Multiple GMC Acadia Owners Report ‘Shift To Park’ Issue
Sponsored Links
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.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Acadia news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Source: ABC6/Car Complaints
Sponsored Links
Yep, my 2017 Acadia is doing the same [email protected]
My 2017 Acadia has Shift to Park problem.
What should I do??
My 2017 Acadia is currently being worked on for the 2nd time for the shift to park issue. The 1st time was in March of this year. This is a terrible defect that GM needs one effective fix for. Don’t keep bringing me back in for the next possible fix.
Uh just started that game. Had my 19 in and the jumper was replaced..im not confident this is going to work. But I did notice in the close out notes from dealer that if this occurs again they will replace shifter…
The only permanent fix is to replace the shift assembly and this assumes that GM has changed out the improper microswitch that is the cause of the problem. If they have not done that, this problem cold come back.
Experiencing the same issue the dealer has fixed this but it has happened again since warranty has by now expired they are refusing to fix we are looking at our options to file suit
Resetting the system is not solving the issue. To recreate it try to park the car on slight uphill or downhill. This is how I recreated it at the dealership. Try and see. Eventually it will frequently happen and you will be able to show it to them.
I have a 2017 Acadia. Had this problem after I first purchased it and they changed out my shift harness, and it was covered under the warranty. Now, it is happening again, and my car is out of warranty. It will cost me $300+ to get it fixed. Shouldn’t have to pay for a GMC glitch.
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
I have a 2017 GMC Acadia and had this problem right after I purchased the vehicle. It was covered under warranty so GMC fixed it. Now, about 2 years later, I am having the same issue and the warranty expired, so it will cost me about $300+ to fix it again. It takes me about 5 minutes to get it to register that it is in park.
Same as everyone else 2018 GMC Acadia shift to park already took it in around a year ago fixed for free
They said if it does it again we will have to pay. Is
There anything we can do
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. There may also be a class action suit you can join. Do not know for sure if it has actually been file yet.
I have a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali ,it has been in 4 times since purchase on 8/14 17 for the shift to park issue. Each time they say this will fix the issue to no avail . So I really have little hope that this latest fix will cure the issue. I’m sure glad I purchased a 10 year warranty , I had hoped this vehicle would last me 15 years but that hope gone.If it continues when the warranty expires so does me owning a GM . I have owned GM vehicles my entire driving history (50 years)beginning with a 67 Chevelle SS 396 and have purchased more than 10 new GM vehicles 1984!!!!. Maybe time to think about an Acura MDX.
My 2017 gmc acadia just started doing the same says shift to park already in park.40000 miles haven’t got it to dealer yet
Same here 2017 acadia 40000 miles just started haven’t got it to dealer yet
I just had my 2019 gmc Acadia in the shop for shift to park with 35000 miles on it under warranty. I’m sure it will happen again after warranty is out. It is a little under 500.0 to replace shifter and harness. Should be a recall.
I also have a 2017 Acadia out of warranty. The problem started about a month ago. In the last week it is almost every time I turn off the car. I have to start it 4-5 times, put it in gear and turn it off again. If I get lucky it will go away. Any suggestions?!? I keep seeing that dealers are not sure what’s causing it so they aren’t sure how to fix it. That is not comforting!!
Tell them to replace the shift assembly. There has to be thousands of failures like yours nationwide so I find it hard to believe any GM dealer would not know how to fix it.
I recently got my 2017 Acadia repaired at the dealer and they referenced repair document I.D. #5403533. They replaced the transmission shift control assembly and installed an updated jumper harness. As a workaround prior to getting it fixed, I flicked the shift button a few times after putting it into park. Such a shame, I used to love the vehicle…..
Can confirm. I recently noticed this started happening. Sometimes, the issue would be resolved by me pushing the stick forward beyond the PARK position, and the sensor would recognize it. Other times, I would have to turn the car back on, put it in REVERSE, turn the car off so the notification would appear, and THEN put it into PARK.
Either way, I hope there is a recall or notice of a fix sometime soon before this turns into a more severe issue.
I am in Oregon and this issue stranded me and my children this past June. I can’t believe this is not a recall after seeing so many owner reports and a lawsuit on the web. My repairs cost over $500 and I was only 1 month out of warranty. I own a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali with 23K miles on it.
Same issue with 2017 Acadia Denali, 61k miles so out of any kind of warranty. This is my wife’s car and regularly leaves her confused as to how to fix the issue, I have received several phone calls and can’t give her an answer. I would like to be part of this lawsuit.
I’m having the same problem as everyone else! I’m 3 years into my 2017 Acadia. I want to say we took it in sometime last year to have this repaired. I foeget what exactly they did however they had my car for maybe a day or two.
I’ll be calling the dealer tomorrow as well as the vehicle safety line tomorrow.
I am having the same problem with the shift to park. Took my 1/2 hour shifting back and forth to get it to stop saying that.
Same issue with 2017 Acadia. I would like to be part of this lawsuit. the servise center check for 6hour then say we need pay 500 more dollars to fix.
Same issue on my 2017 Acadia with 41k miles. Stupid thing took me 30 minutes starting/shutting off same issue. Shift car into park and it rolls backwards in my garage. This is going to cause a problem and hurt someone as this is serious and I hope gm is ready to pay if it does. I hope it won’t but I’ll be staying in the vehicle until it doesn’t show that.