2016 GMC Canyon Reliability
The 2016 GMC Canyon has 271 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Canyon model years (2015–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Canyon's typical year, while the 2017 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
271
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
8
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2016 GMC Canyon complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 model year, filed between 2016 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 181 | 67% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 39 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 38 | 14% |
| Engine | 22 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 7% |
| Stability control | 13 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 11 | 4% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 10 | 4% |
2016 GMC Canyon recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2016 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V807000 | Dec 1, 2015 | Latches, locks & linkages | 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… |
| 16V125000 | Mar 2, 2016 | Air bags — frontal | 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… |
| 17V621000 | Oct 5, 2017 | Air bags — frontal | 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. |
| 18V358000 | May 31, 2018 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | 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… |
How the 2016 compares with nearby Canyon years
Verdicts compare these Canyon model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 321 | 8 | Steering | Caution |
| 2016 (this page) | 271 | 4 | Steering | Caution |
| 2017 | 66 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2018 | 53 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2016 GMC Canyon
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2016 GMC Canyon can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2016 GMC Canyon reliability FAQ
Is the 2016 GMC Canyon reliable?
The 2016 GMC Canyon has 271 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Canyon model years (2015–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Canyon's typical year, while the 2017 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2016 GMC Canyon problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 GMC Canyon are steering (181), powertrain / transmission (39), electrical system (38), engine (22). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2016 GMC Canyon have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 GMC Canyon, including 15V807000 (latches, locks & linkages) and 16V125000 (air bags — frontal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2016 GMC Canyon compare with the 2015 and 2017 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2015 has 321 complaints and 8 recalls (caution); the 2017 has 66 complaints and 1 recall (solid). The 2016 has 271 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2016 GMC Canyon?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More GMC Canyon research
Other GMC Canyon model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2016 Canyon, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.