2016 GMC Acadia · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 130owner reports
- 130,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Apr 12, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
130 of the 236 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Acadia.
Narrower sheets: Takata airbag inflator recall (118 reports)
Tick what matches of 130 reports
Airbag on other Acadia years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (9 reports) and the inflator (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the airbags cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 GMC Acadia, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 GMC Acadia that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON LOCATING AND RECONNECTING AIRBAG CONNECTORS THAT ARE NOT FULLY SEATED TO CORRECT A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF AN AIRBAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, OR ONE, OR MORE, AIRBAG DTC(S) SET.
This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
What owners wrote
“GM safety recall N232404980 received in June, 2023, states that fragments could may pass through the air bag which may result in injury or death to the occupants. As of 12/19/2023, GM is still saying that the parts to repair aren't available. Not acceptable.”
Filed Dec 19, 2023
“Safety recalled the airbag on my vehichle and dealers dont have the ability to order the airbag needed to replace per GMC Auto shops.”
Filed Dec 4, 2023
“Transmission is slipping Brakes / sometimes hydraulics not working properly Side and back sensors not working at all , malfunctioning of electrical components, while driving, all electronics inside vehicle went blank, anti theft system locked up, went to shut off car, will not start after the failed, oil consumption at 23% life oil cycle, oil pressure low, and engine locked up,”
Filed Aug 16, 2023 · 120,186 miles
“The manufacturer admits this defect can cause death but has no remedy and no estimated time for available parts. They also refuse a rental or loan vehicle in the meantime.”
Filed Aug 11, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 130 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works