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2016 GMC Acadia problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 GMC Acadia. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 33% of relevant complaints.
Better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 138 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 14%).
Does the 2016 GMC Acadia have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 32 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Acadia concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 34% and the 2017 scores 48%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other GMC Acadia years
Of the 14 GMC Acadia years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the best on engine and transmission share (33%). The worst is the 2023 (56%). By volume, the 2016 drew 236 complaints (32 drivetrain), against 261 for the 2015 and 704 for the 2017.
GMC Acadia years to avoid and best years →
2010 Acadia problems · 2011 Acadia problems · 2012 Acadia problems · 2013 Acadia problems · 2014 Acadia problems · 2015 Acadia problems · 2016 · 2017 Acadia problems · 2018 Acadia problems · 2019 Acadia problems · 2020 Acadia problems · 2021 Acadia problems · 2022 Acadia problems · 2023 Acadia problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 GMC Acadia
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 GMC Acadia said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 32 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 GMC Acadia engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 GMC Acadia, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 GMC Acadia? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 GMC Acadia have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 32 of 98 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Acadia concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 GMC Acadia?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 GMC Acadia is air bags: 130 of 236 complaints (55%) name it, followed by steering (26) and electrical system (25). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 33% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 GMC Acadia reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 33% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 66% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Acadia years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 GMC Acadia?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 GMC Acadia, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which GMC Acadia years are better?
The 2016 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the GMC Acadia years we track (33%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-acadia
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.