2016 GMC Acadia Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 Acadia years
The 2016 GMC Acadia has a complaint index of 47, ranking 9th worst out of 16 model years, with a 'Good' verdict relative to other Acadia years. NHTSA lists 236 complaints, 4 recalls, and airbags as the top problem area at 55% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 236
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 16 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15 city / 22 hwy
Top 2016 GMC Acadia problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags130 (55%)
- Electrical System26 (11%)
- Steering26 (11%)
- Other21 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (9%)
- Engine15 (6%)
- Brakes9 (4%)
- Lane Departure9 (4%)
- Seat Belts5 (2%)
- Structure & Body5 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle rolling away or shifting out of park unexpectedly even with the gear shifter set to park and the key removed, in some cases leading to crashes.
- Some owners describe a transmission that overheated, blew out fluid, and caused a fire at the front of the vehicle without warning.
- Airbags have deployed unexpectedly while in reverse, and in other cases failed to deploy during a crash, according to owner reports.
- The gear position indicator on the instrument cluster reportedly failed to show the correct gear, leaving all positions (P, R, N, D, L) displayed in white.
- Owners describe the vehicle shutting down completely while stationary in traffic with the brake applied, then restarting with no stored diagnostic codes.
- One owner reported a seat's locking mechanism failing during a head-on collision, allowing the seat to move forward on impact.
2016 GMC Acadia recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V334000May 10, 2023Airbags995,085 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
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.
- NHTSA 21V246000Apr 8, 2021Airbags108 vehicles
Air bags:critical fasteners
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.
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.
- NHTSA 15V833000Dec 11, 2015Structure & Body2,633 vehicles
Seats
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.
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.
2016 GMC Acadia fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 22 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 GMC Acadia a good year?
- Relative to other Acadia model years, NHTSA data gives the 2016 a complaint index of 47 and a 'Good' verdict, ranking 9th worst out of 16 years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Acadia?
- Airbags account for 55% of complaints (130 of 236), followed by electrical system issues (11%) and steering issues (11%), per NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2016 GMC Acadia have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Acadia, covering airbags (two separate campaigns), a third-row seat frame issue, and a windshield wiper motor cover defect. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 Acadia compare to the 2017 and 2014 Acadia?
- The 2016 Acadia's complaint index of 47 is well below the 2017 model's index of 100 and the 2014 model's index of 93, both rated 'Avoid', making 2016 a comparatively better year.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 GMC Acadia?
- The EPA rates the 2016 Acadia at 17.5 mpg combined (15 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700.