2016 Gmc Acadia problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (127) · Steering (23) · Power Train (19)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Acadia model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
63 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2023-05-10 · campaign 23V334000 · 995,085 vehicles
Defect: 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 Fasteners 2021-04-08 · campaign 21V246000 · 108 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Seats 2015-12-11 · campaign 15V833000 · 2,633 vehicles
Defect: 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:motor 2015-09-29 · campaign 15V609000 · 29,295 vehicles
Defect: 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
Service bulletins (1,177)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,177 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-05 · Power Train“transmission torque converter required replacement …”
2026-08-28 · 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 …”
2026-07-14 · 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. …”
2026-06-27 · 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.…”
2026-06-06 · Power Train · 🔥 fire“without warning transmission overheated, blew out fluid and caught the front end of the vehicle on fire …”
2026-05-01 · 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.…”
2026-04-13 · 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…”
2026-04-12 · Air Bags“safety recall that has not been addressed by the dealership in over 4 months…”
2026-04-07 · Unknown Or Other“the shift to park. it does not want to stay in park. i feel that if it does not stay in park, the vehicle could roll forward or backwards. yes, it was looked at by an independent service center, and they thought it was on a recall. this is a 2016 gmc arcadia and the 2017 model and newer have this problem and were on recall. no one else has looked …”
2026-03-23 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 192,000 mi“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2016 gmc acadia on february 28, 2026. after purchasing the vehicle, the contact obtained a carfax report and discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a dealer sale. the contact called the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was purchased at an auction. the dealer agreed to refund …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.