AI Damage2016 GMC Acadia: common problems
Owners of the 2016 GMC Acadia filed 236 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and steering. The maker issued 843 service bulletins for this year. We found 4 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 236
- involving a crash
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 843
- YouTube repair videos
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 55% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 4% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 2% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 130 complaints (55% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Steering: 26 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Electrical system: 25 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 157.
- Powertrain: 21 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 61.
- Engine: 13 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 90.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 236 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 130 | 3 | 5 |
| Steering | 26 | 1 | 18 |
| Electrical system | 25 | 1 | 157 |
| Powertrain | 21 | 2 | 61 |
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 90 |
| Lane departure | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Electronic stability control | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 23 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 17 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 29 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was in an accident and my AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. Filed claim with progressive insurance (claim # [XXX]) which they have declared the vehicle a TOTAL LOSS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On april 5, 2018, my family and I (front passenger) were in a head on collision. Upon impact my seat's locking mechanism lost control of my seat causing me to be thrown forward and impacting the dashboard, which I believe contributed to my injury, fractured l1 and l2.
While the driver was placing the kids in the car seat, with the key removed from the ignition switch and the gear shifter in park, a ticking noise was heard. The vehicle rolled away and crashed into a pillar. The fuel tank ruptured and caused a fire. The vehicle was towed to a safe location.
Gear indication is currently located on a 2 inch by 3 inch screen screen above the speedometer in the instrument cluster. However, the steering wheel is located within the average persons field of view of the indication screen, thus making the indication screen useless until a major body adjustment, up or down, is…
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 cable that attaches the front driver seatbelt to the base of the seat (left side), suddenly broke when simply buckling the belt.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 270 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Acadia has 184 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 236, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 843 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Acadia?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, steering, electrical system. Total complaints: 236. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (6%), warning lights, check engine (6%), infotainment or screen glitches (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA lists 843 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 GMC Acadia from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.