2012 GMC Acadia: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Aug 18, 2025 · Transmission · NC

The transmission has all the symptoms of a broken wave plate and/or torque convertor as reported in the first generation T75 transmission service bulletin. This started occurring at 120K. I know the service bulletin was for the 2007-2009 models but the 2012 had the same exact transmission and waveplate. The car feels like it's going to shudder out and die on the highway.

Filed Apr 25, 2024 · Transmission · CT

Transmission is slipping, shuddering at low speeds making car unsafe to drive

Filed Jan 27, 2024 · Transmission · PA

I noticed shuddering while driving my car and when I took it to my mechanic upon test driving and inspecting it he realized the torque converter is not strong enough for the size of the car. He informed me driving it with the improper size will cause it to shudder and accelerate or not accelerate correctly while driving and cause slipping while shifting gears. Those issue have been happening the entire time I've had it and if the car slips and goes too fast or slips and loses power it is a danger to me and the other cars on the road. There were no codes or warning indicators while this is happening.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Transmission · 165,000 miles · NH

The transmission is slipping or shuddering under certain conditions. Most frequently noticeable around the shift points between 2nd&3rd, or 3rd & 4th, especially when the engine is downshifting to climb a hill. There is a strong vibration and RPM bounce a bit before it finally engages after a couple seconds. I have recently learned that acadias have a long history of transmission problems, notably the torque converter and wave plate.

Filed Feb 6, 2020 · 113,000 miles · KY

I've started having issues with the vehicles last year. The vehicle will shudder while going up hill or driving on flat surface. I had the pcv replaced spark plugs. No codes, fluid is good.

Filed Aug 23, 2019 · Transmission · 97,500 miles · VT

When driving my car and holding the speed at 50-60mph the RPM begin to fluctuate and the car shudders. Also when going up hills it does them same thing and and feels as if it has a harder time shifting.my car only has 97944 miles on it.

Filed May 31, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 90,000 miles · TX

My windows will roll down on their own while going down the road. I can only roll the windows up and down intermittently while parked and in motion. While driving stability control will turn itself off and blow some sort of gas through the air conditioning vents in the car, then it will start shuddering and slowing down the car to the point I have to pull over. After that issue started, my A/C will only work intermittently as well.

Filed Apr 17, 2018 · Transmission · 81,000 miles · KY

While accelerating, the vehicle will shudder and jerk, even vibrate violently at times. The RPM meter jumps up and down while it does that. You cannot give it gas while it is doing this (you can but it does not accelerate). I was on the interstate when the vehicle began to do this and starting losing speed quickly. Luckily, that time it only lasted a few seconds before I was able to speed back up. This could easily cause a wreck. Took it to the dealer and they found no error codes or issues. I explained what it was doing directly to the mechanic and he knew immediately it was the torque converter. He explained that my acadia would not go while it was jerking because the car is stuck in between gears. Apparently a very common issue with the acadia but no recalls. Even though I am still well under the mileage of my warranty, gm will not cover the cost to fix because my warranty expired a few months ago.

Filed Nov 13, 2017 · Transmission · 97,000 miles · NC

Vehicle shudders and engine surges if engine rpms drop under 22oo. Car does not drive smoothly. Has tripped into "limp home mode" while driving on 4 lane highway at 60mph. Vehicle had to be towed. Dealer "said there was not error code to repair", have taken it in on 4 different occasions with a repair to fuel relay repair, motor mount, and twice with no repair before warranty was up, now outside of warranty in mileage. This vehicle is not safe. Problem has been going on since august 2017.

Filed Jul 21, 2016 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · MD

Vehicle shudders and jerks at all speeds. It is particularly worse at lower speeds. The automatic transmission is acting like someone is popping the clutch on an manual transmission. It is scary and dangerous to drive when this is happening, however it only happens intermittently. Have found many similar complaints via google, however cannot get dealer to address the issue as no error codes are present and they cannot recreate the issue.

Filed Oct 2, 2015 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · TX

We got this car in hopes it would last 3 years. When we drive it, the transmission shudders and acts like it is going to die driving down the road. It is very dangerous and annoying and I'm afraid to drive it. It is really such a shame, the car seems so nice but drives worse than a sherman tank. It seems to do it worse at low speeds, on the military base 15mph 20mph average speed it does it constantly. It also does it on the highway at any speed.

Filed Oct 2, 2015 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · TX

Transmission shudders and makes for a very uneasy, uncomfortable drive. It acts like it is going to die in the middle of driving down the highway.