The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift gears and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH while driving. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift above third gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that there was no transmission fluid inside the torque converter. The vehicle was scanned and displayed an issue with the transmission control module. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V668000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,429.
GMC Acadia transmission failure problems
221 of the 5,599 owner complaints about the GMC Acadia describe complete transmission failure, most of them for the 2008 model year.
- owner complaints
- 221
- worst model year
- 2008
- typical repair cost reported
- $4,000
- typical mileage
- 81,453
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 28Slipping 26Won't shift 18Loss of power 14Stalling 12Shudder 7Jerking 7Engine failure 6
Trouble codes mentioned
P0700 2P2728 1P2715 1P0969 1P0963 1P0797 1P0776 1P0717 1P0716 1
What owners say
Vehicle has experienced multiple electrical and mechanical failures at unusually low mileage. Purchased at 32,000 miles. At approximately 50,000 miles, the factory radio/infotainment system failed completely. Electrical systems were observed remaining active after the vehicle was powered off, suggesting an underlying electrical fault. At approximately 60,000 miles, the power steering rack and fuel pump both required full replacement and were confirmed and replaced by an authorized dealership. No warning lights appeared prior to these failures — components failed without any prior indication. At approximately 100,000 miles, the transmission began failing and exhibits the known torque converter shudder issue widely reported on this vehicle platform. The shudder was present prior to full transmission failure symptoms appearing. The pattern of premature failures across multiple unrelated systems — electrical, steering, fuel delivery, and transmission — suggests a broader manufacturing defect.
This is a very known issue that has been reoccurring with GMC Acadia. The torque converter slipping. That cost alone is over $7.000 for the transmission. I am still making monthly payments for my 2021 Acadia. With rising cost above the board GMC could have resolved this issue before releasing this vehicle to the public for purchase. Only had this vehicle for 2 years and already a new transmission is needed. Other individuals i personally know have the same issue. From my research GMC is aware and fails to do a recall on this issue.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that upon parking and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to successfully park and turn off the vehicle after several attempts. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently failed to shift as intended. Additionally, the A/C system was inoperable while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the cooler and thermostat needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced; however, the vehicle was not serviced for the transmission failures. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start, and the doors failed to close intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced. The contact stated that the transmission failure persisted, and there was an abnormal odor coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 torque converter in the transmission has been vibrating for over a year now. I can imagine it is causing more damage to the rest of the transmission. Now I can feel the shifting starting to get rough, loss of power, and dark transmission fluid. I had the problem confirmed with an independent service center. There have been no warning lamps as of yet. But it's only a matter of time that I will need a torque converter replacement and/or full transmission replacement.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact also stated that while coming to a stop and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle lost motive power but unexpectedly lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 85,695.
I own a 2020 GMC Acadia that has experienced multiple major mechanical failures within one year. In January 2025, at around 74,000 miles, the transmission failed completely with no warning or clear indication of what was wrong. The vehicle suddenly lost power while driving, creating a safety risk for me and my child. I was quoted around $12,000 for the transmission replacement initially before getting GM involved. GM covered all but approximately $3,600 out of pocket for me and also covered 100% of the timing cover replacement, which was found to be defective during the same repair. Now, at about 84,000 miles, the thermostat has failed, triggering the check engine light. This repair has not yet been completed and is estimated at around $1,500. My dealership informed me they keep thermostat parts in stock because this failure is so common on Acadias. There were no warning lamps or symptoms before any of these failures occurred. All repairs and diagnostics—including the current issue—were done at the same GMC dealership where I’ve always had my vehicle serviced on time. I’ve been a loyal customer and maintain my vehicle according to the recommended schedule. Despite that, I have faced repeated high-cost repairs on a 5-year-old vehicle with relatively low mileage, which has been financially and emotionally overwhelming—especially as a parent who recently lost employment. Having the transmission, timing cover, and now thermostat all fail in such a short time clearly raises concerns about the reliability, safety, and manufacturing quality of the 2020 GMC Acadia’s powertrain and engine systems. Given that GM has already covered most of the transmission and timing cover repairs and dealerships acknowledge frequent thermostat failures, this appears to be a systemic defect that warrants formal investigation.
Driving down the street and I heard a extremely loud drop. The transmission went out with no warning or even indication of trouble. The vehicle ran very smooth until that point.
Due to negligence of gmc wright of wexford during the replacement of 3rd new transmission they did not clamp a hose together causing coolant to leak and my thermostat to come on n off. Causing further damage to my vehicle
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
- Risk
- A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222389310.
Recall number 23V172000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia vehicles. The right-front half-shaft assemblies may be improperly connected to the transmission, causing them to separate.
- Risk
- Separation between the half-shaft and transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the right-front half-shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N222393410.
Recall number 23V043000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- Risk
- Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267, Buick Customer service at 1‑866‑608‑8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Recall number 20V668000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.
Recall number 17V516000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick owners at 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC owners at 1‑800‑462‑8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Recall number 14V092000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
- What is wrong
- General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
- Risk
- The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Acadia transmission failure
Which GMC Acadia years have complete transmission failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2008 (94 complaints), 2007 (54 complaints) and 2009 (20 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix complete transmission failure on the GMC Acadia?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,000 (median of 51 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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