2016 GMC Acadia Denali
Common Problems
Ranked from 119 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
11 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Airbag Recall Issues
60complaintsSafety riskOtherMultiple reports of delayed or unavailable parts for the airbag recall, leading to non-deployment in accidents.
- 2
Transmission Malfunction
24complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission shifts erratically and requires frequent repairs, causing drivability issues.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Electrical system failures including side detection system malfunctions
16complaintsMedium severityElectricalElectrical system failures, such as side detection system malfunctions, cause intermittent and permanent issues.
- 4
Engine check engine light issues leading to multiple component failures
10complaintsMedium severityEngineMultiple engine-related issues trigger the check engine light, leading to various component failures.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Power steering pump failure causing difficulty turning at low speeds
10complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe power steering pump fails, making it extremely difficult to turn the steering wheel at low speeds.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Steering system failures including power steering pump and fluid line issues
9complaintsHigh severitySteeringSteering system failures, such as power steering pump and fluid line issues, make it extremely difficult to steer, especially at low speeds.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Air conditioning system failures including evaporator core leaks
5complaintsMedium severityOtherThe air conditioning system frequently fails, with rear and front evaporator cores leaking or malfunctioning.
$100–$600est. evap system repair · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Seat belt latch failures leading to potential entrapment
5complaintsHigh severityOtherSeat belt latches fail, potentially trapping occupants in an accident, posing a significant safety risk.
- 9
Transmission issues including torque converter clutch failure
3complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission issues, such as torque converter clutch failure, lead to transmission hesitations and slippage.
$1,500–$3,000est. torque converter replacement · 6–10 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Tire issues leading to dry rot and cracking
2complaintsMedium severityOtherFactory tires exhibited significant cracking near the wheel rims and were dry rotted despite proper maintenance.
- 11
Vehicle rolling away while stationary
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe vehicle rolled away unexpectedly while parked, causing damage and injury.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.