GMC Acadia Shift To Park Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Texas
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Back in December, we reported that many GMC Acadia owners had experienced a problem with the crossover in which the vehicle would not properly shift into park and would display a message reading “shift to park” on the dashboard. Owners chimed in to share stories of similar problems they had experienced, with our article attracting hundreds of comments from agitated GMC Acadia owners.
Now, a new class-action lawsuit has been filed over the GMC Acadia shift to park issue. According to Car Complaints, the class-action suit was filed by Lemberg Law on behalf of Plaintiff Brandy Smith, who purchased a new 2017 GMC Acadia and began experiencing the shift to park issue shortly after in April of 2017.
Most owners who report experiencing the problem say the vehicle will not recognize when the vehicle has been put in park, even when the gear selector has been moved from the ‘D’ position to the ‘P’ position. The class action suit says owners have to “resort to all sort of gimmicks to get their vehicles to detect that the shift lever is in fact in ‘Park'” when they experience the problem, including wiggling the gear level around in place and taking it in and out of ‘Park’.
This problem can leave GMC Acadia owners stranded. There is little the driver can do when the vehicle will not shift into ‘Park’, as the vehicle will simply roll away when they get out of it. The vehicle also does not shut off fully when it is not in ‘Park’ as a safety measure. The plaintiff in the new Texas class-action suit said she has been left “stranded inside her vehicle at home, at work, at school, and at various other places away from home, unable to shut her vehicle off,” on multiple occasions.
GM has already posted Technical Service Bulletins relating to the issue online, suggesting it is aware of the problem. According to Car Complaints, GM has said the cause of the problem is “unknown” and its engineering department “is still investigating the root cause.”
One TSB posted in October of 2018 and dug up by Car Complaints says “some customers may comment on an intermittent Shift to Park message when in Park and turning off the vehicle,” and “the cause of the condition may be the park switch in the transmission control (shifter) assembly not pulling BCM signal low to electronically show Park condition.”
GM dealerships have been told to replace transmission control shifter assemblies, but these repairs do not work in all instances, previous owner complaints indicate.
Owners who have experienced this issue with their 2017 or 2018 model-year GMC Acadia can share their story in the comment section below.
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We had this. They have a new shifter and it fixes the issue.
Those not fixed were the early replacements that had the old shifter.
No need for lawyers the dealers will fix this and if you are out of warranty many have either so discounted or just taken care of it.
Good to know
There is much BS going on here. Many new names that have never posted before with symptoms that are not even this issue.
Some here appear to just have a bad dealer.
Here is a link to what the problem is and the updated fix that addresses the wire harness so no more $500 shifter replacement needed.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10166630-9999.pdf
Refer to Bulletin #19-NA-206 for additional information and part numbers.
These are the full directions needed and the wire jumper needed.
Not all models are affected to there is not going to be a recall. The vehicle goes into park and the only effect may be a dead battery at worse. It has nothing to do with parking brakes, check engine lights or shifting of the transmission driving.
Take it to the dealer give them this notice and get it fixed. The class action here will only put money in the Lawyers pockets and get you a free oil change.
It is worse the web site can’t even post the latest info on the fix that could easily be Googles.
In the word of sheriff Buford T Justice “you sons of @#$& couldn’t’ close an umbrella.”
Does anyone teach critical thinking and problem solving anymore?
My wiring harness replaced 3 month ago as directed by manufacturer. Either they lied and didn’t replace or that isn’t the problem as it started again 2 weeks later. We find if we depress the shifter button multiple times it stops dinging and goes into park but something tells me the wiring harness recommendation is wrong!!!!!
Could just be a poor tech. Mine was fix a year and a half and no issue.
Now the latch for the sun shade is a different story.#4 going in next week.
You tech may have done the TSB but it may have another issue. They may need to check the entire harness to see what the resistance is.
They may need to replace the shifter too.
Repairs are not easy.if they were then everyone would be fixing them.
Electrical issues are a pain. Just wait till The Whole car is electric.
FYI Chris the button is mechanical to the park lock. It only has a wire for the manual shift. Shaking the shifter may stimulate the sensor or harness in the shifter itself.
Be informed before you speak out.
You are correct about the harness. I had the harness put on and next day it started all over again with shift to park and engine wouldn’t shut off, suv was rolling forward etc. crazy stuff. Someone mentioned the brake sensor I wonder if that is what we should try. Mine is still at the dealers maybe I should consult them on that idea keep it to myself and get sensor for my husband to change out.
