Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.
Chart based on 110 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
Little known but increasingly pervasive problem with this model: While on vacation,"Shift to Park" msg appeared after car was already in Park, and car stayed in accessory mode, unable to be shut off. First "repair" was to adjust linkage, but before leaving dealership, I tested it again, and the same message appeared. Dealer kept car for several days before replacing shift linkage per GM bulletin PIE0477A.
81000 mi
US $500
Recurring issue - known to GMC and TSB published, but refused to honor 2nd repair because of expired warranty even though there was a prior history: linkage slipping causing inability for car to turn off. Error message: Shift to Park. When I showed service rep the latest TSB, he acknowledged it is the same issue but said expenses were my responsibility because “it’s the same issue but a different repair now.”
Trany would slip then suddenly bang into gear,actually shaking the car.Mainly transitioning from going downhill then making your way uphill.Almost like the trasmission did not know the gear it was suppose to be in then catches. No trouble found. Dealer reported torque converter fluid seal was torn and leaking. A side note, I park in a garage and noticed no fluid leaks on the floor. Dealer removed some suspension, along with transmission. Replace seal and cleaned underside of vehicle.
Shift flare from 1-2 at low speed/part throttle. Dealer found transmission two quarts low (but no leaks). Haven't had any issues since.
56000 mi
Still notice a shift flare. Could not duplicate issue at dealer. Dealer reset learning algorithm. Flare has returned; however, my wife usually drives the vehicle and she doesn’t notice it. Perhaps it truly is due to learning how it’s driven the majority of the one, so my more aggressive driving confuses it!
Grinding noise on tight turns, especially noticeable at slow speeds. Rear differential was replaced under original warranty.
51300 mi
While slowing to a stop, there was a giant thunk sound and a jolt like I was rear ended. Stabili-trac and traction control went off-line and transmissionwent out of gear and would not re-engage. Dealer said problem was open draft ssensor The shifting is very harsh in lower gears, especially between 1st and 2nd and when the transmission is warm. Dealer said it is normal, but the loaner Acadia they gave me shifted so much better it's like it wasn't even the same transmission
59000 mi
US $105
According to the dealer, a hose had separated and was leaking transmission fluid.
91000 mi
Harsh shifts at low speeds, surging at cruise speeds
On incline truck struggling. Felt like driving on rough road
84000 mi
Originally told dealer about a "shudder" under load last oil change. They couldn't replicate. It got worse and after taking it to a local shop, found out it was transmission and not engine. Dealer fixed under warrenty (torque converter).
The shift selector display piece jammed up, causing the shifting of gears between PRNDL to be very difficult. The shift selector display was replaced and the problem was fixed.
42000 mi
US $108
Shifter mechanism was stiff due to shift indicator breaking.
3/5/R Wave Plate shattered. Had to rebuild transmission.
85000 mi
US $250
replace CV axle (driver's side)
30000 mi
My gear shift was making a very loud noise and would not move smoothly when put into any gear. The symbols such as "R" for reverse and "P" for park would not light up. The gear shift was replaced but symbols still do not light up as they did when new
61500 mi
Engine shudder under load and low RPM. CarMax replaced transmission under their warranty. GMC warranty had expired. I don't think this was the root cause.
95000 mi
US $2100
axial shaft,
98000 mi
US $1400
Transmission module was replaced During trip for Trans module replacement, Extended warranty repair was made to the trans for the broken 35R clutch wave plate inside the transmission. Service tech preformed stating abnormal wear
71000 mi
I took the car in for service because the check engine light came on again. Car had gone haywire again in the snow when I had to floor the gas to maintain forward motion going up hill in snow. Complete new transmission required.
Transmission case was found to be leaking fluid. All seals were replaced while the engine was pulled. Transmission wave plates were inspected while engine and trans were pulled. Wave plates replaced with updated parts.
63600 mi
US $200
Replaced transmission cooler.
101000 mi
US $200
CV Halfshaft boot ruptured.
83000 mi
Transmission wave plate failure
68000 mi
3-5 reverse clutch plate disintegrated on the family summer trip 100 miles from my house.
122000 mi
CV Axle boot leak
128000 mi
Slightly firmer than normal down shift noticed from 3rd down to 2nd gear and from 2nd down to 1st. Consulted private Transmission shop . Known problem of Transmission Electronic Hydraulic Control Module (TEHCM) solenoid filters getting clogged with normal clutch wear particles. 1st independent shop recommended Jasper rebuilt at $4200 including installation due to the fact that the torque convertor will be the next thing to go at $1500 installed and then not if but when the 2/3 wave Plate goes at $2500 installed would be money ahead to do it all now. 2nd well trusted independent tranny shop recommended repair of existing tranny new TECM, Torque Convertor, and 2/3 wave plate. option 2 wins hoping to make it 200,000 Plus on Acadia bought new in 2008. Love it!
