2017 GMC Acadia Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 GMC Acadia, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)22929.4%
- Electrical19324.8%
- Airbags769.8%
- Engine638.1%
- Driver assistance526.7%
- Brakes374.7%
- Steering334.2%
- Exterior lighting243.1%
- Seat belts141.8%
- Fuel system131.7%
- Interior & seats91.2%
- Other / unspecified81.0%
- Suspension81.0%
- Transmission60.8%
- Tires & wheels60.8%
- Visibility40.5%
- Body & structure40.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that after shifting into park (P), the vehicle failed to shut off because it failed to recognize that the gear shifter was in park (P). The "Shift To Park" warning message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact jiggled the gear shifter button several times until the vehicle responded as intended and turned off. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently but became frequent. A dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle, and a diagnostic estimate was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on an incline with the engine turned off, the contact's toddler was able to shift into drive(D), and the vehicle rolled backwards, hit a light pole and a basketball stand, causing damage to the front driver-side door. No police report was filed, and no injuries were reported. The contact was unable to shift back into park(P) and was forced to start the vehicle in neutral(N). The contact was then unable to shut off the vehicle as the gear shifter was no longer in park(P). Upon investigation, the contact learned that it was necessary to manually flip a switch underneath the gear console for the vehicle to register that it was in park(P). The contact initially took the vehicle to the independent mechanic but was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact submitted a claim with pictures and videos of the failure. The contact was then instructed to take the vehicle to a dealer for an inspection. The contact was later informed by the claim manager that the claim would be denied, and no further assistance was offered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 99,968.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
My Acadia went into limp Mode displaying low power mode on the screen and wouldn’t start for a couple days after. Lights started illuminating on the dash as abs, traction control, and stanilitrack, then check engine light came on and my gmc app displayed code p2138. I have had since low power and extremely high gas consumption.
Shift to park take forever to get it to recognize that vehicle is in park. my lane departure only works sometimes.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while parked at her work, she had attempted to start the vehicle and was unable. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact had smelled the strong odor of gasoline from the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated a co-worker had looked underneath the vehicle and confirmed the leak of gasoline. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same independent mechanic, who advised that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that she was in a parking lot at a shopping center as she was looking for a parking spot, the driver's side air bag exploded, there was no crash. The contact said that she heard a loud "boom," and she had scrapes on her arms, hands, and face. The contact stated that her sons both had cuts and scrapes on their faces, the contact said one of her children needed stitches on his lip from the explosion. The contact stated that the police and emergency services were at the scene. The contact stated that her vehicle was towed back to her residence. The contact stated that she and her children were transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact stated that the police issued a report, but she was not given the report number. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
My Acadia went into limp Mode displaying low power mode on the screen and wouldn’t start for a couple days after. Lights started illuminating on the dash as abs, traction control, and stanilitrack, then check engine light came on and my gmc app displayed code p2138. I have had since low power and extremely high gas consumption.
Steering assist is reduced Brake assist reduced Seems to be a defective thermostat and sensor .temp gauge is below Normal operating temperature this needs to be addressed by GM should be a recall as this can be a costly repair.Many reports of same issue
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
My Acadia went into limp Mode displaying low power mode on the screen and wouldn’t start for a couple days after. Lights started illuminating on the dash as abs, traction control, and stanilitrack, then check engine light came on and my gmc app displayed code p2138. I have had since low power and extremely high gas consumption.
Shift to park take forever to get it to recognize that vehicle is in park. my lane departure only works sometimes.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Something inside the wheel started smoking and my gmc app displayed low break fluid. I pulled over and had someone come out two days later. The breakpad had uneven wear and the caliper had a broken seal on it which in turn tore the caliper up! This was not a safe situation to have with 4 kids in the car. This car has been one problem after another !
Subject of the problem: Service brakes/Hydraulic brakes Problem of the vehicle: While driving, the brake pedal sometimes suddenly goes all the way down without resistance, and the vehicle does not slow down as expected. In order to regain brake pedal twice. Frequency of the problem: This issue occurs intermittently, but it poses a serious risk because the vehicle may not stop when needed. I already had the brake booster kit and hose replaced at an authorized GMC dealership because I was told this was the cause. However, the exact same problem continues to happen after the repair. Safety concern: This appears to be a defect that affects braking performance and safety. The issue occurs intermittently while driving (e.g., at stop lights, low-speed braking, or during normal driving). It has happed multiple times since the repair. This problem could cause loss of braking power and result in a crash. It is extremely dangerous and has not been resolved by the manufacturer's recommended repair. I have called the GMC service center at 18004678782 and 18002221020 with this problem. They told me that they could do nothing about it and to deal with the dealership directly myself and they can not do anything. I have talked to the dealership but they just tell me there was another problem other than the initial problem they told me. The dealership did the first checkup and that problem was not fixed. Then went in again because the same problem was happening so they did another checkup and told me there was another problem not the initial problem they told me. The second checkup they did, the part and labor was $2,700. I went in with the same problem and have to pay that much. The problem was not solved with the initial diagnosis they gave and now have pay extra ($2,700 - second checkup price) to fix the problem they did not fix. Thank you.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
🚨 P0128 code, thermostat-related symptoms, Steering Assist Reduced warnings, increased steering effort, or other safety concerns while driving.
