Model year record

2016 GMC Acadia recalls & problems

The 2016 GMC Acadia has 4 safety recalls and 236 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (130 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints236filed by owners

Crashes · fires8 · 2reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

Safety recalls

Air bagsMay 10, 2023

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 23V334000995,085 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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 bagsApr 8, 2021

Critical fasteners

Recall 21V246000108 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

Seats

Recall 15V8330002,633 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.

VisibilitySep 29, 2015

Windshield wiper/washer › Motor

Recall 15V60900029,295 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2016 GMC Acadia SUV FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2016 GMC Acadia SUV AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	15.5%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2016 GMC Acadia Denali SUV FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Optional

2016 GMC Acadia Denali SUV AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	15.5%

Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Optional

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Acadia FWD

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Acadia AWD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal › Driver side › Inflator module	130	3	0	5	130,000 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid; Rack and pinion	26	1	0	0	53,600 mi
Electrical systemInstrument panel › Speedometer/odometer	25	1	0	0	47,783 mi
Power train	21	2	2	2	77,911 mi
Unknown or other	20	1	0	1	39,704 mi
Engine	13	0	0	0	31,300 mi
Lane departureBlind spot detection; Warning	10	0	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	5	0	0	0	39,451 mi
Seat belts	5	0	0	0	96,000 mi
Service brakes	4	0	0	0	25,500 mi
Visibility/wiper	3	0	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	3	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
Transmission torque converter required replacement
Aug 8, 2026
Engine
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 repair shop (Greenville Auto Clinic LLC) confirm as well as the local dealership Greenville Chevy. The vehicle required an engine replacement. I did contact GMC's Zone Manager out of Atlanta, GA for assistance, he reduced the bill from over $10,000 down to $6098. There was no error messaging, only an engine that would not respond to the accelerator pedal. The engine would try to accelerate, but…
Apr 28, 2025
Seat belts
The cable that attaches the front driver seatbelt to the base of the seat (left side), suddenly broke when simply buckling the belt.
May 18, 2026
Power train
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.
Jun 3, 2025
Power trainFire
Without warning transmission overheated, blew out fluid and caught the front end of the vehicle on fire
Jun 5, 2026
Power train
The torque converter has been going since before I bought this vehicle. When the RPMs are between one and two, the entire vehicle starts shaking and there is no acceleration. This is a huge safety concern, especially with traffic.
Mar 6, 2026
Unknown or other
Hello. I got a recall and fixed in July 2021 for Blind Spot Sensors/Modules on my 2016 GMC Acadia SLT. Now 3.5 years later Im having the same issue with these sensors that are located in the rear bumper of the car, they get water damage, corrosion, and then fail. A very poor design. And seems like the recall didn't fixed the issue either. This must to be a common issue for this car, lots of complaints online even after the recall. And the car dealership wont cover it because it was already fixed at that time and my warranty on my car expired not to long ago. They said it would be about $2000 to fix. I feel like this prematurely failed and it was recalled once for the same issue but now…
Apr 8, 2026
Air bags
Safety recall that has not been addressed by the dealership in over 4 months
May 31, 2023

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.