75000 mi
Transmission repaired for third time
65800 mi
3-5-R Wave Plate broke. Transmission disassembled and repaired.
119000 mi
US $1100
Transmission would intermittently not shift out of 1st gear. Transmission valve body assembly replaced.
26000 mi
Acadia was taken to the dealer for an oil change. Dealer saw that transmission was leaking. Dealer replaced transmission seal.
16000 mi
Tranny made strange noise when starting.
25000 mi
Shifter in center console completly failed, required entirely new interior console.
84800 mi
3.5.R wave plate failure. Cleaned metal particles from transmission. Replaced all clutch friction plates and damaged steel clutch plates (3.5.R) and waved clutch plate, input housing, sun gear and 2/6 backing plate.
78200 mi
US $150
Diagnostic result from CEL and onStar - transmission TCM needs replacement.
Car in limp mode, but next day fine. Drove for 10k miles before problem appeared again.
130500 mi
US $4000
CEL again, TCM needs replacement,
With tranmission open found 3-5-r wave plate broken again.
Rebuild or re-manufacture?
Decided to purchase reman trans with 3yr/500k mile warranty.
9000 mi
transmission shifting rough and check engine light on periodically. Was going to take too long 5 days to repair so I picked it up and scheduled the repair for a different time.
9000 mi
US $30
power and shifting rough and sluggish, particularly around 40 mph and passing on the highway.
91000 mi
Replaced noisy CV axle shaft.
67000 mi
Highway driving, dash indicated transmission was overheating, called OnStar, 'diagnostic' determined minor. Next day transmission was slipping a lot, bad smell, OnStar recommended going to nearest dealer immediately. dealer rebuilt tranny.
Transmission failure resulting from a waveplate failure and extensive damage. This was indicated by check engine light, and complete loss of power.
120000 mi
US $1000
Also all wheel drive electrical component failed.
160000 mi
US $300
lost connection with rear transfer case in all wheel drive, faulty wiring
41000 mi
internal transmission problem, replaced a part
44000 mi
Leaking fuid transfer case
45000 mi
Car suddenly not able to be put into reverse. Towed and serviced.
40000 mi
US $240
Drive shaft bolts came out. Dealer will not cover this repair, says someone tried to steal the drive shaft. Which is not possible due to were it is parked.
21000 mi
US $220
Leaking automatic transmission cooler hose. Replaced both hoses even though 2nd hose was not leaking.
88000 mi
US $50
Transmisson Command Module went bad.
3000 mi
Transmission/ECM software flash update.
6200 mi
Transmission front seal leaking, and was replaced.
101000 mi
US $1400
Transmission gone
8000 mi
Transmission lugging, erractic shifting, hesitation upon acceleration, rough driving, poor gas mileage.
86000 mi
Transmission went out completely, no forward or reverse. Towed to GM dealer and rebuilt, took 2 weeks to complete. No cost as covered by GM drivetrain warranty.
36000 mi
Found transmission fluid leak. Will repair when working on brakes
37000 mi
US $250
Fluid leak repaired
3800 mi
US $600
Replaced shift modulator on warranty.
58000 mi
US $3900
Transmission not shifting properly. Reverse completely gone.
47000 mi
US $1000
transaxle (front) replacement
90000 mi
trans went out with 89,000 miles on it. Dealer replaced needed parts and returned to me repaired under powertrain warranty.
66500 mi
US $500
Transmission blew and cracked entire case. Vehicle was towed and entire transmission had to be replaced. GMC picked up most of the tab even though was out of warranty. They said it would have been around $4000.00
88000 mi
After 50 or 60 miles on Hwy, Shift hesitation between 5 & 6th gear after downshifting for a grade/hill at highway speed.
91760 mi
C $3300
Replaced leaking transmission hoses
42160 mi
Rebuilt transmission due to wave plate failure.
8100 mi
Transmission Fluid leaking. Dealer found source of leak to be a bad Torque Converter. Flang on the part was scored damaging the seal. Replace Torque Converter.7 days in shop. Transmission fluid dripping from bottom of the vehicle. Dealer thought it was a seal. When transmission was dropped, dealer determined fault to be the Torque Converter. Replace the converter. Repair took 7 days.
15000 mi
Tranmission fluid leaking - bad filler cap - damaged in previous repair,
19000 mi
US $101
Transmission not shifting correctly on Interstate - high engine revs - DIC warning: Tranny hot-idle engine. Found transmission fluid overfilled - during previous service
84700 mi
Front wheels shaking over 50 mph, even after new tires and alignments. Problem was with the AWD- replaced the AWD- has to ship parts from Canada, by truck as too heavy to air freight..
