← New search

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
50 miles · Oct 1, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 CANYON, TEST DRIVE WENT WELL, ALTHOUGH I ADMIT IT PROBABLY WASN'T LONG ENOUGH. PURCHASED ON SUNDAY, AND DURING THE NEXT WEEK DRIVING I BEGAN NOTICING THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING AT THE PROPER TIMES. LIKE MOST PEOPLE ON HERE, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE VERY CONFUSED , ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATI…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 CANYON, TEST DRIVE WENT WELL, ALTHOUGH I ADMIT IT PROBABLY WASN'T LONG ENOUGH. PURCHASED ON SUNDAY, AND DURING THE NEXT WEEK DRIVING I BEGAN NOTICING THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING AT THE PROPER TIMES. LIKE MOST PEOPLE ON HERE, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE VERY CONFUSED , ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING INTO THE 20-35 MPG RANGE AND ATTEMPTING TO RE-ACCELERATE BACK UP. IT WILL MISFIRE OR BE VERY UNRESPONSIVE, AND THEN CLUNK AND JERK YOU FORWARD ONCE IT DECIDES TO CHANGE GEARS. IT ALSO DOES SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE GOING AROUND 30-40 MPG AND THEN SIMPLY LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IN THIS INSTANCE, I FEEL LIKE IT DOWN SHIFTS INSTANTLY AND IT FEELS LIKE THE TRUCK IS BEING PULLED BACK (INSTEAD OF SIMPLY COASTING LIKE I WOULD WANT), AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT "RELEASES" FROM THIS AND THE TRUCK ACTUALLY STOPS DECELERATING AND SPEEDS UP A BIT, EVEN THOUGH THE GAS HAD BEEN RELEASED MANY SECONDS AGO. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC. I THINK THE OVERARCHING PROBLEM HERE IS THE SHIFT POINTS THAT THE ECM HAS DETERMINED (OR BEEN PROGRAMMED WITH). YOU CAN TELL THIS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, MY TRUCK GETS TO THIRD GEAR BY 15 MILES PER HOUR AND NEVER GOES ABOVE 2K RPM'S??? I ADMIT I AM A BIT LIGHT-FOOTED ON DRIVING, WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I EVENTUALLY AM GIVING A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACCELERATION TO A TRUCK IN 4TH GEAR ONLY GOING 20 MPH, WHICH SUCK. I HAVE ALSO READ THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 15 CANYON (OBVIOUSLY READ AFTER PURCHASE), AND GMC EVENTUALLY CAME OUT WITH A FEW FIXES, INCLUDING ECM PATCH UPDATES OR LOWER VALVE REPLACEMENT. I IMAGINE THAT MANY OF THE 2016'S WERE ALREADY OFF THE LINE BY THE TIME THESE '15 FIXES CAME OUT (IN APRIL 15 I BELIEVE), BUT THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THESE FOR THE 2016.

NHTSA ODI #10910936

500 miles · Sep 27, 2016
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGH GEAR (5 OR 6) TO A LOWER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 45 MPH TO 20 MPH (OR LOWER). WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE BUCKS, VIBRATES, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPM DROPS TO 1,000 RPM OR LOWER. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS QUICKLY FLOORED THE TRANSMISSION …

Read full complaint

THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGH GEAR (5 OR 6) TO A LOWER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 45 MPH TO 20 MPH (OR LOWER). WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE BUCKS, VIBRATES, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPM DROPS TO 1,000 RPM OR LOWER. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS QUICKLY FLOORED THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS SEVERAL GEARS LOWER AND JERKS FORWARD. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS PRIMARILY ON SECONDARY ROADS WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD AND WHEN PULLING FROM ONE ROAD INTO TRAFFIC ON ANOTHER ROAD. THE SITUATION WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE TRUCK DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD.

NHTSA ODI #10909896

6,000 miles · Sep 8, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TRUCK SEEMS TO BE MISSING WHEN CRUISING, THEN HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. SEEMS TO BE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL FREQUENTLY WHEN JUST ACCELERATING. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM IS 90% REDUCED WHEN USING PREMIUM FUEL. STILL NO IDEA.

NHTSA ODI #10904755

12,000 miles · Jul 3, 2016
SteeringCrashInjury

ON 12/29.2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM ON A CLEAR BRIGHT DAY I WAS DRIVING NEAR MY MY HOME RETURNING FROM AND ERRAND. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 90% THROUGH A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN WHEN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROAD, CONTINUE DOWN A DITCH HITTING A CONCRETE DRIVE, CONCRETE MAIL BOX AND A POWER…

Read full complaint

ON 12/29.2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM ON A CLEAR BRIGHT DAY I WAS DRIVING NEAR MY MY HOME RETURNING FROM AND ERRAND. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 90% THROUGH A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN WHEN THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE ROAD, CONTINUE DOWN A DITCH HITTING A CONCRETE DRIVE, CONCRETE MAIL BOX AND A POWER POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I HAD SOFT TISSUE BRUISING, CUTS AND ABRASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10882340

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V054000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V054000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10871885

3,000 miles · Mar 23, 2016
Electrical System

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A 2016 GMC CANYON WHERE THE RADIO/ONSTAR/REAR VIEW CAMERA ETC CUTS OUT AFTER A SHORT OPERATION TIME -- MY FRIEND HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. MY FIEND IS ELDERLY AND DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER THAT IS WHY I AM DOING THIS FOR HIM. THE BACK-UP CAMERA DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE RADIO/ONSTAR/CAMER…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A 2016 GMC CANYON WHERE THE RADIO/ONSTAR/REAR VIEW CAMERA ETC CUTS OUT AFTER A SHORT OPERATION TIME -- MY FRIEND HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. MY FIEND IS ELDERLY AND DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER THAT IS WHY I AM DOING THIS FOR HIM. THE BACK-UP CAMERA DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE RADIO/ONSTAR/CAMERA CUTS OUT. THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING

NHTSA ODI #10851202

100 miles · Feb 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other

AFTER STARTING MY TRUCK AND DRIVING UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP, I TURN ON JUST THE FAN AND THE A/C LIGHT COMES ON. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THAT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IF THE AUTO DEFOG IS ACTIVATED. IT DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN I START THE TRUCK IF THE ENGINE IS WARM. ALSO, THE RADIO/USB PORT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON BY ITSELF WH…

Read full complaint

AFTER STARTING MY TRUCK AND DRIVING UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP, I TURN ON JUST THE FAN AND THE A/C LIGHT COMES ON. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THAT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IF THE AUTO DEFOG IS ACTIVATED. IT DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN I START THE TRUCK IF THE ENGINE IS WARM. ALSO, THE RADIO/USB PORT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON BY ITSELF WHEN I START THE TRUCK OR SOMETIMES AFTER I END A PHONE CALL. ONCE THE ENTIRE TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I THEN COULD NOT TURN THE RADIO VOLUME UP OR DOWN, CHANGE STATIONS, OR USE ANY FEATURES OF THE TOUCH SCREEN.

NHTSA ODI #10824434

5,600 miles · Jan 21, 2016
SteeringCrashInjury

FAULTY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CAUSED VEHICLE VEER OFF THE RODE HITTING A CONCRETE WALL, CONCRETE MAIL BOX AND TELEPHONE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS NORTH BOUND A TWO BLACK TOP ROAD AT A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND TURN.

NHTSA ODI #10821567

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.