2016 GMC Acadia recalls and problems

The 2016 GMC Acadia has 4 safety recalls and 236 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any GMC dealer.

Recalls
4
Complaints
236
Crashes / fires
8 / 2
Injuries / deaths
16 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 GMC Acadia recalls

Recall 23V-334: Air Bags

Reported May 10, 2023 · 995,085 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 21V-246: Air Bags

Reported Apr 8, 2021 · 108 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 15V-833: Seats

Reported Dec 11, 2015 · 2,633 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 15V-609: Visibility

Reported Sep 29, 2015 · 29,295 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: A wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

2016 GMC Acadia problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Air Bags130
Steering26
Electrical System25
Power Train21
Unknown or Other20
Engine13
Lane Departure10
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)5
Seat Belts5
Service Brakes4
Visibility/Wiper3
Exterior Lighting3

Most reported parts

  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 9
  • Structure › Body — 2
  • Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer — 2
  • Tires › Tread/Belt — 1
  • Back Over Prevention › Rearview System Braking — 1
  • Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Power Steering Fluid — 1
  • Lane Departure › Warning — 1
  • Steering › Rack and Pinion — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 50,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2016 GMC Acadia complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Aug 28, 2026
Technician told me the engine "grenaded itself". "Cylinder #4 melted into the side walls of the cylinder wall caused by air to fuel mix ratio controlled by the ECU failure to mix appropriately." My family and I were traveling for Easter and were stranded on the side of the highway. I had a private repair shop (Greenville Auto Clinic LLC) confirm as well as the local dealership Greenville Chevy. 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…
Seat Belts · reported Jul 14, 2026
The cable that attaches the front driver seatbelt to the base of the seat (left side), suddenly broke when simply buckling the belt.
Power Train · reported Jun 27, 2026
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.
Power Train · reported May 1, 2026
The torque converter has been going since before I bought this vehicle. When the RPMs are between one and two, the entire vehicle starts shaking and there is no acceleration. This is a huge safety concern, especially with traffic.
Unknown or Other · reported Apr 13, 2026
Hello. 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. And seems like the recall didn't fixed the issue either. This must to be a common issue for this car, lots of complaints online even after the recall. And the car dealership wont cover it because it was already fixed at that time and my warranty on my car expired not to long ago. They said it would be about $2000…

Other GMC Acadia years

Compare all GMC Acadia years · All GMC models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 GMC Acadia have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 GMC Acadia: 23V-334 (air bags), 21V-246 (air bags), 15V-833 (seats), 15V-609 (visibility). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 GMC Acadia?

Owners report air bags problems most often (130 reports), followed by steering (26). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 50,000 miles.

Are GMC recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized GMC dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.