Owners have filed 392 safety complaints about the 2018 GMC Acadia with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 8 crashes, 1 fire, 12 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 GMC Acadia, power train / transmission issues stand far above everything else.
"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"
"Car will not shift into park therefore I cannot turn the car off without disconnecting the battery. Dangerous bc you don’t know if the car is in park or not when you have to get out and stand in front of car to life hood and disconnect battery."
Complaint filings for the 2018 GMC Acadia over time:
Across the GMC Acadia model years we track, the 2008 has the most complaints on file (858); the 2018 ranks 4 of 4.
2 recalls apply to some or all 2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange,…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 392 complaints about the 2018 GMC Acadia with NHTSA. The most-reported system is power train / transmission.
The 2018 GMC Acadia has 2 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
NHTSA gives the 2018 GMC Acadia an overall crash rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.