the transmission kept slipping. the car continued to lose power until it just wouldn't go anymore. The mechanic said it is definitely the transmission and drive shaft but my particular VIN is not included. I am looking at $7,000 in repairs on a car I owe $13,000.00
2018 GMC Acadia: sudden loss of power
7 of the 399 complaints about the 2018 GMC Acadia describe sudden loss of power.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Sudden loss of power by model year
What owners say
Dear General Motors Customer Assistance Center, I am writing to formally file a complaint and request assistance regarding a serious mechanical failure with my 2018 GMC Acadia SLT. I purchased this vehicle when it had approximately 7,000 miles on it after it was transported from Florida. Since owning the vehicle, I have properly maintained it and had it serviced through Suttle Motors dealership in Newport News, Virginia. Recently, while driving on the highway to have tires installed, the vehicle suddenly stalled while I was in traffic. This caused a very dangerous situation, as traffic behind me was forced to abruptly slow down and I was nearly rear-ended due to the sudden loss of power. Because the vehicle was no longer drivable, I had it towed to Suttle Motors for inspection. After examining the vehicle, the service department informed me of the following issue: “The transmission solenoid valve is stuck and it has burnt the transmission fluid. The vehicle will require a full transmission replacement. The estimated cost is $7,769 with a 3-year/100,000-mile warranty.” I was extremely shocked and disappointed to receive this news. My vehicle currently has only 67,000 miles, and I have taken care to maintain it properly through the dealership. Experiencing a complete transmission failure at such relatively low mileage is very concerning, especially considering the dangerous situation it created on the highway. Given the circumstances, I am requesting that General Motors review this matter and advise whether any goodwill assistance, repair support, or coverage options may be available to help resolve this issue. I would greatly appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. I can provide service records and documentation from Suttle Motors if needed. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
The vehicle has experienced repeated electrical and engine-related malfunctions, including random engine shutdowns while driving and random no-start conditions. The thermostat and cooling system failed and were replaced in 2024. Multiple sensors have failed. The braking system remains noisy even after brake replacement. The lane detection safety system does not provide audible alerts. The vehicle is currently operational and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle has randomly shut off while driving on both highways and city roads in Azle, Texas. This occurred while my two children were in the vehicle. When the engine shut off, there was a risk of losing power steering and braking assist, which could have caused an accident, especially at highway speeds and in traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The thermostat and cooling system failure were confirmed and repaired by a service center in 2024. Electrical and sensor issues have occurred repeatedly but have not been fully diagnosed or resolved. Brake noise persists despite replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? UNKNOWN. The vehicle has been serviced by repair facilities, but the manufacturer has not provided a definitive diagnosis for the engine shutdown and electrical failures. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure? When did they first appear? Yes. Various warning lights and symptoms appeared prior to failures, including cooling system warnings and sensor alerts. Electrical issues and battery failures have occurred repeatedly, with batteries lasting only 2–3 years. Symptoms began after purchase and have continued throughout ownership. Additional details The brakes have been noisy even after replacement, and the lane detection system does not produce audible warni
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the reduced engine power message was displayed. The RPM increased to high, and the engine revved. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Truck lost power randomly while driving on freeway spend so much money on fixing it this has to do something with the way the built it
My 2018 gmc acadia slt-1 has been having acceleration issues like shuddering and or feels like a full loss of power , with no check engine light. I've taken it into the dealership twice for this problem . I've only taken it in this 2nd time because it got worse and scared me that it would die on the highway. It also has had to have the battery charged 3 times in a couple of weeks , yet the dealer says the battery checks good. At the least I believed since its under warranty they would change the battery in the case the computer is causing issues based on battery voltage. The alternator is working , but with only 29k miles none of this battery nor acceleration shudder and stumble like its going to die should be acceptable.
First of all, this issue is being reported by hundreds if not thousands of gmc acadia owners. I received the "shift to park" message months ago while it still was under the 36,000 mile warranty and then it went away until last week. I got a "shift to park" message when I turned the vehicle off even though the gear was in the shift position. This caused a number of secondary issues that are now compromising the safety of the vehicle. Once I am able to turn the vehicle back on after it drains or kills the electrical system, I am getting a number of issues. However, the ones that concern me the most are the rolls even though the vehicle is in park, loss of power steering, loss of awd, loss of stabilitrack, loss of ABS, braking system error and power surges. These are the most concerning but I am also having issues with my dashboard, navigation, and vehicle instruments. I called the gmc dealer who had no problem telling me the gear shift box needed to be replaced, not covered under warranty and they had no idea when they can fix it because it was on a national back order. What really disturbs me is that there are lawsuits going on dealing with this particular issue and that literally it compromises the safety of the vehicle and neither gmc or the federal safety agency have acted on this. I was driving today and realized how dangerous it was to operate a vehicle under these conditions. You can literally be driving and the vehicle have a power surge which makes you lose control caused by a malfunction in the gear shift box. I am assuming that no one will due anything until several people are either killed or seriously injured. This issues has been reported on models going back to 2017 and here we are in 2019 and still have the issue. Please help us, this issue is happening to thousands of drivers and it is not being addressed by the federal safety agency or gmc. Please recall or stop selling
Service bulletins that may apply
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle...
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000...
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California...
- This service bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a customer concern of a Malfunction Indicator...
- This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in...
- This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the...
- This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil...
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2018 GMC Acadia loss of power
Is sudden loss of power a common problem on the 2018 GMC Acadia?
7 of 399 owner complaints about the 2018 GMC Acadia (2%) mention sudden loss of power. The model year with the most reports is 2008.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 GMC Acadia?
There are 0 recalls and 188 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 GMC Acadia
Battery drain 14Won't shift 12Check engine light 11Jerking 6Transmission failure 6
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