Problems with shifting from Park to Drive. Sometimes stuck in second gear. If you turned it off and waited for about half an hour, the vehicle would run fine (although the code error remained).
Whining noise and slipping transmission. Dealer gave me a free rental car for the night, replaced whatever broke in the tranny and returned the car the following day
1000 mi
Leaking transmission fluid Repaired leak where transmission housing joins engine. Completed repairs of transmission leak
6551 mi
Hesitation in acceleration coming out of turn.
12703 mi
Vibration in steering wheel.
Drivers seat grinding when moving forward or reverse.
Acceleration hesitation coming out of a turn.
Sunroof shade rattles.
46000 mi
Reverse wave plate in transmission failed. The car suddently lost most power, eventually stopping when I came to an upward incline.
65000 mi
Transmission started shifting erratically. Dealer diagnosed a failing transmission and replaced under power train warranty
107000 mi
US $3890
Remanufactured transmission due to wave plate disintergration
60000 mi
US $4400
transmission failed
78800 mi
replaced transmission
138000 mi
Leak, not fixed Needed axle work.
66200 mi
US $3700
Transmission went completely out. Had to replace. Left me stranded and was nearly hit by several vehicles including a concrete mixing truck.
2000 mi
The car was repaired successfully the 3rd time and it turned out to be the TCU (Transmission Control Unit).
66000 mi
Transmission failed with 4th, 5th and 6th gears not enabling due to a failed "wave plate".
69000 mi
Check Engine Light went on with intermittent 'slips' in the transmission. Hit the OnStar button and they said drive it in immediately to a GM Dealer. The Dealer replaced additional tranny parts beyond the May transmission repair.
84300 mi
US $200
3-5-R Wave Plate failure yet again. This is at least the 4th time this particular part has been replaced and the transmission has been rebuilt. The dealer was great & arranged for GM to cover even though it was out of warranty.
52080 mi
Car stopped moving. Transmission would no longer find a gear and engine revved uselessly. Transmission replaced.
CEL on, transmission codes present. Dealer diagnosed and car needed a new transmission control module. Installed new TCM, codes cleared.
1000 mi
Transmission software modification. Allows for smoother shifts from gears 1-2 and 2-3.
53500 mi
Wave plate broke inside transmission. Required the complete transmission to be replaced.
176000 mi
US $2800
Would not shift out of first gear. Repaired twice for the same issue, when sold it was still intermittently not shifting out of 1st gear.
NEVER AGAIN WILL WE OWN A GAENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE !!!!
4000 mi
transmission needed a reflash
53800 mi
Lost all gears except 3rd. "Chack Stabilitrak" and "check Engine light" on. Transmission replaced.
47740 mi
Transmission replaced. No transmission fluid and no visible leak
41500 mi
Transmission seal replaced, clutch replaced, seal on engine replaced to stop an oil leak, replace transmission control module
84000 mi
US $1000
Overhaul transmission. New clutches and waveplate. Even with no maintenance insurance or warranty, GM paid for all parts. I paid labor. Saved several thousand dollars.
93900 mi
US $1900
Repaired Transmission
27280 mi
Transmission vibrates under light load at constant speed of 70km/h. Down shift or more throttle eliminates vibration. Dealer could not replicate problem.
65000 mi
Transmission failure 7000 miles after previous rebuild. After a lengthy process GM finally replaced the transmission
51460 mi
New OEM Transmission...covered by GM 100,000km powertrain warranty
54560 mi
C $375
Transmission linkage failure...cannot put into or take out of gear...bracket failure...GM will not cover fix under powertrain warranty
69700 mi
Broken Wave Plate made gears 3-5-R inoperable and also damaged casing. Transmission overhauled. Under Warranty. Broken Waved Plate made gears 3-5-R inoperable and also damaged casing. Transmission overhauled. Under Warranty.
83000 mi
Transmission intermittently stuck in gear. CEL threw code Transmission Solenoid A Stuck On.
2000 mi
Transmission had huge hiccup and check engine light came on. Diagnostic revealed issue with transmissions, but shop or GM was unable to reproduce issue
40920 mi
C $780
Sluggish response on AWD system, intermittent power loss.
1000 mi
Replaced component of transmission that malfunctioned. Factory warranty covered repair, towing and cost of rental car. Took ~6 days for part to arrive, 1 day to replace broken component.
147000 mi
US $750
Front universal joint in propshaft (driveshaft) to rear differential failed. Front joint is 'CV type" joint that started making loud knocking/tapping noise while driving.