Excuse me I own a 2017 GMC Acadia and in Feb 2019 I started having problems with the Shift to Park. I was stranded in the cold with my grandson several times. I also had to buy new battery because it didn’t shut off lights when shifter wouldn’t go into park. I put ebrake on and shut off vehicle. I got into dealer and they put new shifter in and of course my warranty was expired so had to pay $461. This should never happen and should be on a recall. I had too many miles. It ran ok till last week with the upgraded shifter. It started with the Shift to Park again. So I did the things everyone else does putting it into drive etc again. Took to dealer they said GM wants them to use an add on harness instead of changing the shifter. So another bill this time $110. If it is an add on because GM poor shifters GM should pay for it. So yesterday I headed home from Columbus a day after repair. I pulled into my garage put shifter into park took my foot off brake, the suv rolled quickly and i almost went through my garage wall! Luckily I thought quick and applied my brake. It did end up against my wall with it against a rubber boot there. I then couldn’t get the engine to shut off because it was actually in DRIVE even though the shifter was in PARK. This is getting dangerous and is a safety issue now. I ended up getting a tow truck to haul it to my local dealer. He had to get it into Neutral to get it towed not sure how he did it but at least its at the dealership. My husband was going to buy a GMC Sierra 2500 probably $75,000 price tag this fall but don’t think so. If you pay $53,000 for SUV and have problems and GM doesn’t care about the customers and take care of issues, then we wont be wasting our money on more junk. I also had a 2008 that had issues starting with paying for a new transmission, thought it was just that Acadia, wrong 2017 models not any better. The transmission doesn’t sound too good either in the 2017 so probably down the road that will go. I hope not to have it much longer. I may be going to an Attorney. After calling GM and getting nothing accomplished. I have 3 case# and yesterdays episode should have been #4 but said I don’t need one because its still caused by problem related 2 days ago. Oh they have those bulletin out PIT5616A but not my VIN# how convenient. It is doing the same thing that the other VINs are doing. Well have not heard from dealer yet as to what is going on with it now and its Friday not sure if it will be fixed by 6:00. I was told the harness may have pulled apart. hmmmm
I have had the same problem with my 2017 Acadia. Charged me $150 to put a new harness on. It lasted about a month, now the shift to park his back on again. They now want to charge me $400 for a new shifter, but after hearing other comments about how it didn’t fix the problem, my solution is going to be to get rid of the darn thing. Like others I will not be looking at GMC for the next vehicle
I had new shifter put in 17 months ago worked fine till last week. The dealer go my Acadia in 3 days ago and said it needed the harness so they added it . Yesterday I pulled into garage and stopped put foot on brake pushed shifter into park, then took foot off brake opened door to get out and suv started rolling forward into my garage wall. I was quick to put my rt foot on brake and put ebrake on. The car would not let me take shifter back and forth like it used to do and engine wouldn’t shut off. The shifter was in park position but the red light for D drive was on. Which that never happened before. Usually shifter was in park and no lights on the letters appeared. The tow truck driver did something and got engine to shut off and put suv into N neutral to get it towed. I’m sure there are lot more people with this issue. I have my grandson with me a lot and if this suv did this with him in the car and rolled after I got out and it was in public place someone could have got run over or hit another car with him inside. Soon as I put vehicle in park he gets his seat belt off. So I guess I have to reinforce to him wait till car shuts off completely. Children are quick.
My daughter recently had an issue with hers after parking in a friend’s driveway. She exited her Acadia and walked around the front of it, not realizing what was happening she was knocked down and the car drug her a few feet before one front tire actually rolled up on her hip and stopped the car. Fortunately she is alive, and nursing bruises, scrapes ,on her knees, back, hands, head and abdomen. Swollen hip, and a large hematoma to to her head! Praising God it could have easily been much worse. Sad to say she had it in to her local GMC dealer a few weeks before to address the shift to park issue. They could have told her that there was a probability of it not going into park. They didn’t even let her know that it was a serious issue!
You need to report this to the Transportation Safety For Recalls Office. (or whatever its called) . If they don’t know, they cannot launch an investigation because nobody officially reported it.
I have a 2018 GmC Acadia Denali. It has been in the shop more than it has been with me. I have had the shifter replaced twice. It still doesn’t’ work right. They replaced the cable. It still didnt fix it. This is really aggravating! I love this car. I had to have the back light replaced because it was leaking around it. The tail light went out. The panel on the side of the dash came off. IT seems like it is one thing after another. Is there any way to join in on this lawsuit?
On the flip side, I have had nothing but regular maintenance done on my 2018. Zero issues.
