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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
60,000 miles · Oct 30, 2020
Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AS I SLOWED TO TURN THE CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, I HAD TO HOT MY BRAKES BECAUSE IT SCARED ME THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN, THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO GO AROUND ME, I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO CAUSE A WRECK BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I FINALLY GOT…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AS I SLOWED TO TURN THE CORNER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, I HAD TO HOT MY BRAKES BECAUSE IT SCARED ME THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN, THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO GO AROUND ME, I THOUGHT I WAS ABOUT TO CAUSE A WRECK BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I FINALLY GOT IT TO TURN BUT IT WAS REALLY HARD. I WAS THANKFUL MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW STEERING RACK, I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAID REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST $1,200 OR MORE. I CALLED 5 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY ALL SAID, THAT IT WAS COMMON ON THE GMC ACADIA AND OTHER GMC VEHICLES. THEY ALSO TOLD ME AT ONE TIME GMC HAD MORE RECALLS THEN THEY HAD VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. WISH I WOULD OF KNOWN THIS PRIOR TO BUYING. COULDN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD OF BEEN LIKE TO LOSE IN OF MY OWN KIDS ARE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A VEHICLE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO THE MAKERS BUT NOT EVERY PURCHASER.

NHTSA ODI #11372404

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2020
Unknown Or Other

AC WAS BLOWING HOT AT LESS THAN 42K MILES. IT HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN I PUSHED THE AC BUTTON IT WOULD JUST BLINK, LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND IT WOULD BLOW HOT AIR. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A LEAK OR ANYTHING WRONG BEFORE THIS POINT. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE ISSUE TO BE 'LEAK COMBINATION MANIFOLD LINE RUBBING AGAINST R/F BO…

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AC WAS BLOWING HOT AT LESS THAN 42K MILES. IT HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN I PUSHED THE AC BUTTON IT WOULD JUST BLINK, LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND IT WOULD BLOW HOT AIR. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF A LEAK OR ANYTHING WRONG BEFORE THIS POINT. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE ISSUE TO BE 'LEAK COMBINATION MANIFOLD LINE RUBBING AGAINST R/F BODY BEAM'. IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE A/C COMBINATION MANIFOLD IN ADDITION TO EVACUATING AND CHARGING THE AC COMBINATION LINES AND IT COST ALMOST $900 FOR THIS REPAIR. I SHOULD HAVE LEAKING AC HOSES OR RUBBING AGAINST THE MANIFOLD WITH MILEAGE THIS LOW.

NHTSA ODI #11353308

56,608 miles · Aug 30, 2020
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD WIPER JUST SOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY. WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IT STARTED RAINING HARD AND WIPERS WOULD NOT MOVE. NO PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH SYSTEM. NOTHING TO INDICATE A FAILURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ODI #11352100

50,000 miles · Aug 24, 2020
Steering

FAILURE OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM - AT LOW SPEEDS, POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE IS NOT ACTIVE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR MOVING AT LOW SPEED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK IN THE ABILITY TO AVOID PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES OR OTHER OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, MOST NOTABLY PARKING LOTS. COND…

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FAILURE OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM - AT LOW SPEEDS, POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE IS NOT ACTIVE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR MOVING AT LOW SPEED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK IN THE ABILITY TO AVOID PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES OR OTHER OBJECTS WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS, MOST NOTABLY PARKING LOTS. CONDITION STARTED AROUND THE 50,000-MILE MARK. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION, FLUID APPEAR TO BE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO GM-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THERE APPEARS TO BE CONCERNING HISTORY OF POWER-STEERING RELATED FAILURE ON THE GMC ACADIA. PRIOR MODEL YEARS (2007-2011) HAD THE WARRANTY EXTENDED ON THE SYSTEM UPWARDS OF 10 YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM OF THE 2016 GMC ACADIA. NHSTA DATABASE ALSO POINTS TO A NUMBER OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS, TYPICALLY OCCURRING AROUND THE 50,000 MILE RANGE. THIS INDICATES A LATENT MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN WHICH FURTHER ACTION MUST BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11350970

