2016 Gmc ACADIA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Gmc ACADIA has 278 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (47% of all complaints), specifically: all the cars' airbags deployed spontaneously, i was on a small street , getting out of the gym's building parking. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 9 crash reports 16 injuries

278

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

130 complaints

47%

• ALL THE CARS' AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY, I WAS ON A SMALL STREET , GETTING OUT OF THE GYM'S BUILDING PARKING
• MY CAR PRESENTED WITH ISSUE 'PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE MALFUNCTION CHECK CIRCUIT' THAT PER GMC SERVICE ADVISOR MAY AFFECT THE PROPER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DURING AN ACCIDENT. CAR ONLY HAS 35K MILES AND BARELY USED SINCE PURCHASED BACK IN 2015. NOW THEY ARE NOT BEING COVERED FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.
• The airbag recall was opened on May 10th. I have not yet heard of any remedy despite the fact that the nhtsa site says that the dealer should be replacing my airbags.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“ALL THE CARS' AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY, I WAS ON A SMALL STREET , GETTING OUT OF THE GYM'S BUILDING PARKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

26 complaints

• 2016 SLE GMC ACADIA CENTER GEAR SHIFTING COMPONENT LEVEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. P,R,N,D,L ALL REMAIN WHITE IN COLOR DESPITE BEING IN A DIFFERENT GEAR; AN IMPROVEMENT (PERHAPS A COLOR CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GEAR) IS NEEDED. GEAR INDICATION IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON A 2
• POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SUDDEN SUBSTANTIAL FLUID LEAKAGE. COMPLAINTS TO GM ARE UNRESOLCVED WHILE GM CONTINUES TO SELL FLAWED VEHICLES.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2016 SLE GMC ACADIA CENTER GEAR SHIFTING COMPONENT LEVEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. P,R,N,D,L ALL REMAIN WHITE IN COLOR DESPITE BEING IN A DIFFERENT GEAR; AN IMPROVEMENT (PERHAPS A COLOR CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GEAR) IS NEEDED. GEAR INDICATION IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON A 2 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

25 complaints

• 2016 SLE GMC ACADIA CENTER GEAR SHIFTING COMPONENT LEVEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. P,R,N,D,L ALL REMAIN WHITE IN COLOR DESPITE BEING IN A DIFFERENT GEAR; AN IMPROVEMENT (PERHAPS A COLOR CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GEAR) IS NEEDED. GEAR INDICATION IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON A 2
• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT-DOWN, WHILE SITTING STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED (ONCE AT STOPLIGHT, ANOTHER TIME BACKING OUT FROM DRIVEWAY WITH BRAKE APPLIED PRIOR TO TRANSITIONING TO DRIVE) EACH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUE OR WARNING LIGH
• MY WIFES VEHICLE WHICH IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL REOCCURRING ISSUES. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM AS IT IS STILL ON GOING. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS EXTREMELY SCARY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL ALER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

• THIS VEHICLE LACK PROPER LOAD RESTRAINTS SO THAT OBJECTS PLACED IN THE CARGO AREA DO NOT FLY ALL OVER AND HURT PASSENGERS IN CASE OF SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CARGO NETTING HAS VERY POOR SIDE ANCHORS AND LACKING FLOOR ANCHORS.
• ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY SHUT-DOWN, WHILE SITTING STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED (ONCE AT STOPLIGHT, ANOTHER TIME BACKING OUT FROM DRIVEWAY WITH BRAKE APPLIED PRIOR TO TRANSITIONING TO DRIVE) EACH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUE OR WARNING LIGH
• VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, SHUT OFF, KEYS ON FRONT SEAT WITH PURSE. WENT TO SEAT BEHIND DRIVER TAKING ITEMS OUT AND WENT ABOUT DOOING MY ERRAND. BOTH DOORS LEFT OPEN. UPON RETURNING, NOTICEC VEHICLE ROLLING TOWARDS HIGHWAY. TRIED TO CATCH IT WHEN SECOND DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THIS VEHICLE LACK PROPER LOAD RESTRAINTS SO THAT OBJECTS PLACED IN THE CARGO AREA DO NOT FLY ALL OVER AND HURT PASSENGERS IN CASE OF SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CARGO NETTING HAS VERY POOR SIDE ANCHORS AND LACKING FLOOR ANCHORS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

19 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE CONTACT WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED IT ROLLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT RAN AFTER THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO STOP IT, BUT IT RAN OVER HE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA DENALI. 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. TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHOOK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOEPP CHEVROLET (830-253-8000, LOCATED AT 13221 US-87, LA VERNIA, TX 78121) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE CONTACT WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. ON THE WAY BACK TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED IT ROLLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT RAN AFTER THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO STOP IT, BUT IT RAN OVER HE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 278 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: ALL THE CARS' AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY, I WAS ON A SMALL STREET , GETTING OUT OF THE GYM'S BUILDING PARKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 2016 SLE GMC ACADIA CENTER GEAR SHIFTING COMPONENT LEVEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. P,R,N,D,L ALL REMAIN WHITE IN COLOR DESPITE BEING IN A DIFFERENT GEAR; AN IMPROVEMENT (PERHAPS A COLOR CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GEAR) IS NEEDED. GEAR INDICATION IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON A 2
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2016 SLE GMC ACADIA CENTER GEAR SHIFTING COMPONENT LEVEL DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. P,R,N,D,L ALL REMAIN WHITE IN COLOR DESPITE BEING IN A DIFFERENT GEAR; AN IMPROVEMENT (PERHAPS A COLOR CHANGE TO THE CURRENT GEAR) IS NEEDED. GEAR INDICATION IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ON A 2
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS VEHICLE LACK PROPER LOAD RESTRAINTS SO THAT OBJECTS PLACED IN THE CARGO AREA DO NOT FLY ALL OVER AND HURT PASSENGERS IN CASE OF SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CARGO NETTING HAS VERY POOR SIDE ANCHORS AND LACKING FLOOR ANCHORS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)