Total Complaints
271 filings
GMC ACADIA · model year
271 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2016GMCACADIA carries 271 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 1 fire, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 ACADIA is air bags with 128 filings, followed by steering (24) and electrical system (23). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2016 ACADIA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
271 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 128 |
| STEERING | 24 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 23 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 18 |
| POWER TRAIN | 17 |
| ENGINE | 12 |
| LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION | 8 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 3 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a recall on this vehicle that GMC has failed to provide me parts/repair and this recall will be 3 years old in June. I have emailed the local dealer, the manager of the local dealer, GM corporate, and no one has followed through. The best I came to getting the repair was that Corporate made sure I had an appointment and dealer had my part, I went to that appt at my local dealer in Jan 2025 (Premiere GMC of Carlsbad, CA) and waited 2 hours with cars ahead of me (even thought I had an appt) only to be told the part was not there, they would order it and get back to me. Happy to [provide proof of emailing local dealer, GM Corporate etc. with no resolution. I cannot sell my vehicle without this repair done. And I continue to drive daily in an unsafe car.
While operating my vehicle, the power steering suddenly failed without adequate warning. The steering became extremely difficult, creating a significant safety hazard for myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. A sudden loss of steering assist increases the risk of collision, especially at lower speeds, during turns, or in emergency maneuvers.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 180,000. The contact stated that it was later discovered upon checking the vehicle information settings, that the mileage was 300,000.
Mileage: 300,000
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Two local dealers were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the second-row seat belts become inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt buckle failed to latch as intended. An unknown dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000.
Mileage: 206,000
After the air bag recall i went and had them do it and 3 days later is still coming on. Saying service air bag. And alot of people is having issues with tighen gas cap light. I have replaced everything it could be and still does it. Now i believe its a bigger problem and there is alot of ppl having the same issues. I dont remember the exact date either. This is the absolute worst vehicle ever.
After the air bag recall i went and had them do it and 3 days later is still coming on. Saying service air bag. And alot of people is having issues with tighen gas cap light. I have replaced everything it could be and still does it. Now i believe its a bigger problem and there is alot of ppl having the same issues. I dont remember the exact date either. This is the absolute worst vehicle ever.
unknowingly what the actual issue is in This 2016 gmc has major safety risk in Electrical major different problems it has caused me safety issue with little one in the car and my family not knowing the issue with not understating it is a safety risk it has shut off 20 times restarting the radio for no reasoning also it sounds like the powertrain is going to stop working unless u put in L shift which i think that is nuts i was on the highway and it just stopped with the key locked in it like what actually f is going on this SUV has had problems since day one
unknowingly what the actual issue is in This 2016 gmc has major safety risk in Electrical major different problems it has caused me safety issue with little one in the car and my family not knowing the issue with not understating it is a safety risk it has shut off 20 times restarting the radio for no reasoning also it sounds like the powertrain is going to stop working unless u put in L shift which i think that is nuts i was on the highway and it just stopped with the key locked in it like what actually f is going on this SUV has had problems since day one
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)
The contact owned a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that when she had placed the vehicle in reverse (R), and was applying the accelerator pedal, all of the air bags deployed. The contact stated that she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into her neighbor's house. The contact stated that she was rendered unconscious. The contact stated that when she recovered consciousness the police were on scene and issued her a traffic citation. The contact stated that no emergency medical personnel were called to the scene of the accident. The contact stated that she had not gone to a doctor, but she had pain in her back and had bruises on both legs and feet. The contact stated that the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot. The contact stated that she had called here insurance provider who had declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that she had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) and rel
Mileage: 130,000
GMC has failed to repair/replace airbag due to recall
This issues is regarding the front of the canopy. The base of the canopy clip, where it attaches to the car seat nearest the handle, has broken off pieces. These pieces have flow into the car seat where my child sits. It I had not noticed this happening, my child could have tried to put that piece in their mouth and choked or because for the sharp edges on the splintered piece, cause more serious damage. This breakage is on both end of the canopy clip. In addition, the piece that the clip is supposed to attach to has become warped from repeated use.
This issues is regarding the front of the canopy. The base of the canopy clip, where it attaches to the car seat nearest the handle, has broken off pieces. These pieces have flow into the car seat where my child sits. It I had not noticed this happening, my child could have tried to put that piece in their mouth and choked or because for the sharp edges on the splintered piece, cause more serious damage. This breakage is on both end of the canopy clip. In addition, the piece that the clip is supposed to attach to has become warped from repeated use.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
In March of 2022 the vehicle displayed a warning to service the side detection system. on March 31st 2022 the dealership diagnosed that the Side Blind Zone Alert Module failed due to water intrusion. The replacement of the modular was completed free of charge under "Campaign - N172097060 Special Coverage Adjustment". In December of 2024 the same warning to service the side detection system was activated again, several weeks later the warning lights on the side view mirrors lite up and remained on. Upon bringing the vehicle on February 13th 2025 for service, in it was determined to be caused by the same failed part as the first occurrence. This time the repair was not covered by the dealer, and was 1099.22. GMC has not solved the underlining problem with these parts. The side detection system is critical when driving a larger SUV for blind zone awareness to avoid collisions while driving in multi lane traffic. When the system failed, the lights on the side view mirrors made dri
In March of 2022 the vehicle displayed a warning to service the side detection system. on March 31st 2022 the dealership diagnosed that the Side Blind Zone Alert Module failed due to water intrusion. The replacement of the modular was completed free of charge under "Campaign - N172097060 Special Coverage Adjustment". In December of 2024 the same warning to service the side detection system was activated again, several weeks later the warning lights on the side view mirrors lite up and remained on. Upon bringing the vehicle on February 13th 2025 for service, in it was determined to be caused by the same failed part as the first occurrence. This time the repair was not covered by the dealer, and was 1099.22. GMC has not solved the underlining problem with these parts. The side detection system is critical when driving a larger SUV for blind zone awareness to avoid collisions while driving in multi lane traffic. When the system failed, the lights on the side view mirrors made dri
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Mileage: 161,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.