200,000 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE OR GO FORWARD IN EITHER GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SANDOVAL BUICK GMC (300 N HAMILTON RD, WHITEHALL, OH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE OR GO FORWARD IN EITHER GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SANDOVAL BUICK GMC (300 N HAMILTON RD, WHITEHALL, OH 43213) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11342899

54,000 miles · Jun 30, 2020
Steering

MY 2016 GMC ACADIA WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A BASIC CAR INSPECTION. THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE LEAKING OF STEERING FLUID. I NEEDED A NEW GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE CAR HAD NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS AND I TAKE THE CAR REGULARLY TO GMC. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT I DRIVE 60 MILES A D…

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MY 2016 GMC ACADIA WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A BASIC CAR INSPECTION. THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD IT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE LEAKING OF STEERING FLUID. I NEEDED A NEW GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE CAR HAD NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS AND I TAKE THE CAR REGULARLY TO GMC. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT I DRIVE 60 MILES A DAY TO WORK AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE TOTAL COST TO HAVE IT FIXED WAS ALMOST $3,000. I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, I CALLED GMC CORPORATE TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THEM. IF YOU OWN THIS CAR AND ARE ANYWHERE FROM 40-70K MILES, PLEASE HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE BUY THIS SPECIFIC CAR, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND WANT A SAFE VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUE IS AWFUL. I LOVE AMERICAN CARS, BUT I AM LOSING FAITH IN THEM. PLEASE REPORT THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT MAYBE GMC WILL BE FORCED TO RECALL THE ISSUE AND SAVE LIVES.

NHTSA ODI #11331702

58,000 miles · Jun 2, 2020
Steering

2016 GMC ACADIA SLT-1, 58,000 MILES. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS. THE CAR WOULD BARELY TURN AT LOW SPEEDS AND MADE A LOUD HOWLING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME I NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND PINION AND ALL NEW HOSES.…

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2016 GMC ACADIA SLT-1, 58,000 MILES. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS. THE CAR WOULD BARELY TURN AT LOW SPEEDS AND MADE A LOUD HOWLING NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME I NEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND PINION AND ALL NEW HOSES. NO PRIOR WRECKS OR ISSUES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO BE HIT WITH A $4100 BILL WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THIS COULD HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326950

55,000 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Steering

POWER STEERING GIVES OUT AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT'S A CRACKED POWER STEERING FLUID PUMP. $2700. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326830

43,000 miles · May 17, 2020
Electrical System

SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM WARNING STARTED ALERTING ME A FEW WEEKS BACK. THIS NOW IS THE SECOND TIME THAT IT HAS AFFECTED ALL THE ELECTRONICS IN MY CAR. SENDING ME RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES AND AFFECTING THE CAR FROM OPERATING IN A SAFE CONDITION. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 40 MIN. ONCE I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED, NONE OF THE GAUGES W…

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SERVICE SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM WARNING STARTED ALERTING ME A FEW WEEKS BACK. THIS NOW IS THE SECOND TIME THAT IT HAS AFFECTED ALL THE ELECTRONICS IN MY CAR. SENDING ME RANDOM ERROR MESSAGES AND AFFECTING THE CAR FROM OPERATING IN A SAFE CONDITION. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 40 MIN. ONCE I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED, NONE OF THE GAUGES WORKED AND TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT GOING OFF IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME, BUT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF I WAS FAR FROM HOME. CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION AS I STARTED TO NOTICE ISSUES AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOTICED AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND STARTED TO GET TRACTION NOTICES FROM THE SYSTEM IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11324894

31,300 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Engine

AC MAKES NOISE UNDER HOOD AND DOES NOT GET COLD. MECHANIC SAID AC VERY LOW AND REAR EVAPORATOR IS LEAKING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 31300 MILES. CHECKED ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ACADIA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321054

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.