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2016 GMC Acadia

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 GMC Acadia do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 256.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

63 reports with mileage · 173 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 130 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

236 reports
111,000 miles · Mar 8, 2020
Power Train

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 MA…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11316867

77,911 miles · Mar 3, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THE TRACTION WARNING SUDDENLY COMES ON THEN THE STABILITY SERVICE WARNING JUMPS ON....AUTOMATICALLY LOWERING MY SPEED WHILE I'M ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING. WHEN I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON...THE LIGHT GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A…

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THE TRACTION WARNING SUDDENLY COMES ON THEN THE STABILITY SERVICE WARNING JUMPS ON....AUTOMATICALLY LOWERING MY SPEED WHILE I'M ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING. WHEN I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON...THE LIGHT GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE OR SPEED BUMP

NHTSA ODI #11315756

37,000 miles · Jan 21, 2020
Steering

MY POWERING STEERING PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AND AFTER INVESTIGATING IT I NOTICED THEY HAVE RECALLED OVER 1 MILLION CARS FOR STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #11300633

96,000 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Seat BeltsSteering

SEAT BELT FOR DRIVER DOES NOT SECURE. GMC STATES NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY LEEK IN POWER STEERING. KNOWN ISSUE WITH GMC AND NO RECALLS

NHTSA ODI #11296936

30,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Steering

I HAVE A 2016 GMC ACADIA, WITH 30,000 MILES, WELL MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED WHILE MAKING TURNS AT A LOW SPEED. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AS MY WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED AND I HAD KIDS IN MY CAR. VEHICLES RUNNING GOOD WHEN AT HIGH SPEED. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAIN WITH THE SAME MODEL AND SAME ISSUE, YET, …

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I HAVE A 2016 GMC ACADIA, WITH 30,000 MILES, WELL MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED WHILE MAKING TURNS AT A LOW SPEED. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AS MY WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED AND I HAD KIDS IN MY CAR. VEHICLES RUNNING GOOD WHEN AT HIGH SPEED. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAIN WITH THE SAME MODEL AND SAME ISSUE, YET, GMC HAS NOT POSTED ANY RECALL ON THEIR VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11296635

58,000 miles · Dec 16, 2019
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE OF FRONT SEAL RESULTING IN RANDOM FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED, PARKING AND TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS ETC LEADING TO NEAR COLLISIONS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURES. 58,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11289214

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2019
Steering

VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR FAULTY CALIPER, THEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP WE NEEDED TO FIX A LEAKING POWER STEERING LINE, WE PAID TO FIX BOTH. TAKEN IN TODAY AND TOLD WE HAVE A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR. SAFETY ISSUE $2,065. 58,200 MILES. COULD LOOSE POWER STEERING DUE TO MULTIPLE LEAKS. HAVE NOT LOST STEERING YET. MUST GET FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11281120

67,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Electrical System

SIDE DETECTION MODULES FAILED, DON'T WORK AND NOTIFY OF BLIND SPOTS

NHTSA ODI #11256289

38,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Service Brakes

THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNK NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BRAKES OR ABS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TAKING OFF I HEAR THE CLUNK AND FEEL IT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND EVERY TIME YOU TAKE OF AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE GM DEALER TOLD ME THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE/CONDITION THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT IT'S NOTHING TO …

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THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNK NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BRAKES OR ABS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TAKING OFF I HEAR THE CLUNK AND FEEL IT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND EVERY TIME YOU TAKE OF AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE GM DEALER TOLD ME THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE/CONDITION THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THEY ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS CONDITION BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT MAKES THAT NOISE EVERY TIME AFTER TAKING OFF IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CODE THEY GAVE ME IS PI1402A

NHTSA ODI #11256152

50,000 miles · Sep 9, 2019
Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 GMC ACADIA ON A TRIP OF ABOUT 350 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE UNTIL NEAR THE END OF THE TRIP. AS I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND BY THE TIME I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEE…

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POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 GMC ACADIA ON A TRIP OF ABOUT 350 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE UNTIL NEAR THE END OF THE TRIP. AS I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND BY THE TIME I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND AS THE RPM INCREASED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WORKED GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN AND GET ME HOME. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD ABOUT A MILE TO GO. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS LOW SO I TOPPED IT OFF AND RAISED THE FRONT TIRES OFF THE GROUND IN ORDER TO TURN LOCK TO LOCK TO TRY TO GET ANY AIR OUT OF THE SYSTEM. AFTER LOWERING THE VEHICLE I TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND I STILL COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS. AS I LOOKED FURTHER I NOTICED THAT THE HOSE THAT LEADS TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FLUID ALL OVER IT WHERE IT GOES THROUGH A GROMMET ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE GROMMET IN THE METAL BRACKET WAS FALLING APART AND THE HOSE APPEARS TO BE CHAFFING ON THE METAL BRACKET. THE LEAK IS VERY SMALL AND THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN RUBBING THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRACKET/GROMMET THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11254186

Official recalls

4

23V334000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 10, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

21V246000 · Air Bags:critical Fasteners

Apr 8, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

15V833000 · Seats

Dec 11, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

15V609000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Sep 29, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.