My 2017 (bought new) is doing this and GM won’t do anything to help me. They said I would have to pay for it myself. It would cost $339 dollars out of my pocket. My car has 24,215 miles on it. The dealer won’t give me a discount. GM is fixing to lose my business.
They quoted me over $500 to fix it . Car was 400 miles past the warranty
I HAVE A 18 GMC ACADIA PURCHASED 2019 SHIFT TO APRK STARTED THEY REPLACED SOMETHING IN 2/21 THEN REPLACED THE SHIFTER IN 10/21 AND NOW 2/7/22 I GOT THE SHIFT TO PARK AGAIN.. NOW HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK SEE IF THEY WILL FIX IT FOR THE 3RD TIME.. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL OF THEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM
My 2018 GMC acadia does the shift to park all the time when you put it in park and tey to shut off the vehicle. Its not only annoying but it is also frustrating. Sometimes it takes a good amount of time turning the car back on and off and shifting out of park and back into park to get it to finally stop.
We have a 2017 that was purchased new and have not experienced this problem. It currently has 20,000 miles on it and is still in warranty since we added an extended warranty when we purchased the vehicle.
Had this problem last month, called Gmc ,Buick and I brought in the next day and was fixed
I had the same experience. The problem began occurring intermittently; I called the dealer; got an appointment the next day; and it was fixed quickly. The article is incorrect stating that the vehicle will roll away. It is actually in park and will not roll away. The computer just doesn’t recognize it.
My vehicle never rolled away before just annoying to have to play around with it to get into park. But this last time it did roll away and I am still anxious about that happening. I saw other people had same thing happen. I took pictures of it in park with the light on the letter D for drive. When I put it in park no light was on the gear shift. It came on when I took my foot off brake peddle. It felt like it was taking off as if the gas peddle was pushed on. But my lt foot was on edge of door with door opening and as I took rt foot off brake and car moved quickly I was quick to put rt foot back on brake which stopped me from going thru my garage wall! Thank you After paying $53,000 for a vehicle in 2017 I should not be facing these kind of issues. Has anyone ever had to replace a shifter in their life. I have not nor has my husband. I do high way drive I am not putting it in and out of park constantly to have this happen. My husband snow plows and he is constantly moving his trucks forward and backward and never had this happen to his trucks. This is a recall if I ever saw one. Also the bulletin doesn’t cover my VIN # so says GM. It is happening to mine and others so that bulletin should cover all these Acadias. I will be calling the Better Business Bureau and my attorney on this matter because now it is a safety issue. This also is my 4th complaint on same issue to GM.
Did they charge you? I had mine at the dealership a few weeks ago and since I have 70K miles and out of warranty they were going to charge me $500 to replace it.
Yes we paid for new shifter/labor it was off warranty. Also paid for the harness/ labor. The harness didn’t correct the situation. So this vehicle has had 3 shifters counting the original.
Sucks to be you.
This isn’t just an Acadia problem. My Cadillac does this a few times a year.
My start the problem park ship is in my dashboard is 2017 Acadia
My start with the problem is light in the dashboard park ship is on i have a 2017 Acadia
Yes this was an issue on several models. One highly effected by This was the Malibu.
There was too much resistance in the wiring in the shifter and the body control module can not detect where the shifter is.
Only a small number of Acadias were affected. I had followed this on the Acadia Forum and saw how the early people with the issue just got adjustments and if the shifter was replaced it was with the original.
By the time we had the issue they had the new part number out and available.
Electronics and electrical issues are much harder to find many times than a mechanical one.
I don’t even get offended anymore when people call Gm garbage motors there’s always some kind of lawsuit or recall it seems like every week why a company with so much to lose take so many short cuts when it come to making good cars when are they going to learn they can make more money by building great cars an having repeat buyers then putting out crappy ones an having lawsuits
New 2018 acadia bought outright and I ended up taking a big hit when I traded it in due to this issue. Long story short it was in the shop 4 times for this issue within 3 months. All while the vehicle was under 30k miles. Highly disappointed in this gm product ,and the manner they are going about rectifying the problem.
I had this issue on my 2017 GMC Acadia. The dealer fixed it at no charge and thereafter my lease expired.
Your dealer is better than mine. Mine wants $339 to fix it. Car only has 24,215 miles on it.
My issue is not the same but I’ve been having issues with my gmc. I have a 2012 GMC Acadia and the engine light comes on then it states traction control off and engine stability. I’ve took it to so many gmc dealers where I put in over $1000 for them to fix it but the problem persists. I’ve also took it back to the dealer I got it from no luck. I’ve been experiencing this issue a month after I got it off lot and the dealer say it’s nothing they can do about me giving it back. We will NEVER get another gmc again and I advise everyone not to! Don’t waste your money!!!!