I keep getting this warning "Action Required Steering Assist Is Reduced Drive With Care" . This warning has occurred randomly for several years. Recently, after getting this warning the check engine light came on and the engine temp gauge stopped indicating. I have seen a bulletin from GM that this condition is covered under a 'special warranty extension' for a single model year, but it is common over at least 5 model years. This should be a recall because of the steering assist issue.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the "Shift to Park" message was displayed on the instrument panel while attempting to park the vehicle. Additionally, there was a constant beeping alert coming from the vehicle during the failure. The contact later discovered that the rear brake lights and reverse lights were illuminated during the failure. A local dealer was contacted about the failure and made an appointment for a repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
1. COULD NOT PUT CAR INTO PARK OR TURN OFF. CAUSED BATTERY TO BE DEAD AS IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN PUT INTO PARK. 2. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND JERKED REPEATEDLY. COULD NOT TURN INTO PARKING SPOT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN AND COULD NOT STOP THE JERK. IT IS DANGEROUS AND SCARY ! 3. AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT THE ROAD. IT IS AS THOUGH THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AT ALL. IT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GIVE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns an Evenflo Car Seat, Model Type: Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Extend, Manufactured Date: January 14, 2025, installed in a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the 360-degree rotating car seat failed to lock securely into position while the child was seated in the car seat. While attempting to position the car seat in the forward-facing setting, the rotational shell failed to engage or snap into the locking mechanism on the base. The failure had occurred inside the vehicle. The car seat was not repaired or replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was in the process of replacing the car seat.
Driver's side seat belt lower attachment point. Has a flexible cable swage attachment to the lower seat belt and. This braided steel cable has failed at the swage. No accident involved. Just a fatigue failure over time. But since this is a safety system, I thought I should report it. It seems very similar to the earlier seat belt failures on the same GMC platform. That recall is included as a reference document
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle has experienced multiple electrical and mechanical failures at unusually low mileage. Purchased at 32,000 miles. At approximately 50,000 miles, the factory radio/infotainment system failed completely. Electrical systems were observed remaining active after the vehicle was powered off, suggesting an underlying electrical fault. At approximately 60,000 miles, the power steering rack and fuel pump both required full replacement and were confirmed and replaced by an authorized dealership. No warning lights appeared prior to these failures — components failed without any prior indication. At approximately 100,000 miles, the transmission began failing and exhibits the known torque converter shudder issue widely reported on this vehicle platform. The shudder was present prior to full transmission failure symptoms appearing. The pattern of premature failures across multiple unrelated systems — electrical, steering, fuel delivery, and transmission — suggests a broader manufacturing defect.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while parked at her work, she had attempted to start the vehicle and was unable. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact had smelled the strong odor of gasoline from the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated a co-worker had looked underneath the vehicle and confirmed the leak of gasoline. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same independent mechanic, who advised that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that she was in a parking lot at a shopping center as she was looking for a parking spot, the driver's side air bag exploded, there was no crash. The contact said that she heard a loud "boom," and she had scrapes on her arms, hands, and face. The contact stated that her sons both had cuts and scrapes on their faces, the contact said one of her children needed stitches on his lip from the explosion. The contact stated that the police and emergency services were at the scene. The contact stated that her vehicle was towed back to her residence. The contact stated that she and her children were transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact stated that the police issued a report, but she was not given the report number. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Cannot shift out of park. AC stops blowing also. Electric seats stopped working. Replaced BCM modular, solenoid , entire shifter and more. It worked for two months. -Happening again. Cannot shift out of park and the AC stops working. Seat are working at moment. It’s all intermittent. Currently dealer will not help me. No warranty anymore. Im on a site where thousands of gmc’s have this same problem. Im gonna have to bring back to another dealer but no one can figure it out how to fix this. I sent my last bill. I also had one before that with the shifter assembly and solenoid replaced. I cannot find at moment
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact shifted from park (P) to drive(D) and was eventually able to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that the letter P(park) was outlined in yellow and was illuminated on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to close and lock the driver's side door, the door failed to lock securely. The contact stated that the failures occurred simultaneously. The contact stated that the failures were intermittent. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the traction control message was displayed, and the vehicle started to lose motive power before the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated as intended; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
I parked uphill on my driveway and put car in park to drop off groceries . My trunk didn’t not open which usually only happens when vehicle is in drive. I felt my car begin to move so I jumped in to discover dash said shift to park. This is major safety issue and happens quite often now. Under this circumstance vehicle can’t turn off. Had to replace battery for always draining. Also seatbelts in back seat and passenger seat do not buckle. There was a recall at one point however it disappeared from my dash board and now reads as completed however I never had the opportunity to correct the recall.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear knuckles have a casting defect that does not allow the lower most forward control arm bolt to be tightened fully. This causes the bolt to be 1/8” from being fully tightened. After removing the casting defect you are able to tighten the bolt fully. The bolt broke off in the knuckle causing the tire to point away from the body at a 45 degree angle. If my wife was on the interstate doing 60 when this happened it could have been life threatening but she was only doing about 10 when it snapped.
