Home · 2016 GMC Acadia Denali · Complaints

What 220 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Acadia Denali

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (220)Crash / fire / injury (8)Airbags (126)Steering (25)Electrical system (23)Transmission & drivetrain (17)Engine (12)Lane Departure (8)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (5)Brakes (4)Seat belts (4)Visibility & wipers (4)

Newest first · 220 complaints · page 8 of 9

Mar 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE TRACTION WARNING SUDDENLY COMES ON THEN THE STABILITY SERVICE WARNING JUMPS ON....AUTOMATICALLY LOWERING MY SPEED WHILE I'M ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING. WHEN I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF THEN TURN IT BACK ON...THE LIGHT GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE OR SPEED BUMP

NHTSA ODI 11315756

Jan 21, 2020Steering

MY POWERING STEERING PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, AS IF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AND AFTER INVESTIGATING IT I NOTICED THEY HAVE RECALLED OVER 1 MILLION CARS FOR STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11300633

Jan 3, 2020SteeringSeat belts

SEAT BELT FOR DRIVER DOES NOT SECURE. GMC STATES NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY LEEK IN POWER STEERING. KNOWN ISSUE WITH GMC AND NO RECALLS

NHTSA ODI 11296936

Jan 2, 2020Steering

I HAVE A 2016 GMC ACADIA, WITH 30,000 MILES, WELL MAINTAINED. SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED WHILE MAKING TURNS AT A LOW SPEED. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AS MY WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED AND I HAD KIDS IN MY CAR. VEHICLES RUNNING GOOD WHEN AT HIGH SPEED. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAIN WITH THE SAME MODEL AND SAME ISSUE, YET, GMC HAS NOT POSTED ANY RECALL ON THEIR VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11296635

Dec 16, 2019Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE OF FRONT SEAL RESULTING IN RANDOM FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED, PARKING AND TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS ETC LEADING TO NEAR COLLISIONS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURES. 58,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11289214

Nov 19, 2019Steering

VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR FAULTY CALIPER, THEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP WE NEEDED TO FIX A LEAKING POWER STEERING LINE, WE PAID TO FIX BOTH. TAKEN IN TODAY AND TOLD WE HAVE A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR. SAFETY ISSUE $2,065. 58,200 MILES. COULD LOOSE POWER STEERING DUE TO MULTIPLE LEAKS. HAVE NOT LOST STEERING YET. MUST GET FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11281120

Sep 17, 2019Brakes

THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNK NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BRAKES OR ABS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TAKING OFF I HEAR THE CLUNK AND FEEL IT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND EVERY TIME YOU TAKE OF AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THE GM DEALER TOLD ME THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE/CONDITION THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THEY ISSUED A BULLETIN ON THIS CONDITION BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT MAKES THAT NOISE EVERY TIME AFTER TAKING OFF IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CODE THEY GAVE ME IS PI1402A

NHTSA ODI 11256152

Sep 17, 2019Electrical system

SIDE DETECTION MODULES FAILED, DON'T WORK AND NOTIFY OF BLIND SPOTS

NHTSA ODI 11256289

Sep 9, 2019Steering

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 GMC ACADIA ON A TRIP OF ABOUT 350 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY) EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE UNTIL NEAR THE END OF THE TRIP. AS I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND BY THE TIME I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND AS THE RPM INCREASED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WORKED GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TURN AND GET ME HOME. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD ABOUT A MILE TO GO. I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS LOW SO I TOPPED IT OFF AND RAISED THE FRONT TIRES OFF THE GROUND IN ORDER TO TURN LOCK TO LOCK TO TRY TO GET ANY AIR OUT OF THE SYSTEM. AFTER LOWERING THE VEHICLE I TRIED TO DRIVE IT AND I STILL COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS. AS I LOOKED FURTHER I NOTICED THAT THE HOSE THAT LEADS TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS FLUID ALL OVER IT WHERE IT GOES THROUGH A GROMMET ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE GROMMET IN THE METAL BRACKET WAS FALLING APART AND THE HOSE APPEARS TO BE CHAFFING ON THE METAL BRACKET. THE LEAK IS VERY SMALL AND THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN RUBBING THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRACKET/GROMMET THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11254186

Sep 6, 2019Steering

MY VEHICLE IS A 2016 GMC ACADIA DENALI WITH AWD. THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY STIFF WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD LAST WINTER. DURING THIS SPRING AND SUMMER THE STEERING CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND NOW THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS AND LOW RPM. THE VEHICLE JUST TURNED 39,000 MILES. THIS MAKES DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS WHILE MAKING TURNS AND TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THE DEALERS SHOP AND THEY HAVE SAID THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEAR BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE PUMP IS FAILING AND THE STEERING GEAR IS LEAKING INTERNALLY.

