2016 GMC Acadia Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 5, 2026 · 236 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Acadia years
About as many complaints as other years 12th of 20 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 236 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Acadia. That ranks 12th out of 20 Acadia model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (130 complaints, 55%), typically at around 130,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 16 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.

GMC Acadia
Front view of a 2024 GMC Acadia Denali midsize crossover.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Deathpallie325, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2016 GMC Acadia problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags130 · ~130,000 mi
Steering26 · ~53,600 mi
Electrical System25 · ~47,783 mi
Power Train21 · ~77,911 mi
Unknown or Other20 · ~39,704 mi
Engine13 · ~31,300 mi
Lane Departure9 · ~55,500 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)5 · ~39,451 mi
Seat Belts5 · ~96,000 mi
Service Brakes4 · ~25,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags problems13055%130,000“air bags contacted” (29%)—
Steering2611%53,600——
Electrical System2511%47,783——
Power Train219%77,911——
Unknown or Other208%39,704——
Engine136%31,300——
Lane Departure94%55,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)52%39,451——
Seat Belts52%96,000——
Service Brakes42%25,500——
Exterior Lighting31%58——
Seats31%47,002——
Visibility/wiper31%33,854——
Structure21%53,000——
Tires21%23,000——
Vehicle Speed Control21%100——
Back Over Prevention10%70,000——
Child Seat10%———
Forward Collision Avoidance10%———
Fuel/propulsion System10%———
Other/i Am Not Sure10%———
Traction Control System10%26,334——
Visibility10%33,000——
Wheels10%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2024, with 66 complaints
2016: 7201672017: 5201752018: 5201852019: 242019242020: 172020172021: 9202192022: 122022122023: 622023622024: 662024662025: 172025172026: 12202612

n = 236 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2016 GMC Acadia recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleMay 10, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V334000 · 995,085 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.

Air bags:critical fastenersApr 8, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V246000 · 108 vehicles

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Risk: Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

SeatsDec 11, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V833000 · 2,633 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured November 6, 2015, to November 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a the third row left lower seat frame that may have welds that are not in the correction location.

Risk: If the seat frame is not welded in the correct places, the seat may not perform as intended, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row left side lower seat frame, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 21930.

Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motorSep 29, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V609000 · 29,295 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015 to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.

Risk: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly, free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Transmission torque converter required replacement

Power Train · received Sep 5, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11762306

Technician told me the engine "grenaded itself". "Cylinder #4 melted into the side walls of the cylinder wall caused by air to fuel mix ratio controlled by the ECU failure to mix appropriately." My family and I were traveling for Easter and were stranded on the side of the highway. I had a private…

Engine · received Aug 28, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11760423

The cable that attaches the front driver seatbelt to the base of the seat (left side), suddenly broke when simply buckling the belt.

Seat Belts · received Jul 14, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11750306

Transmission began hesitating around 1800rpm with only 92,000 miles showing on the odometer. It feels like a flutter as the transmission shifts into the next gear. I have heard the 2016 year group has had transmission problems. Believe a recall is justified.

Power Train · received Jun 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11746913

Without warning transmission overheated, blew out fluid and caught the front end of the vehicle on fire

Power Train · received Jun 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11742435

Other GMC Acadia years

← 2015 Acadia · 2017 Acadia →

See all GMC Acadia problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Acadia?

Owners most often report air bags, steering, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 130 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2016 GMC Acadia?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2016 GMC Acadia a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Acadia model years, the 2016 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.