What to Do if Your GMC Acadia Says SD Card Removed (But the Card Is Inside!)

Technology can be so frustrating at times especially when you receive an error message telling you something is wrong when you know it should not be. As an example when you get the "SD card is removed" message in your GMC Acadia but you know it is in place.

Something is clearly wrong so what can it be? In this post we will look at the most likely reasons you would receive this message and how you can deal with the problem.

What Does the Navigation SD Card Do?

The navigation SD card is a vehicle specific storage device that you plug into your infotainment system to help keep your GPS up to date. It saves all of your user information and makes sure you have the most updated navigation information.

As mentioned it is specific to your GMC Acadia and programmed to work only with your VIN numbered vehicle. Losing this card or having it stop working can be a real pain so obviously you will want to troubleshoot any issues quickly.

Where Is the SD Card Located in the 2021 GMC Acadia?

The first thing you need to know is if you are putting the SD card in the right place so just for full coverage information let's explain where that is. You will find the SD card slot on the front of your vehicle's center console.

You slide the card in until it clicks in place and it will protrude slightly. To remove the card again you push gently on the card and it will pop back out.

What Does the “SD Card Is Removed” Mean?

So essentially the error message means that the Acadia’s infotainment system can not detect the SD card and as a result is unable to access the data stored on it. This could mean that indeed the card is not in the slot or be an indication of a number of other issues.

What Can Be Causing This Error?

As mentioned the navigation SD card is specific to your GMC Acadia and as such can not be used in another Acadia or be replaced with one from another vehicle. This is why a persistent issue with the “SD Card Is Removed” can be concerning.

We are going to take a look at some of the main reasons you may be receiving this error when you know for certain the card is where it should be.

Card Was Not Ejected Correctly

Technology can be so temperamental at times and this is definitely the case with the navigation SD card in your GMC Acadia. Failing to correctly eject the card can actually be the cause of the error message when you next put the card back into the console.

There is a process to safely eject the SD card and if it is not followed the next time you put the card back in the system may not be able to read the card. You will find the correct procedure in your user manual but we will also give you the process below as well.

• Turn on your GMC Acadia and what for your digital display screen to load up
• Touch the bottom center of your infotainment screen homepage. You will find this next to the application tray
• You will see a notification that the SD card is installed, choose to eject the card
• You will next see a notification that the SD card is still ejecting
• Once you get a message saying safely ejected you may now retrieve the SD card

Switch Is in The Wrong Position

Sometimes the issue can be as simple as a switch being in the wrong position and merely needing to be clicked to the right setting. If the SD card has a switch on it you might discover it is set to read only mode which means it will not do its job correctly.

The downward position on an SD card usually means that it is locked so you may have to move the switch to an upward position. This should hopefully make the card function properly and solve the error. If the card is locked then the reader can not read the data on the card so assumes it isn’t even there.

The issue may also be that the reader is not connecting correctly to the SD card. This causes a lack of contact so the reader again does not recognize it as present. Sometimes removing and replacing the SD card a few times will fix this issue.

Note however that each time you remove the card you should do so in the correct manner.

Data Corruption

If the data on the card is corrupted for some reason this is a more terminal problem and you will have to get a brand new SD card. This as mentioned is a pain because the new card will have to be set to your specific vehicle.

Before you take this step ensure that all the other possibilities have been considered and debunked first. Check the switch positioning to make sure you have inserted the card the right way up and the correct way around. Refer to your car's manual to make sure you have done this correctly.

Another thing to check might also be that your system has the latest software update. Running an old software may actually be causing the problem so always except the latest updates that GMC sends you.

Remember that getting a used SD card from another Acadia will do you no good at all because it will already be set for a completely different vehicle.

Conclusion

Having your navigation systems not work because of something as simple as an SD card can be so frustrating. Thankfully however this problem can often be fixed very simply and may merely be a case of following the old IT adage of turning it off and back on again.

Of course you modify this concept by taking out the card and making sure when you replace it that it is going back correctly. If none of the above solutions help you may need to visit your GMC dealer. This issue should be covered by a valid warranty and they can make repairs that you can not.

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