GMC Acadia Automatic Transmission Torque Converter Problems (2024)

The transmission is slipping or shuddering under certain conditions. Most frequently noticeable around the shift points between 2nd&3rd, or 3rd & 4th, especially when the engine is downshifting to climb a hill. There is a strong vibration and rpm bounce a bit before it finally engages after a couple seconds. I have recently learned that Acadias have a long history of transmission problems, notably the torque converter and wave plate.

Transmission seemed to hesitate while shifting and slip at different speeds. Took to jim ellis mall of GA dealer where they determined the torque converter clutch had failed causing the shutter at all speeds. Dealer indicated the complete transmission needed to be replaced. Vehicle only had 111,000 miles and all preventive maintenance programs were followed including transmission flush at 65,000 miles. Vehicle is only 4 years old and never pulled a trailer or abused in any way. Since the new transmission was installed, the owner feels the original transmission ever felt right but can't prove it.

The car sputters and hesitates when changing gears. I took it to a GMC dealer and found out the torque converter and transmission were bad. I researched and found multiple complaints of this happening with the GMC Acadia. I received a price of approximately $4500 to correct the issue. I did contact GMC and was told no assistance would be offered.

Shudder in transmission. Had the transmission rebuilt found out the torque converter failed and almost shattered. Over $5000 fix.

Have vibration when taking off from a stop due to defective torque converter with only 95500 miles on vehicle had to replace and rebuild transmission.

The torque converter went bad within 5 years and had to be replaced due to the engine shutting off when stopped and shuttering when accelerating. The repairs cost me $1500.

While coasting up to a redlight the car engine lurched and stalled shutting off. This left me coasting with no power steering and no power brakes. Very scary. I was very fortunate I didn't hit anything. We have since found out this is due to a gm known problem with the torque converter. Gm has a service bulletin acknowledging this problem. TSB 13120a.

While accelerating, the vehicle will shudder and jerk, even vibrate violently at times. The rpm meter jumps up and down while it does that. You cannot give it gas while it is doing this (you can but it does not accelerate). I was on the interstate when the vehicle began to do this and starting losing speed quickly. Luckily, that time it only lasted a few seconds before I was able to speed back up. This could easily cause a wreck. Took it to the dealer and they found no error codes or issues. I explained what it was doing directly to the mechanic and he knew immediately it was the torque converter. He explained that my Acadia would not go while it was jerking because the car is stuck in between gears. Apparently a very common issue with the Acadia but no recalls. Even though I am still well under the mileage of my warranty, gm will not cover the cost to fix because my warranty expired a few months ago.

Around April/may 2015 I began noticing issues with my vehicle when shifting, upshifting and downshifting while driving. I took it into the dealership several times with complaints of the transmission skipping, hesitating, sputtering, and a variety of other words that I used to describe the issue. The problem continued to become worse. Time and time again the dealership told me they test drove the vehicle, couldn't duplicate the issue, and couldn't do anything further b/c no code was coming up on the car. Again, in December 2015, I took my car back in because the problem was worsening. Again, the same story from the dealership. Only this time they suggested I service my transmission. I did. Then I was told that there was clutch material in my transmission fluid which meant the clutches were failing and I would be looking at a transmission rebuild sooner rather than later. I asked what if anything could be done, I was told nothing because there were no codes on the car. So I have a car that I purchased 3 years and 3 months ago brand new looking at a transmission rebuild. I then contacted corporate and began the process of a formal complaint. After speaking with corporate and then subsequently the dealership again, the dealership took my car back in. This time. They pulled out the transmission, and behold, the 35r wave plate was cracked (which I asked if that was it back in may after doing some internet research and seeing that several others have had this exact same issue with a cracked wave plate) and the torque converter was replaced along with a couple of other items and the system flushed. It seems as though there is a design flaw with the transmissions that need to be corrected. If this is such a common problem, why is GMC attempting to play dumb when there are obvious issues and push the cost off onto its consumers?I feel 100% that the dealership knew all along.

The car began bucking and surging over time without the accelerator being pressed. The dealer stated it was not the ignition coils as I had indicated, but that it was the torque converter inside the transmission. Must replace transmission for $4800. Repair completed.

Broke down, car felt like it would not shift into second gear then just died. Dealer found a cracked wave plate, cracked clutch housing (clutches worn), cylinder excessively worn, torque converter full of metal. No sign of any computer alerts or check engine signals until break-down. Repaired all for $2820. 15. Said it would have been covered if under 100,000 miles. Sounds like planned obsolesence, or just poor manufacturing. No more american cars for me.

Transmission began slipping when I was accelerating out of turns. Dealer replaced broken motor mount and reprogrammed computer and said transmission was fine. 17 days later, 3-5 reverse clutch went out and dealer had to rebuild 3-5 reverse and 4,5,6 clutch and replace torque converter because of contamination. The car still isn't driving right but dealer states they can't find anything wrong with the vehicle. This is a very common problem with '08 and '09 Acadia's and GMC is aware of the problem but isn't don't anything to prevent failure with other owners.

I've had my GMC Acadia in for service on the transmission 3 times in the last 6 months: speed sensor, wave plate, now torque converter. Dealership responds they are completely independent, and that this is not an issue with this model. However, the failure of the transmission in these vehicles is prominent on GMC Acadia forums. Why has gm not stepped up to own and fix this common issue?.

Started shifting weird, then rpm's would spike as car was shifting. Car then would not go into any gear and left stranded on side of road. Had to have vehicle towed to dealership where it was found to have a broken wave plate, damaging numerous gears and torque converter. Pressure control module which is part of the valve body was bad. Had to replace entire transmission, all seals, gaskets. Also found out when replacing that the thermostat housing was leaking coolant, so had to have that replaced at same time. This at a cost to us of over $3500. 00. Have read online that this is a very common issue with this vehicle. We were 7 months out of our 5 year/100,000 mile warranty and gm would not help in the least.

Purchased 2008 Acadia in March 2012. Eight (8) months after purchase while driving with infant son in vehicle, without any warning or lights the car lost all power. Luckily, a serious accident didn't occur. The transmission had completely failed. The cause was a broken 3-5 waveplate, the transmission had heat damage, and material throughout. Our local GMC dealer service department removed, torn down, and overhauled the transmission. This service was covered under a 5 year 100,000mi warranty. It has been 1 year and the transmission is slow to change gears and shaking rumbling at 20mph and 40mph. I called my local dealer they were unable to set up an appointment for 4 days, the car is now at the dealership. I was told it needs $4,900. 00 of work. The cause of the shake and rumble during acceleration is the failure of the torque converter ($2,000). The torque converter was replaced with a remanufactured torque converter, when the transmission was rebuilt 13 months ago. When I asked gm to replace the torque converter, I was told I was lucky it lasted more than 12,000mi. Very disappointed with gm. The transmissions are defective and the are aware of this issue, they put a band aid on the car until it passed 100,000mi,and no longer covered by warranty and now the consumers problem. I do not consider myself lucky that my car spent 7 days in the shop last November and now has been in the shop 4 days with no end in sight, for the same issue.

I've had three transmissions in this car with only 114,000 miles. Wave plate, torque converter problems.

2007 GMC Acadia. Consumer expresses discontent in regards to several repairs and malfunctions with the vehiclethe heater core leaked, the check engine light illuminated due to a faulty tuning valve, the auxiliary a/c evaportor was leaking and had to e replaced, the water pump, engine mount, and torque converter all had to be replaced, as well as the master cylinder which was leaking. Also, the abs light and stabiltrak lights illuminated.