YearToAvoid

2016 GMC Acadia Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 GMC Acadia, 9% of the year's 236 total complaints. Owners report rollaway incidents from park, torque converter failures, and shifting hesitation, with a median failure mileage of 77,911. No related recalls are listed for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
21
9% of 236
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
77,911 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles reported rolling away after being placed in park, with the gear shifter apparently not engaging, in some cases leading to crashes or injuries.
  • Owners describe the transmission overheating and expelling fluid, in one case followed by a fire at the front of the vehicle.
  • Drivers report stalling or shaking when accelerating from a stop, with dealers diagnosing the need for a full transmission replacement.
  • Owners describe hard shifting or the transmission refusing to shift gears, sometimes with the vehicle stalling before moving.
  • Reports describe hesitation and slipping at different speeds traced to a failed torque converter clutch, requiring transmission replacement.
  • Some owners report jerking or shuddering during driving that made the vehicle feel like it was about to stop running.

When 2016 GMC Acadia transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 8, 2016, latest Sep 5, 2026.

2016 GMC Acadia transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2016Jul 2019Dec 2020Jan 2023Aug 2023Jun 2025Sep 2026
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2020 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 GMC Acadia

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Acadia model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201043 (13%)
  2. 201133 (12%)
  3. 201243 (15%)
  4. 201327 (20%)
  5. 201434 (7%)
  6. 201518 (7%)
  7. 201621 (9%)
  8. 2017235 (33%)
  9. 2018163 (41%)
  10. 2019154 (40%)
  11. 202022 (21%)
  12. 202117 (11%)
  13. 20224 (8%)
  14. 202312 (28%)
  15. 20247 (12%)
  16. 20254 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA lists 21 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Acadia, which is 9% of the 236 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2016 GMC Acadia transmission problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area on the 2016 Acadia.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Acadia transmission problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 77,911 miles.
Did any 2016 GMC Acadia transmission complaints involve crashes or fires?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 injuries among the transmission-related complaints for this model year.
How does the 2016 Acadia compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2016 Acadia had 21 complaints (9% share), lower than the 2017 (235 complaints, 33% share) and 2018 (163 complaints, 41% share) model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.