I had your problem and two different dealers could not figure it out.
I figured it out and the part only cost $22
The Brake Pedal Position Sensor
is faulty and is easy to replace, just one small bolt above the pedal.
After replacement, the computer needs 5 to 8 days to self recalibrate, then the error will go away.
Good for you not buying GM again. I will not buy anymore GM either. I had 2 GMC Acadia with problems and I am done. I also have GMC credit card and going to cut it up no reason to have it if not buying GM.
Wow! Had this problem about a year ago. 2017 Acadia. Got it to dealer. They were aware of this problem. Replaced a cable somewhere and it has been fine since.
I’ve been experiencing this with my 2017 GMC almost everyday. I woke up one morning and was getting ready to leave for work and my car just wouldn’t start, it had done the “shift to park” the night before and I had to shift it to drive several times before it registered and finally shut off. When I called the dealership they told me it was probably just the battery and barely even acknowledged the shift to park issue I was having. They kept my car for 3 days, I had to get a rental, and all they did was replace the battery. This is the third gmc that I’ve owned and honestly I’m contemplating just trading it for a Ford Explorer at this point. I’m completely fed up with GMC.
Im getting rid of my Acadia sooner then later also. Not sure what to get so starting to look now. My son has a Ford Expedition and loves it. Im going to do my homework on SUVs.
Happened to my 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. When it happened I drove right to the dealership and they fixed it right away.
I have a 2018 Acadia and experienced this issue myself. I took it back to the dealership and they kept it for a few weeks and finally repaired it as well as all others issues I was having. I was very disappointed with my purchase for a long time at time wishing I had kept my 2009 Ford Edge. I just hope the Acadia don’t put me down once all my extended warranty expires.
Update: 2021 shift to park issue again. Will I have to replace this every two years?
Same thing happened to me. Every time I go into park it’s chimes for me to shift into park. The only way for me to get it to turn off is to wiggle and hit the gear shift and it finally turns off. I took it to the dealership while under warranty and they said they had heard of the issue, but there wasn’t anything they could do except to reset it. That turned it off temporally. It’s back on once again unfortunately
experienced same problem shortly after purchase. Call to dealership Said they are not aware of any problems or recall
I have been having this problem consistently for the last year on my 2017 Acadia. I even took the bulletin in with me to GM to try to get this fixed. They told me it doesn’t fall under the powertrain warranty (my bumper to bumper had just gone over 36,000 when this started). Told me it was going to cost almost $500 for them to teplace the defective part.
I’ve had this shifter problem in about a year after I bought the car in august 2017,,,called the dealer and they said that they didn’t have this problem,,,maybe I didn’t shift it all the way,,then it got worst,,,,once a week then maybe twice a week,,,,,then it got once a month or maybe twice,,,I began to notice it was more when raining or damp,,
I had the same problem in my Acadia 2017 model I call dealership and they changed some bad connector in shifter and now it’s fine
But now there is problem for gear shifting sometimes while on the drive
Report was spot on. Fortunately I have a few thousand mikes under the 36k warranty, First attempt of jumper cable failed and second trip to dealer a week latter when shift to park issue resurfaced, the shifter assembly was replaced. I expect the problem to come back sometime after out of warranty and then will be my responsibility. I am convinced that GM does not know what to fix. Both visits were bandaids.
Please comment on why the negatives. I stated only the facts!
My 2017 Arcadia has 46,000 miles and just started giving me the shift to park warning. Have to drive forward and back 3 or more times before the message stops. Taking several minutes and looking stupid like i don’t know how to park. GM dealer says they have to replace entire shifter assembly and wiring harness costing me of over $600. Or put up with it and see if GM will eventually come up with a recall. I’d like to join that class action lawsuit!
I’m with you on class action lawsuit. Texas had one. My issue with the shift to park started after 40,000 miles also. I had a new updated shifter put in 17 months ago then now it started all over again with the shift to park. The harness was just put in and next day shift to park was on dash again.This is ridiculous. We always bought GM Chevy vehicles. But had problem with 2008 GMC Acadia, 2000 Bonneville and husband had issues with his last Chevy pickup.
I had shifter replaced 17 months ago and now having problems again. Had the harness added on 3 days ago then on the second day it went into shift to park. So the two things I have done has not fixed the problems. I have it back at the dealer again this week. Its becoming a safety issue now when the vehicle starts moving when in park. Have not heard anything yet from dealer today. I was hoping to have it fixed today being its Friday.