'Shift to Park' won't clear
The 2017 Acadia has the highest complaint rate of any year. The 'Shift to Park' message, which stops the car turning off, is most of the complaints.
Updated November 2026 · based on 707 owner complaints and 4 recalls
635 1.9x the Acadia average
4 free to fix at a dealer
Every Acadia year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2017 Acadia
Top problems and what they cost
Shift to Park message
The car says to shift to park when already in park.
Fix: Shifter switch $300 to $600
Electrical
Car won't shut off
The car stays on or drains the battery because of the shifter fault.
Fix: Same repair
Electrical
Recalls
If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
If there is a brake fluid leak, braking performance may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2017 GMC Acadia
- Shift into park and switch off several times.This checks the shifter and parking lock. On some models a faulty switch shows "Shift to Park" or the car can roll if Park does not fully engage.Owners filed 256 complaints about "Shift to Park" message on the 2017 Acadia, one of the worst years for it.
- Ask whether the shifter was repaired.Rough, delayed or slipping gear changes are early signs of transmission trouble. A rebuilt or replacement transmission often costs $3,000 to $6,000.Owners filed 256 complaints about "Shift to Park" message on the 2017 Acadia, one of the worst years for it.
Questions
Is the 2017 GMC Acadia reliable?
'Shift to Park' won't clear. The 2017 Acadia has the highest complaint rate of any year. The 'Shift to Park' message, which stops the car turning off, is most of the complaints.
How many recalls does the 2017 GMC Acadia have?
4 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any GMC dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2017 GMC Acadia problems?
Shift to Park message; Car won't shut off.
Crash rating shown for the 2017 GMC Acadia SUV AWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.