PERSISTENT GROANING AND CREAKING FROM FRONT END SUSPENSION. DEALER REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS ISSUE HOWEVER THERE IS A REPAIR BULLETIN PUBLISHED ON THIS ISSUE AT GMREPAIRINSIGHTS.COM WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THIS CAR AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. THE DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE REPAIR BULLETIN MAY LEAD TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF IMPORTANT PART OF SUSPENSION WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES OR HARM TO OTHER DRIVERS. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT ON 12.28.2022 AND THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the shift to park message was displayed. The vehicle failed to recognize the gear that transmission was shifted into. The message “Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care” was displayed. There was an abnormal beeping sound when the door was closed. The contact had to move the gear shifter to shift into the selected gear. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the thermostat and the gear handle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under the warranty, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact to keep the receipt for a possible recall reimbursement and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Purchased the vehicle in October 2017 with 7,408 miles on it. In 2019 started to receive a warning when the car was in park and I was shutting it off that said “shift to park”. The vehicle would not allow itself to shut off. I took it to our dealer and they replaced the shifter. The mileage at the time was 12,974. This week the “shift to park” message has now begun to pop up again and today I was unable to turn the vehicle off for quite some time as I had to keep shifting it in and out of park for the computer to respond. The car is shifted completely in to park and it shows a P on the console screen, however still is not recognizing that is in park. I only have put 15,000 miles on it over the past three years so there is no reason for it to have failed. It is scary and dangerous to be unable to shut your vehicle off. Especially when you are stuck in your garage or away from home with your little one.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
P235/65r18, 106v 3 of the 4 tires are bubbled out lose air and are constantly feeling as if they are hydroplaning with lack of ice water or snow, constantly having to fill the tires with air. One has popped completely and am driving on a spare tire. It is unsafe to drive, 33 of the 4 tpms sensors have quit working as well:
Tire size is P235/65R18 I purchased these tires in December of 2024. I am concerned that these tires were built without the correct compound to be qualified as an all-season. I have never had tires this bad in snow, even though they are all season brand-new tires with full tread. I immediately bought a set of snow tires for the vehicle. I again tried these tires in snow in November of 2025 after they had roughly 10,000 miles on them, and again found them to be the worst tires in snow that I have ever driven. I am concerned these were a mis-build.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM MAKING DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT VERY UNSAFE. TOOK VEHICLE TO GMC DEALER, TECH SAID THAT HEAD LIGHTS ARE WITHIN GMC SPECS. TOO INSANE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH CAN OCCUR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
This vehicle has a severe water leak after rain event from body. Leaks into electrical, floor boards, roof. Dealership not able to locate water leak location. Have been working on it going on a month. We recently purchased the vehicle used.
This vehicle has twice had parts replaced for the "Shift to Park" issue detailed in GM TSB 19-NA-206. The first incident was in April 2019, and it was repaired under warranty at about 24,800 miles. The second incident was this past week at about 50,800 miles, and this repair cost almost $800 to fix. I contacted GM customer support and was told that I could not get any reimbursement because there was no special coverage or recall for this known problem. This is completely unacceptable, since the problem is clearly a defect in parts manufacturing or assembly, and it renders the vehicle completely unusable since it is impossible to turn the car off when the car does not recognize that the shifter is in park. This is a safety issue because the driver needs to be certain whether or not the vehicle is securely parked before leaving the vehicle.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .