2018 GMC Acadia: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
390 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Acadia is the Traverse's sibling, and its record has the same first-generation timing-chain and steering complaints, with the 2014 year the worst. The second generation launched for 2017 on a smaller platform with a new transmission, and that year has 1,340 complaints, most of them the shift-to-park fault in which the vehicle cannot recognise that the shifter is in Park; General Motors extended the warranty on the shifter after a class action. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: 390 complaints on record, score 53/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave: the years to avoid, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 390 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 48.75
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 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 dea…
When trying to put car in park a "shift to park" notice appears on dashboard not allowing the car to be turned off. It takes multiple attemps be able to get the car into park and turn OFF. This has been an ongoing problem for several years and reported to the dealer. To date the dealer tells me there is nothing wrong with the car. Battery has been changed multiple times.
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17V516000 | 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. |
| 18V358000 | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train163 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other116 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System108 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine32 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Steering24 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Service Brakes21 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other GMC Acadia years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Acadia?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (163 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 GMC Acadia a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 53/100, computed from 390 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 GMC Acadia's most common problem?
163 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 GMC Acadia sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 GMC Acadia cost to run per year?
About $5,366 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $26,830 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 GMC Acadia have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 GMC Acadia, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 22/08/2017. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 GMC Acadia really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 390 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 390 NHTSA complaints on record (48.8/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (23.7/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems