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2016 GMC Canyon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Canyon years

Owner complaints for the 2016 GMC Canyon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

124 reports with mileage · 144 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

268 reports
43,000 miles · Jan 31, 2021
Steering

THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT COMPLETELY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ESPECIALLY WHEN ON INTERSTATE AT HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT IS A SHAME THAT GMC ONLY INCLUDED 2015 CANYONS IN RECALL AND NOT 2016 BUT ALSO THAT NHTSA HAS NOT INTERVENED ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI #11390909

47,000 miles · Dec 27, 2020
Steering

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL WILL GET HARD

NHTSA ODI #11385127

49,000 miles · Dec 1, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF DURING BRAKING OR WHILE STOPPED AND MUST BE RESTARTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAN OPERATE AGAIN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIOLENT GEAR CHANGES AND SIGNIFICANT LAGGING DURING PERIODS OF MODERATE ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. GEAR CHANGES RESULT IN EITHER SEVERE UNRESPONSIVENESS AND A GENERAL LACK OF ACCELERATIO…

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VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF DURING BRAKING OR WHILE STOPPED AND MUST BE RESTARTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAN OPERATE AGAIN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIOLENT GEAR CHANGES AND SIGNIFICANT LAGGING DURING PERIODS OF MODERATE ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. GEAR CHANGES RESULT IN EITHER SEVERE UNRESPONSIVENESS AND A GENERAL LACK OF ACCELERATION OR AN AGGRESSIVE GEAR CHANGE THAT JERKS THE VEHICLE AND SPINS THE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #11377276

7 miles · Nov 29, 2020
Steering

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CANYONS/COLORADOS, POWER STEERING FAILS AT RANDOM TIMES CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BE RIPPED FROM HANDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS, MOVING OR STATIONARY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S ONLY RECALLED ON 2015 MODELS WHEN IT'S EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11376960

82,710 miles · Nov 5, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURN THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF. ENGINE TURNS OFF BUT KEY DOES NOT TURN IN TO OFF POSITION. I HAVE TO START AND TURN THE TRUCK OFF MULTIPLE TIMES TO RELEASE THE KEY.

NHTSA ODI #11373189

50,000 miles · Oct 22, 2020
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CONSISTENTLY SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS, AND SOMETIMES GOES TO HIGHER RPMS WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND RESTARTED. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN RECENTLY BROUGHT IN. IT WAS NOT SHOWING ANY CODES. DEALER SAID NOT TO KEEP 4X4 IN AUTO MODE. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER RECEIVING TRUCK BAC…

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TRANSMISSION CONSISTENTLY SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS, AND SOMETIMES GOES TO HIGHER RPMS WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND RESTARTED. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN RECENTLY BROUGHT IN. IT WAS NOT SHOWING ANY CODES. DEALER SAID NOT TO KEEP 4X4 IN AUTO MODE. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER RECEIVING TRUCK BACK FROM DEALER, A 4 WHEEL DRIVE WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR AUTO. MESSAGE AND PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. SHUDDERING SHOULD NOT OCCUR AND KEEPING IN AUTO MORE DURING RAIN AND COLD WEATHER IS A SAFETY PRECAUTION THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11365740

46,000 miles · Oct 6, 2020
Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITH A NOTIFICATION POPPING UP SAYING POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE. I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I HAD TO PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE MESSAGE TO CLEAR AND MY STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. LUCKIL…

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITH A NOTIFICATION POPPING UP SAYING POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE. I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I HAD TO PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE MESSAGE TO CLEAR AND MY STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE AND DIDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE MUCH FURTHER. I'M WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WHICH IS SCARY BECAUSE I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD AND ANOTHER NEWBORN COMING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11363109

69,400 miles · Sep 19, 2020
Steering

DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOURS AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SEVERAL TIMES, I COULD OF HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESS WAY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I TRY TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TODAY 09/19/2020. I ALSO HAVE PICS OF THE WARNING IT PROVIDED ME, 'STABILITRAK' AND 'POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE' TRUCK WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11359946

47,216 miles · Sep 17, 2020
EngineSteering

THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 10/14/2019, WHILE BRAKING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE GMC DEALERSHIP (BROWN & BROWN AT1550 E DRIVERS WAY, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 835-0900) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. THIS O…

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THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 10/14/2019, WHILE BRAKING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE GMC DEALERSHIP (BROWN & BROWN AT1550 E DRIVERS WAY, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 835-0900) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE SERVICE ENTRANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED BOTH TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,216. SEE INVOICE ATTACHMENT. HE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED ON 9/16/2020 WHILE THE DRIVER WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST MAKING STEERING VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED BOTH TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN THAT DAY. ON 9/17/2020, THE VEHICLE WAS TOLLED TO HENRY BROWN BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 1550 E DRIVERS WAY, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 835-0900. THE SECOND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,468. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT REPLICATED OR IDENTIFIED. SEE INVOICE ATTACHMENT. THE CONTACT SOLD THE VEHICLE ON 9/29/2020.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11355544

32,000 miles · Sep 15, 2020
Unknown Or Other

TRUCK HAS STARTING ISSUES WHEN SHOPPING OR GETTING GAS. ENTIRE TRUCK SYSTEM GOES DEAD. TRUCK HAS TO SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. THEN OUT OF THE BLUE ALL THE SYSTEMS IN TRUCK WILL START WORKING. THIS AFFECTS THE ALL DOOR LOCKS, POWER SEATS, POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, INSTRUMENT PANEL, IGNITION SWITCH ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ALL EXTERIOR…

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TRUCK HAS STARTING ISSUES WHEN SHOPPING OR GETTING GAS. ENTIRE TRUCK SYSTEM GOES DEAD. TRUCK HAS TO SIT FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO. THEN OUT OF THE BLUE ALL THE SYSTEMS IN TRUCK WILL START WORKING. THIS AFFECTS THE ALL DOOR LOCKS, POWER SEATS, POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, INSTRUMENT PANEL, IGNITION SWITCH ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS, ALL TURN SIGNALS, ALL WINDSHIELD WIPERS, IN SHORT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT. THIS HAPPENS WARNING REASON FOR THIS OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI #11355198

Official recalls

4

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

17V621000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 5, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.

16V125000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 2, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.

15V807000 · Latches/locks/linkages

Dec 1, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado trucks manufactured August 25, 2015 to September 24, 2015, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured August 28, 2015 to September 24, 2015. The affected vehicles have a console compartment lid latch assembly that may fail to keep the compartment door closed in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the console compartment door latch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16370.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.