This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 GMC Acadia powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2016 GMC Acadia have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Acadia | 39 |
| 2013 Acadia | 26 |
| 2014 Acadia | 32 |
| 2015 Acadia | 19 |
| 2016 Acadia (this page) | 20 |
| 2017 Acadia | 227 |
| 2018 Acadia | 155 |
| 2019 Acadia | 146 |
| 2020 Acadia | 19 |
2crashes
2fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 GMC Acadia, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on Policies Applicable to All U.S. Dealers for Engine and Transmission Assembly Replacement Under Warranty, Policy or Customer Enthusiasm and information on Submission of Warranty Transaction in Global Warranty Management.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 GMC Acadia transmission is showing a pattern of failure across a wide mileage range. Most commonly, owners report shuddering and hesitation between 3rd and 5th gears around 55 mph, progressing to complete transmission failure between 50,000 and 120,000 miles. Torque converter lockup is the underlying issue in many cases, causing rumbling, vibration, and increased fuel consumption. One owner with 111,000 miles had already followed preventive maintenance—including a transmission flush at 65,000 miles—yet still needed full replacement.
The safety concerns go beyond poor shifting. Two owners report their vehicles rolled away while parked with the shifter in Park: one incident at 4,000 miles caused a utility box crash, and another resulted in fuel tank rupture and fire. A third owner experienced sudden stalling with the vehicle rolling backward on the freeway.
GM dealerships are declining warranty claims even when mileage falls within stated limits (one owner at 120,000 miles was denied coverage supposedly limited to 150,000 miles). Repair costs run $3,900 to $9,000 for full transmission replacement; independent shops quote $6,000–$7,000. One owner reported the vehicle required a second transmission replacement after the dealer's repair, suggesting underlying design issues.
Same GMC Acadia powertrain reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission slipping, shuddering, and hesitation during gear changes
The transmission exhibits shuddering, hesitation, or slipping across multiple gears (particularly 3rd through 5th), especially at highway speeds. Owners report the vehicle shaking violently when attempting to accelerate or shift, with symptoms escalating at cruising speeds around 55 mph.
When: Between 50,000 and 120,000 miles; one case at 4 years old with 111,000 miles despite regular maintenance including transmission flush at 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering before shifting into 3rd gear through 5th; Rumbling feeling at highway speeds; Vehicle shakes violently when accelerating; Hesitation during gear shifts; Transmission slip at different speeds; Loss of acceleration capability
Codes mentioned: P0843 (implied torque converter clutch failure), Transmission fault codes (specific codes not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required; repair costs range $3,909 to $9,000 depending on whether dealership or independent shop. One owner cited $6,000–$7,000 for torque converter and transmission work at independent shops.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM confirmed vehicle not under warranty; special warranty coverage denied despite vehicle having 120,000 miles (within stated 150,000-mile limit). One owner reported GM declined assistance after initial repair at dealership.
Torque converter failure with lockup and shuddering
The torque converter fails to function properly, causing severe shuddering, vibration, and a 'rumble' feeling. Owners report the converter locking up, reducing fuel economy and creating risk of loss of vehicle control at highway speeds.
When: 100,000+ miles; one case explicitly noted vehicle with 100,650 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering and rumbling sensation at cruising speed; Increased fuel consumption; Check engine light illuminated; Vibration throughout vehicle; Risk of lockup causing loss of control
Codes mentioned: P0843 (torque converter clutch performance or solenoid fault implied)
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shops quote $6,000–$7,000 for torque converter replacement or full transmission replacement. Dealership diagnostic fee of $75 cited; no warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM service advised no warranty coverage available; stated problem is most likely torque converter.
Vehicle rolling away while in Park with key removed or ignition off
In two separate incidents, parked vehicles with the gear shifter in Park and ignition off or key removed spontaneously rolled away, resulting in crashes and injuries. One incident caused fuel tank rupture and fire; another resulted in a pedestrian being struck and injured.
When: Low mileage (one at 4,000 miles); timing of second incident not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls away with shifter in Park; Ticking noise heard before rolling (one case); Vehicle moves despite key being removed from ignition; No operator input
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V092000 (powertrain-related; one VIN excluded from this recall)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not repaired; one crashed into utility box, one crashed into pillar. Second incident resulted in fuel tank rupture and fire requiring towing to safe location.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Neither incident was reported to manufacturer or dealer. One VIN was excluded from NHTSA Campaign 14V092000 (powertrain).
Complete transmission failure and loss of driving capability
The transmission fails catastrophically, rendering the vehicle unable to shift into forward or reverse gears, or losing all acceleration ability mid-drive. Vehicle becomes immobile or loses power while in traffic.
When: 77,013 miles (one case claiming third occurrence); 200,000 miles (another case)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to reverse or go forward in either gear; Loss of acceleration while driving at speed; Vehicle stalls and will not move; Multiple warning lights illuminated; Vehicle rolls backward after stalling
Codes mentioned: Multiple unknown warning lights (specific codes not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required. Dealer quoted $9,000 for one case at 77,013 miles. Another owner at 200,000 miles had vehicle towed but not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer notification in reported cases.
Hard shifting and transmission solenoid failure
The transmission exhibits hard, jerking shifts and fails to smoothly transition between gears. Solenoid malfunction causes erratic gear engagement.
When: Not specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, jerky gear shifts; Transmission shutter while driving; Transmission not changing gears; Feeling that vehicle will stall
Codes mentioned: Shift Solenoid fault (one owner cited), EVAP purge valve fault (noted in same narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Costs not specified by owners; no repair completion mentioned.
Engine stalling and vibration during acceleration or light driving
The engine stalls without warning when accelerating from a stop or during normal driving. Vehicle vibrates severely and requires restart.
When: Approximately 50,000 miles (one case); timing not stated for others
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while accelerating from stop; Severe vibration without warning; Engine dies and rolls backward after stalling; Traction control activates, vehicle cuts off
Repairs/costs cited: One case diagnosed as requiring transmission replacement at 50,000 miles; vehicle not repaired.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The car started using more gas when the check engine light came on the dealer said it was the torque converter and it is locking up.it could fail when driven
Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 GMC Acadia?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 GMC Acadia?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 79,773 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/GMC/Acadia.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.