2018 GMC Acadia: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · TX

For the past 2 years I have been having a problem with the Shift to Park. It causes my vehicle to not turn completely off therefore draining the battery completely, I have gone through several new batteries because of this issue and has left me stranded needing to uber to purchase a new battery. Recently it started causing issues with my vehicles Antilock braking system and the stability control system although I don't know if they are all related but it is causing a hazard to drive around and it it the only vehicle I own.

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · VA

The shift to park in my 2018 GMC Acadia was faulty. On many occasions and randomly, the car would be in park but would not turn off, saying I needed to shift it to park in order to turn the car off. This has left me unable to turn my car off resulting in dead batteries and missed appointments and being late for work. This defect is well documented by GM in TSBs PIT5616A, 18-NA-297, and 19-NA-206, which describes the exact symptoms and repair that I had to have completed. This problem has been on going and as a teacher I cannot continue to be late for school because my car, though in park, would not turn off. Given GM’s prior acknowledgement of this defect, I believe reimbursement is warranted. I have never been notified of a recall on this.

Filed Aug 3, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · IL

After shifting car to “P” park, it still says shift to park and drains the battery.

Filed Jul 17, 2025 · Electrical · TN

Component/System: Transmission selector / electrical system (“Shift to Park” defect) Yes, vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I own a 2018 GMC Acadia. Since I purchased the vehicle used in June 2019, the car has frequently displayed a “Shift to Park” message even when the vehicle is in park and the gear shifter is fully engaged. This message prevents the car from turning off completely, leaving electrical systems running, the ignition on, and draining the battery. This issue has persisted nearly daily for the past five years. I brought the vehicle to a GM dealership in September 2020, while it was still under factory warranty, but the problem was not diagnosed or repaired at the time. The dealership could not reproduce the issue, but it continued regularly afterward. I am now paying nearly $900 out of pocket to have it repaired. Safety Risks: The vehicle does not fully shut down, increasing risk of electrical malfunction or battery failure. I am often unsure whether the car is truly “off,” which could pose a fire hazard or lead to the car rolling unexpectedly if the system misreads the gear position. This defect has also caused me to get stuck in unsafe areas, repeatedly turning the car off and on, jiggling the shifter until the system registers park. The constant battery drain has left me stranded with a dead vehicle multiple times. Reproduction / Confirmation: The issue has been reproduced by an independent repair shop and will be fixed at my expense next week. A GM dealership inspected it in 2020 but failed to diagnose or confirm the issue at that time. Inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by a GM-authorized service center. Not inspected by police or insurance representatives. Warning Messages or Symptoms: The “Shift to Park” message appears on the dashboard even after the vehicle is correctly shifted into park. This began shortly after purchasing the vehicle in June 2019, worsened over time, & still has the inability to turn off properly.

Filed Feb 2, 2025 · WV

when in park dash still say shift to park ....batteries died lights stay on staibility pops up on dash car have to be jumped then same issues

Filed Jun 19, 2024 · Electrical · OH

GM has acknowledged that there is a "Shift to Park" problem with 2017 and 2018 GMC Acadia's. This design flaw/ part failure does not recognize that the vehicle is actually in "Park" so you cannot shut off the engine. In addition, the dash lights remain on which eventually drains the battery. Sometimes the car will roll as if it's in Neutral. GM is very aware of this problem. However, they do not have a permanent solution. GM should be required to issue a nationwide recall to correct the situation by totally disabling the electronic part. In six years of ownership, I've encountered this problem 3 times: 5-14-19, mileage 13,266, 1-27-21, mileage 29,381and most recently 5-30-24, mileage 65,057. This 3rd repair cost me $721.88.

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · OH

Car does not recognize it is in park and has rolled into my garage door even though the shifter has been placed in the park position. Also it continues to alarm to "Shift to Park" and has caused 2 dead batteries.

Filed Feb 10, 2022 · Electrical · IN

Shift to park switch is defective. Switch will not register transmission is in park causing an alarm that runs battery dead. Car has set in my driveway 3 months unable to drive.

Filed Dec 20, 2019 · Electrical · 28,000 miles · IN

I am getting a error message "shift to park" even when the vehicle is clearly in park. It drains the battery because you can't shut off the vehicle with the message. Have to jiggle the shifter after several attempts it may clear the message. Had one time I got out with the error message and the vehicle began to roll with no one in it even though the shifting area said "p" for park. And sitting in my garage with car running could not get the shifter to move to reverse, drive, anything, had to shut it off 3 times before it would register. Have had the wiring harness already replaced.

Filed Nov 18, 2019 · Transmission · 11,000 miles · CA

'action required shift to park' - message. Stationary. The car is in park! Bells sound. Doors lock. Battery drains. Hundreds of other folks have reported the same issue online. Please recall this car, dangerous and I have kids.

Filed Nov 1, 2019 · Electrical · 13,000 miles · FL

Dead battery at 12,973 miles. Replaced battery. Also at 13013 miles 'put in park' message and beeping when the car is in park. Car will not shut off, cannot be locked and continues loud beeping. Repaired by dealer. At 13268 miles 'put in park' message and beeping when car is in park is happening again. Also, dashboard lights sometimes do not come on and sometimes shut off when driving. Is going back for repair again. Battery is losing amps.

Filed Oct 9, 2019 · Transmission · 18,500 miles · KY

After shifting my acadia into park and shutting it off, "shift to park" warning comes us sounding an alarm that won't go off unless I start the car and shift in and out of park several times. It gets harder to get the warning to go away each time I drive it. I have had to result to not driving it to avoid the battery draining or having to unhook the battery. The car only has 19000 miles so the dealer is willing to replace it but there are no parts available. Also, others have mentioned that the problem returns even after the repair.