Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 GMC Acadia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The check engine light has come on multiple times in the past 6 months. I have taken it 3 times to be repaired and finally the found out what was wrong. The first time that I brought it in, May 2023, the Bank 1 Lean Code was coming up on the diagnostic. They replaced a sensor for $300. 2 weeks later the check engine light came on again. They got the same codes and didn't know what exactly was causing it so they fixed a bunch of things which cost me $2,200. 3 months later, the check engine light came back on again. This time they're telling me the repairs cost $3,725 and it's related to this bulletin [redacted] ). This seems like a safety hazard that I should not have to pay for. My car only has 58,000 miles. I already paid $2,500 in misdiagnosed problems and now they want me to pay another $3,725. …
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact indicated while driving at various speeds the vehicle had experienced random jerking and hesitation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine control module was faulty. The engine control module was replaced but the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the rack and pinion and power steering pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
While operating my vehicle, the power steering suddenly failed without adequate warning. The steering became extremely difficult, creating a significant safety hazard for myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. A sudden loss of steering assist increases the risk of collision, especially at lower speeds, during turns, or in emergency maneuvers.
The recall is with the steering wheel air bag. If it goes off then the driver could possibly get injured or killed from metal fragments according to the recall letter that I received. The letter is dated June 10, 2023. If they can't come up with a fix then they should supply me with a vehicle that is safe. Seven months is way too long.
2016 sle GMC Acadia center gear shifting component level does not indicate what gear the vehicle is currently in. P,r,n,d,l all remain white in color despite being in a different gear; an improvement (perhaps a color change to the current gear) is needed. Gear indication is currently located on a 2 inch by 3 inch screen screen above the speedometer in the instrument cluster. However, the steering wheel is located within the average persons field of view of the indication screen, thus making the indication screen useless until a major body adjustment, up or down, is made. Poor indication of current gear and the size of gear indication need to be drastically improved to prevent accidental gear selection which would result in wrecks and lost of life.
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. …
Failure of power steering system - at low speeds, power steering assistance is not active. Very difficult to turn steering wheel from a stopped position or moving at low speed. This presents a safety risk in the ability to avoid pedestrians, vehicles or other objects while driving at slow speeds, most notably parking lots. Condition started around the 50,000-mile mark. After further examination, fluid appear to be leaking from the vehicle. Had vehicle taken to GM-certified dealership for service, and was advised that the power steering system required immediate attention. After further research there appears to be concerning history of power-steering related failure on the GMC Acadia. Prior model years (2007-2011) had the warranty extended on the system upwards of 10 years and 150,000 miles. …
My 2016 GMC Acadia was brought in for a basic car inspection. The car has 54,000 miles. I was told it failed inspection due to the leaking of steering fluid. I needed a new gear assembly. The car had no issues prior to this and I take the car regularly to GMC. Fortunately, I did not get into an accident, but I drive 60 miles a day to work and this could have been much worse. The total cost to have it fixed was almost $3,000. I did not have the extended bumper to bumper warranty, so I had to pay out of pocket.after reading many complaints about this specific problem, I called GMC corporate to make an official complaint with them. If you own this car and are anywhere from 40-70K miles, please have this checked out. I have 2 small children and I could have easily crashed if I didn't have my car inspected. This needs to be a recall immediately. …
I was driving down the highway and I went to turn the corner as I slowed to turn the corner the steering wheel wouldn't turn, I had to hot my brakes because it scared me that my car wouldn't turn, the cars behind me had to go around me, I thought I was about to cause a wreck because my steering wheel wouldn't turn. I finally got it to turn but it was really hard. I was thankful my kids were not in the car. I took my car in to get looked at and they said I need a new steering rack, I only have 60,000 miles on it. They said repairs are going to cost $1,200 or more. I called 5 different repair shops and they all said, that it was common on the GMC Acadia and other GMC vehicles. They also told me at one time GMC had more recalls then they had vehicles on the road. Wish I would of known this prior to buying. …
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, [phone]). 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.
Steering complaints in other Acadia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2016 GMC Acadia?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the steering of the 2016 GMC Acadia, 11% of the model year's 236 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist › power steering fluid (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 GMC Acadia steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2016 GMC Acadia, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Acadia steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.