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My 2024 GMC Acadia Transmission Failed With 950 Miles On It, It Was Slipping and Wouldn’t Go Into Drive or Reverse After I Took It Back To the Dealer

Imagine buying a new 2024 GMC Acadia, and the transmission fails before it has 1,000 miles on it. The new SUV has been in the shop for more days than you’ve owned it. That happened to Marc, who is wondering if he should have purchased a Honda instead.

“New cars aren’t built how they used to be.”

That’s what Marc Pariseau (@marcpz) says about his new GMC Acadia with less than 1,000 miles on it. He said this on his TikTok video before the social media platform was banned in the U.S.  

Now, picture this: you've just brought home a shiny new 2024 GMC Acadia, and before you’ve even had the chance to put 1,000 miles on it, the transmission starts acting up. The new SUV is so fresh, it’s still spotless on the outside, and you haven’t even given it a wash yet. The last thing you expected was a major issue with your new ride.

You like your new Ebony Twilight Metallic Acadia SUV, which could be your last new car. You don’t plan to drive it much because you own two older Hondas who will be your daily drivers. You’ll keep the Acadia looking new and only drive it 5,000 miles a year.

However, your excitement for the new Acadia quickly fades with only 950 miles on the odometer. A sudden shudder, and the transmission starts to slip. The feeling of disappointment and uncertainty about your new SUV's performance sets in. 

You rush to the GMC dealer where you made the purchase, only to find that the transmission won't shift into drive or reverse as you pull into the lot. You're forced to leave your new car parked in the middle of the drive, another inconvenience caused by the unexpected transmission failure. 

Here is Marc’s incredible story.

Marc says, “My new 2024 GMC Acadia has been in the shop for more days than I’ve owned it. It’s already been at the dealer two times. The first time, it had only 145 miles. I should have bought a Honda.”

The car has been in the shop for 2 weeks because the engine light came on and that was it. The whole thing is beautiful inside and out. I’m hoping they can fix it or replace it soon. 

They definitely don’t make them like they used to. It’s a good thing for warranties and lemon laws. In a follow-up video, commenters asked Marc why he chose Acadia. 

Marc says, “I just looked up the top ten worst SUVs, and it wasn’t on the list. The 2024 redesign is new, so I thoroughly knew everything about it. Every brand is having major issues with new vehicles."

While he waits to find out what’s wrong with his new SUV, he says, “Don’t be worried about getting a new vehicle. The worst-case scenario is it’s under warranty, and it will get fixed, and I have a loaner to drive." 

After the dealer told Marc his new Acadia needed a new transmission, he said, “It’s all good. GM is buying it back, and I will get something new. The dealer is giving me a deal on another new Acadia and a credit towards a trade.”

When asked about the GMC recall on the GM 8-speed transmissions, he says, “There is no recall on my VIN. But it doesn’t matter anymore because GM is buying it back from me.”

I own two Hondas for commuting, and my Acadia is just a weekend vehicle, so I’ll only drive 5000 miles a year.

Marc talks about how all new vehicles are having problems that are built after 2020. 

“My two pre-2020 Hondas are fine, and I’ve had no problems with them. They are pre-pandemic. Everything new, especially trucks and SUVs, are having major issues,” he says. 

I was not looking for something to put a lot of miles on. I’m happy with a new vehicle with a warranty.

The new GMC Acadia’s are super nice but aren’t made to drive a million miles. Thank god it’s a 3rd car for me, and GM is replacing it with a new one. 

Marc concludes, “GM replaced the whole vehicle, so hopefully it doesn’t happen with the new one. And if it does, they can just keep replacing the vehicle every time,” he says, laughing.

In the comments, he is asked why he purchased a new Acadia. 

Brindy - Never buy a first year of a remodel. It’s the most crucial rule in the automotive industry.

Marc responds I took the chance. They are buying it back and will most likely order a 2025. 

Marc concludes, “Ya, it worked out. GM is buying it back, and I have a new one in transit.”

Is GM aware of the transmission issues in the Acadia?

Yes, General Motors is aware of the problem with other models, and there is a lawsuit covering many GM models with 8-speed automatic transmissions. The Acadia uses the same 8-speed transmission. 

A report from Top Class Actions says that other GMC Acadia owners have experienced shifting problems not long after they purchased them. 

The report says that Mark Riley’s GMC Acadia wouldn’t recognize when it was in park, would not turn off, and displayed a message saying “shift to park” even though he was already in park. 

He contends that GM breached its warranty because despite repeatedly seeking repairs under warranty, his dealership never repaired the problem. Indeed, the only repair attempt he received did not correct the defect, which continued to occur a few weeks later. 

The GM class-action lawsuit.

The lawsuit says, “GM has breached the trust of millions of Americans by selling defective 8-speed transmission vehicles which they knew to be defective for years, putting profit first and safety last,” said Ted Leopold, partner at Cohen Milstein and court-appointed Lead Counsel for the class. 

“GM marketed and sold these 8-speed automatic transmission vehicles as having “world-class performance,” lightning-fast and smooth shifting, along with improved fuel efficiency, and instead sold defective vehicles.”

Conclusion.

Marc did the right thing by challenging GM for his new 2024 GMC Acadia under the Lemon Law. The GMC dealer was cooperative and knew they could not fix his new 2024 Acadia without replacing the transmission. They even gave him a loaner vehicle to drive. 

Should Marc have walked away from the Acadia after GM said they would buy it back and purchased another brand like Honda?

The GMC dealer was able to give Marc a good deal on a new 2025 Acadia and keep him as a customer. Many other customers would have walked away. 

What would you have done? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my failed GM transmission story titled; My GMC Sierra Texas Edition Looks Great, But With Only 91,000 Miles, I’ve Replaced the Transmission Twice, And the Drivetrain Is Junk  

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReportAll Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierlFacebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Marc Pariseau