may also lead to the vehicles rolling away. The Ohio family ABC6 spoke to said their GMC Acadia once displayed the “shift to park” message when the vehicle was already in park, but when they got out of the vehicle, it rolled down the driveway with one of their children still inside. They have also taken their car into a GM service center, where employees identified a sensor problem and replaced the faulty part, but they claim the problems persisted.
GM has posted a technical service bulletin acknowledging the shift to park problem, though there is still no fix available. ABC6 was also able to track down other GMC Acadia owners who experienced this problem when they voiced their concerns through online forums.
Limberg, the attorney leading the class action case over the problem, says GM’s position on the matter is that there is “no legal claim for the reasons,” his clients maintain in the lawsuit. He said that GM also argues “the problem is small and insignificant,” and it can therefore not be held responsible for it. The automaker has already sought to have the suit thrown out.
Notably, the refreshed 2020 GMC Acadia ditches its traditional gear select lever for the Electronic Precision Shift system, which uses buttons to change gears instead.
Have you experienced this issue with your 2017 or 2018 model year GMC Acadia? You can let us know in the comment section below.
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Source: ABC6/Car Complaints
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I am having the same issue with my 2018 Acadia, I will take it to the dealer and see what they say.
My Acadia is doing this and was just told to many miles for warranty to cover it. Is this a recall from GMC?
At this point only service bulletins. No official recall according to my dealer
This is not a recall. However the dealership I took my car to said to keep my receipt so if it becomes a recall they will reimburse me.
File a complaint with the safety board. If enough people complain, they MAY investigate and GM may issue a recall. Phone number is 888-327-4236
My 2017 has 39000 miles on it now and the problem has just reappeared, out of warranty.
Did you have it looked at once already? What was done? Mine goes in the 29th so I’m curious
I had my car fixed 06/16/2020 and they replaced the transmission control harness jumper and the shifter. They said “this should fix the problem ” however it’s no guarantee.
I started to have this problem on My Acadia 2017 but service changes the gear box before the warranty ends. Now I started to see the problem again but warranty ended. I didn’t know that it is a common problem in this model. 2017 was the first year with the new shape.
Yes. My 2018 SLT1 just started doing this 5 days ago. Consistently occurs when I shut it off and and I have to keep restarting..shifting until it goes away.
I just bought my 2017 Acadia in February 2020 and I’m also experiencing same issue when I park. What can I do?
I bought my 2017 Acadia in February 2020 and I’m also experiencing same shift to park issue. What can I do?
Give the gear shift a good thump when it is in park. Toward the front of the car. works best. If after a few thumps it still says shift to park, you will have to disconnect the battery for about 10 minutes. That almost always clears the message. At this point you will need to take your car to the dealer. Just did that with mine; repair bill:$470
I have a 2019 with 44000 miles on it and its doing the shift to park , it don’t stop i have to disconnect battery.
I am also having this same issue. I called the dealer to make an appointment and they have yet to call me back or return an email (2 months later). I too had my vehicle start to roll the first time this error happened before I realized what was going on. Luckily my foot was near the brake and nothing happened but my infant was in the car. I find it hard to believe they still don’t have a fix to this issue after a class action lawsuit has been filed. Unbelievable.
Yes my GMC Acadia gives me problems so much, I just want out of the lease. Ihave taken it to get :”fixed” but it still continues to happen. The car wont register that it is park. Takes me 20 minutes sometimes to get my car off and have been late for work, etc. I cannot wait to be done with this vehicle. Never again!
My 2017 GMC Acadia 40k miles just started having this problem, put it in park and get a shift to park message
Yes, my 2018 Acadia started doing this at 20k miles. I mentioned this temporary fix before, but I improperly described the method required to stop this. Here is the proper method:
Once your Acadia is in park, and it gives you the infamous “shift-to-park” message, simply flick the “trigger” switch at the front edge of the shifter knob rapidly UPWARDS, with a quick snapping release, once or multiple times until the shift-to-park message stops and returns to normal. Once reset, you can finally shut the car off.
My Acadia has often only required only one “upward flick” to reset, and other times, it may take several rapid “upward flicks” to reset, but it has not yet failed to reset.
Soooo… the problem obviously lies with corroded contacts inside this “trigger switch”. Replacing it (and/or the harness it is connected to) will fix the problem. GM (or their supplier) obviously put a low quality trigger switch in our shifter which is causing all these “shift-to-park” problems. Go figure…
It is hard to say without a description of the switch. I think it is safe to say this is a low current, DC design. If so, the proper switch would be a sealed switch with gold contacts. Any EE worth his salt should know this. Banging on it is, at best, a temporary solution. Judging by the number of failures, I would guess that GM used a switch with silver contacts and did not supply sufficient current to keep the contacts clean.
The “flick” worked for me. ..although I did have them replace the harness. We will see. They still need to address it.
I have had my gear shift replace three times in the two years that I’ve had it. Mine is a 2018 and I love the truck but this is a serious issue. I cannot leave my car until it’s shifts into park or the sensor picks it up. It’s like playing a game with my car until I win 😔😔😔😡😡😡
We are having this issue with our 2017 Acadia Denali, we brought it up to them but they said “they couldn’t recreate or see the problem but reset the system for us”. Whatever that means.
Resetting will not fix it. To recreate the issue try to park the car on a slight uphill or downhill. I was able to recreate the issue at the dealership by this method. Eventually it will do it more frequently and you will be able to show it to them.
Yes, our 2018 was just in the shop yesterday for this very problem. It was showing it was in park but would tell me to “shift to park” and wouldn’t let me lock it.
Common problem. Will GM respond?
Mine is at the dealer right now for this. Of course not in the bumper to bumper warranty period so the dealer said they reached out to GM to see if they would assist. I will be responsible for paying $200 deductible amount to get it fixed.
They covered mine under the 36,000 3 year bumper to bumper warranty when mine was repaired for same problem dealer was very aware of the problem no questions asked.
Unfortunately I have 48,000 miles on mine after 2 1/2 years of owning it and no longer covered by bumper to bumper warranty. 😠
I everyone filed a complaint with the safety board, maybe GM would issue a recall and those of us who have already paid for the repair could get reimbursed. Call 888-327-4236 and have the agent file a complaint.
GMC Rick Henderson in Duluth is changing the shifter part for $170 P&L. I’m surprised that low. We’ll see if the fix holds. I’m out of warranty @52,000 miles. 2018 Acadia
My 2018 Acadia more often than not shows shift to park when it is already in park.