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2016 GMC Acadia

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA236
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA18 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 GMC Acadia is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Acadia FWD, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 236 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Acadia FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl152218$3,450
Acadia AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl152217$3,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36352, 36355.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 GMC Acadia is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

N232404980
995,085 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.FixDealers 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 campaign 23V334000reported May 10, 2023General Motors, LLC
▲high

Air Bags

N202321200
108 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskUnsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.FixGM 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 campaign 21V246000reported Apr 8, 2021General Motors, LLC
▲high

Seats

21930
2,633 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskIf 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 15V833000reported Dec 11, 2015General Motors LLC
!critical

Visibility

15780/15789
29,295 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskA wiper motor that overheats increases the risk of a fire.FixGM 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
NHTSA campaign 15V609000reported Sep 29, 2015General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
236complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 16 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 24 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 62 · 2024: 66 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Air Bags130
Steering26
Electrical System25
Power Train21
Unspecified20
Engine13

What owners describe

“Transmission- Shift Solenoid EVAP- Purge Valve Forward Collision- goes off when nothing is in front of the vehicle”May 1, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“Special Coverage Adjustment N172097060 Side Blind Zone Alert Module Water Intrusion was issued for my vehicle. I took it in to get fixed and was told I was past the 6 year extension (May 2022) but under the milage (79,199). They told me the parts are on back order from GMC. This was on 04-03-2023. On 04-05-2023 I was d…”Apr 6, 2023 · Lane Departure · NHTSA owner report
“The transmission is not changing gears and is shifting hard. Both Passanger side automatic electric windows will not go back up”Mar 11, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Acadia model years

A

2027 GMC Acadia

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 GMC Acadia

1 recalls · 7 complaints

A

2025 GMC Acadia

0 recalls · 63 complaints

A

2024 GMC Acadia

0 recalls · 55 complaints

C

2023 GMC Acadia

4 recalls · 42 complaints

D

2022 GMC Acadia

3 recalls · 48 complaints

C

2021 GMC Acadia

2 recalls · 147 complaints

F

2020 GMC Acadia

6 recalls · 99 complaints

C

2019 GMC Acadia

2 recalls · 382 complaints

C

2018 GMC Acadia

2 recalls · 392 complaints

D

2017 GMC Acadia

4 recalls · 702 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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