NHTSA ODI 11253733

Sep 3, 2019Steering

ON SATURDAY (8/31/2019), I NOTICED THAT THE AC IN MY 2016 ACADIA (ABOUT 79,000 MILES) WOULDN'T TURN ON. MY VEHICLE HAS TWO EVAPORATORS, ONE IN THE FRONT FOR THE FRONT AC, AND ONE IN THE REAR FOR THE REAR AC. THEY ARE CONNECTED BY AN ALUMINUM TUBE (GM PART #23199274). WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE GMC DEALER, THEY SHOWED ME THAT A CONNECTOR ON THE POWER STEERING FLUID (PSF) LINE, WHICH RUNS BESIDE THIS ALUMINUM TUBE (SEE PHOTO 1), HAD RUBBED UP AGAINST THE ALUMINUM AND WORN A HOLE IN IT, ALLOWING ALL THE REFRIGERANT TO LEAK OUT (PHOTO 2). THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A LITTLE RUBBER PIECE THAT FITS OVER AND PROTECTS THE COOLANT LINE (YOU CAN SORT-OF SEE IT IN THE PICTURES), BUT THAT PIECE IS SMALL AND SLIDES DOWN, EXPOSING THE ALUMINUM TUBE. THE TECHNICIAN THEN TOLD/SHOWED ME HOW HE USUALLY BENDS OR MOVES THE PSF LINE SO THAT IT DOESN'T RUB AGAINST THE ALUMINUM COOLANT TUBE. THIS INDICATES THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THIS INHERENT DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS THE ENTIRE COOLANT CHARGE TO LEAK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, SINCE REFRIGERANT IS NOT EXACTLY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, I FIND IT CONCERNING THAT GM IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HASN'T TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEPS (LIKE A VOLUNTARY RECALL) TO FIX IT. I CALLED THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION, AND THEY SAID "THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO." I'M HOPING THIS COMPLAINT FORCES THEM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND STOP LEAKING FULL REFRIGERANT CHARGES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. NOTE THAT THIS WOULD ALSO BE AN ISSUE IF THE SITUATION WERE REVERSED AND IT WAS THE AC COOLANT TUBE THAT CHAFED THROUGH THE PSF HOSE. IF THE PSF CONNECTOR WAS EVEN 1 CM OFF, THEN HYPOTHETICALLY THE COOLANT TUBE COULD RUB THROUGH THE PSF HOSE AND CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS ALSO DESIRABLE TO AVOID THIS AS WELL, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

NHTSA ODI 11252959

Aug 24, 2019

THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF ONCE WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND ONCE WHILE SITTING AT A ROUNDABOUT AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD AND I JUST GOT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11246177

Aug 22, 2019Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOW WAS NOT ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POAGE CHEVROLET (851 W PEARCE BLVD, WENTZVILLE, MO 63385, (636) 327-6268) WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11245751

Aug 19, 2019Steering

POWER STEERING HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT. CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN

NHTSA ODI 11245102

Jul 21, 2019Electrical system

MY KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE ON MY 2016 GMC ACADIA. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETELY DRAINING MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT MY CAR IS NOT RECOGNIZING IT IS IN PARK TO RELEASE THE KEY. THE FLOOR SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO MY GMC DEALERSHIP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR COULD DRIFT AT ANY TIME, NOT TO MENTION THE STRAIN ON THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11233684

Jul 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

'TAKATA RECALL' WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS OR HAS A HARD SHIFT. THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT BEFORE WANTING TO ACTUALLY MOVE WHICH COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENTS. THE CAR IS NEARLY BRAND NEW WITH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11231841

Jul 13, 2019Engine

A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND HAS BURNT THE BELT TO ALL PULLEYS. WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED POWER STEERING TO STOP MAKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER ALMOST IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11231560

Jul 5, 2019Steering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WE WENT TO MAKE A TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD WOULD NOT TURN. WE ACTUALLY HAD TO CROSS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC UP ON A SIDEWALK. SINCE THEN IT HAS CONTINUED TO WORK AND THEN SUDDENLY STOP WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11229649

Jun 28, 2019Steering

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 RESTARTED, BUT WAS LATER TOWED TO MARCHANT CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 5700 SAVANNAH HWY, RAVENEL, SC 29470, (843) 722-8208). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT, AIR COMPRESSOR, AND FREON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,200.

NHTSA ODI 11223159

Jun 7, 2019

IT IS A SHAME THAT SOME OTHER OLDER CARS LIKE FORD RECEIVE INFOTAINMENT UPGRADE MODULES TO SUPPORT GOOGLE AND APPLE CAR PLAY AND GM DID NOTHING SO FAR

NHTSA ODI 11218504

Jun 4, 2019Steering

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SUDDEN SUBSTANTIAL FLUID LEAKAGE. COMPLAINTS TO GM ARE UNRESOLCVED WHILE GM CONTINUES TO SELL FLAWED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11217820

May 14, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11207481

May 13, 2019Electrical system

SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SIDE BLIND ZONE LIGHTS IN MIRRORS ARE ALWAYS ON. CONDITION HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE ABOUT 50000 MILES AND NOW IS IN THE CONDITION PERMANENTLY RENDERING THIS SAFETY FEATURE USELESS.

NHTSA ODI 11207190

May 12, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE SCREEN MENTIONS THE STABILITRAK ISN'T WORKING AND THE TRUCK LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS OFF. THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE TRUCK LOOSES POWER OUT OF NO WHERE AL SO SAYING THE TRACTION CONTROL ISN'T WORKING. IT HAPPENS ALL AT RANDOM TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11207062

May 9, 2019Body & structure

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF WHEN THE LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONED. OPENED THE LIFTGATE USING THE BUTTON ON THE GATE, IT OPENED FULLY PAUSED OPEN, THEN SUDDENLY DROPPED 1/3 OF THE WAY CLOSED ON TOP OF MY HUSBAND, IT OPENED AGAIN AND THEN CLOSED QUICKLY ON IT'S OWN. IT REPEATED THE SAME ACTION AGAIN WHEN WE TRIED OPENING. AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE POWER LIFTGATE USING THE BUTTON IN THE DASH WE COULD OPEN THE LIFE HOWEVER WE HAD TO HOLD THE GATE UP, IT WOULD SLAM DOWN IF WE LET GO OF THE GATE. THE LIFE GATE STRUTS WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING AND REPAIRED. IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS FOUND IN THE RECALLED 2010-2012 ACADIAS

NHTSA ODI 11206619

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Working with the data? Download all 220 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 GMC Acadia Denali verdict →