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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2016 GMC Canyon

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 269 safety complaints about the 2016 GMC Canyon with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 179 complaints, 67% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 46,523 miles, the median across the 124 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2016 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

269 complaints on file

269

Complaints

8

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

4

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STEERING 179 · 67%
POWER TRAIN 39 · 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37 · 14%
ENGINE 21 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 · 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 13 · 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 · 4%
AIR BAGS 6 · 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 2%
SUSPENSION 4 · 1%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 3 · 1%
0 73 146

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 269.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 50.

56 42 28 14
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 GMC CANYON, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test PU/CC 4WD PU/CC RWD PU/EC 4WD PU/EC RWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 21.2% 21.9% 21.4% 22.0%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

18V358000 · May 31, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 895 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V621000 · October 5, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 16 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V125000 · March 2, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 1,579 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

15V807000 · December 1, 2015

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 8,763 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed

On September 14, 2021, my 2016 GMC Canyon struck another vehicle from behind going approximately 55 MPH and the airbags did not deploy. Every mechanic and insurance adjuster has stated that the airbags should have deployed in this collision.

NHTSA complaint 11442268. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

1 injured · crash · towed · 5,600 miles

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 complaint 10821567. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

1 injured · crash · towed · 12,000 miles

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 complaint 10882340. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire · 4,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC CANYON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE DECREASED TO SPEEDS OF 20-30 MPH. THE CONTACT COULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. IN ADDITION, OIL LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CREATED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

NHTSA complaint 10947348. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
The power steering on the truck we purchased for our son for college went out while he driving, I had him take it to a local shop and they said this is a known issue from GM and a safety alert was issue under NHTSA 21V213000/GM Recall N202325410. However, even though GM used the exact same steering rack parts, they excluded 2016 models from the recall and issue TSB #16-NA-065 as an instruction guide for mechanics. The local shop that is doing the work also sited TSB-N202325410-01 issued from GM. I'm now having to pay $3,597 to have the steering rack replaced the truck, which has no other issues, so that it can be driven safely. This is more than a little surprising and has caused us to have

NHTSA complaint 11768003, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
2016 GMC Canyon Power Steering failure exactly the same as the recall done on the 2015 GMC Canyon in 2021. While I am driving, for the last 5 days, my power steering and stabilitrac will shut off, and a warning sign will appear on my dash. I have researched it fully and the same exact recall was done on the 2015 model, and a lot of people have complained about this issue. It is not safe and very difficult to steer while driving, especially at slow speeds.

NHTSA complaint 11764576. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Was in my garage and started up my truck and seen an alert regarding the steering. Reversed truck and was un-able to steer the truck. Steering wheel would not move at all.

NHTSA complaint 11748199. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the infotainment system and screen display became inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11747456. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Power steering and StabiliTrack warning pops-up randomly and cuts off power steering assistance while I'm driving on the highway or on country roads. The power steering is very hard to maneuver. However, when it's safe to do so, I have to pull over on a safe place and have to restart my truck twice, in order to regain power steering. I have taken it to an independent mechanic and to a Chevy dealership on Merced. The dealership service tech informed me that in order to service the vehicle and find the code that is making this issue, that I would have to continue driving the truck and bring it in to the dealership with the power steering and StabiliTrack warning. According to the technician,

NHTSA complaint 11745386, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
This is a constant issue where the power steering issues disabled while driving and its very damgerous usually i just turn it off and on it fixes it, but then it happens again and frequently

NHTSA complaint 11745392. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Canyon

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 8 2 —
2025 8 2 —
2024 206 3 —
2023 62 3 —
2022 26 1 —
2021 11 2 —
2018 52 1 —
2017 66 1 —
2015 303 8 —
2012 23 2 —
2011 12 5 —
2010 8 2 —

Other 2016 GMC models

Sierra 1500 341 Yukon 269 Acadia 236 Yukon XL 201 Terrain 152 Sierra 2500 59 Sierra Denali 30 Yukon Denali XL 29

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every GMC on this site — 149 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst