2019 GMC Acadia: battery drain or dead battery

Filed Jun 27, 2026 · Electrical · PA

Shortly after purchasing my 2019 GMC Acadia with 52,000 miles on it, my wife parked the vehicle in our driveway and shifted the transmission into Park. When she pressed the push button to shut the vehicle off, the instrument cluster displayed a "Shift to Park" message even though the shifter was already in the Park position. Because the vehicle did not recognize that it was in Park, it would not shut off completely. The radio remained on, and the doors could not be locked. The only way to get the vehicle to shut off was to repeatedly shift from Drive to Park until it finally recognized Park. This occurred multiple times. After researching the problem, I discovered that many other GM owners have experienced the same "Shift to Park" failure. I believe this is a widespread defect that should be investigated because it can prevent a vehicle from shutting off properly, leave electrical accessories powered on, drain the battery, and prevent the vehicle from being secured when parked.

Filed May 7, 2026 · MI

I am getting the 'SHIFT TO PARK' error message when I put the vehicle in park. When I looked up the error this is what I got... but I don't see a recall for my vehicle. The "Shift to Park" message in GMC Acadias (2017–2019, primarily) is a common, known issue caused by a faulty microswitch in the shifter assembly that fails to recognize when the car is in Park. This defect prevents the engine from shutting off, drains the battery, and requires a replacement of the shifter switch or assembly.

Filed Apr 24, 2026 · Electrical · WI

This vehicle has an electrical deficiency when trying to park, The console will NOT recognize that the vehicle is in park, causing bell warnings, beeping, and an INABILITY to lock the vehicle, thus draining the battery. We cannot walk away from it, nor ever leave anything of value in it. This is a recurring problem, causing stress, and having to start, shut off, re-start, wiggling the shifter knob, MANY times and HOPE that the electrical system will recognize that the vehicle IS in Park. sometimes this can take 20 minutes, IF it works at all. If not, We have to leave someone IN the vehicle when this happens, in order to do anything! This is a KNOWN problem with this shifter, and there SHOULD be a recall on it!

Filed Feb 26, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · TX

My 2019 Acadia often will not turn off because it has a Shift to Park issue. Apparently it is caused by a faulty microswitch in the shifter assembly that fails to signal the Body Control Module when in park, leading to a persistent warning message, inability to turn off the vehicle and battery drain. It has been going on for at least 4 years. It appears there is a recall for this problem but when I search my VIN number a recall does not come up. There are many posts that say "certain" models in years 2017-2019 but why not mine? It is definitely a safety issue because it does not turn off.

Filed Jan 29, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · MO

Shift to park alert continues to come on when car is already shifted into park. Car will not shut off without pulling car back out of park and shifting back into park. Causing a delay in all electrical attached to power down, potentially draining the battery.

Filed Dec 30, 2025 · Electrical · AL

Shift to park caused by a faulty micro switch. Woukd take up to 30 min to get car in park, leading to engine shutdown failures and possibly battery drain I did replace battery before I knew this was causing this. Messages did appear saying this was an issue ,must shift to park but no indication of how to do it. I got this repaired at barkley GMC Dec 29:30

Filed Sep 6, 2025 · AZ

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The issue was with the gear select switch and jumper harness, related to the "Shift to Park" malfunction in my 2019 GMC Acadia. Yes, the components were available at the time of the repair with the GMC dealer. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle would not recognize when it was in "Park," which prevented it from being turned off. This could lead to unexpected vehicle movement or battery drain, and creates a safety risk if the driver assumes the vehicle is secure when it is not. It also poses a hazard if the vehicle cannot be safely shut down in an emergency or in unsafe conditions. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue was reproduced and confirmed by a GMC dealer during an appointment on July 22, 2025. They diagnosed the problem and verified that the gear select switch and jumper harness needed replacement. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected and repaired by an authorized GMC dealer. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, a "Shift to Park" warning message appeared and the vehicle would not allow me to turn it off without shifting in and out of park multiple times. This first occurred on July 18, 2025, and continued until the repair was made.

Filed Aug 19, 2025 · PA

When I park and then turn the car off the car fails to recognize that the gear shifter is in the park position. As a result, the car doesn’t fully shut down, leaving the engine running or the electronics active. This drains the battery. I have seen this issue is recalled for other 2019 Acadias but don’t under why it is not recalled in mine. I’m afraid I’ll be out and about and unable to turn my car off resulting in a dead battery and being stranded.

Filed Aug 11, 2025 · MI

When put in park it dings for a long time shift to park. I have read that this is an issue there has been recalls but mine is not on recall. However this does this like every other time I use it . I’m worried I will be left stranded with dead battery

Filed Jul 12, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · ID

We receive a shift to park message when we try to turn our 2019 GMC Acadia off. The vehicle is already in park, but an alarm bell keeps going off telling us it is not. The vehicle will not allow us to shut off the vehicle properly and results in battery drain and inability to lock the vehicle. We have noticed there is a class action lawsuit and recalls from previous year's models and the 2019 model manufactured in Ohio, but ours was manufactured in Tennessee. Our year, make, and model isn't listed in the class action lawsuit and/or a recall. This is very frustrating considering the number of similar issues/complaints in regards to this shift to park problem. I feel GMC as the manufacturer should be held liable for a faulty part and they have failed to correct this issue in later models since they were aware of the issue with the 2017-2018 Acadia models built in Tennessee.

Filed Sep 9, 2024 · Transmission · NJ

When I shifted to Park and hit the button to turn the car off, it continuously chimed and flashed the Shift to Park message on the dashboard. It would not allow me to fully turn off the car, stating I was not in Park, even though I was. I would have to turn the car back on, shift into drive or reverse, move forward or backward a little bit, hit the brake a few times, put it back to Park, hit the button, and hope it would turn off. It usually took four or five times of this routine before it would finally turn off correctly. It began happening more and more frequently over the course of a week by the time I could get it into the dealer. This is a safety issue, as the car was not fully in Park, and leaving it that way would have drained the battery as well as not allowed me to lock the doors while parked in my driveway. Thankfully, I have an extended warranty (car has 55,000 miles) and only had to pay my $200 deductible, but it was an over $500 fix. As this EXACT SAME issue is prevalent in these cars and was recalled on my same model in previous years, I feel the recall should be extended and these expenditures reimbursed.

Filed Aug 28, 2024 · Transmission · NC

Purchased this vehicle with 49,000 miles on it. Currently, it has 55,000. When I shift the car into park and turn it off. I am met with a consistent ding and error messages displaying “Shift to Park.” With this error message I am unable to fully turn my car off, it drains the battery and I cannot lock my car door. I have to turn the car back on and mess with the shifter which sometime takes a longtime. I cannot just leave my car on and drain the other components; it’s frustrating. I called my local GMC dealer. I told them about the current issues with these cars as it isn’t a secret that this is a common problem. I pointed out the TBS on this make and model and I’m expected to pay for this out of pocket because my powertrain warranty ended June 30th 2024.