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2016 GMC Canyon problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 GMC Canyon. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.
Better than 81% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2016 GMC Canyon have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 64 of 270 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Canyon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 19% and the 2017 scores 54%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other GMC Canyon years
Of the 7 GMC Canyon years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (24%). The worst is the 2018 (76%), the best the 2012 (16%). By volume, the 2016 drew 270 complaints (64 drivetrain), against 321 for the 2015 and 66 for the 2017.
GMC Canyon years to avoid and best years →
2012 Canyon problems · 2015 Canyon problems · 2016 · 2017 Canyon problems · 2018 Canyon problems · 2022 Canyon problems · 2023 Canyon problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 GMC Canyon
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 GMC Canyon said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 64 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 GMC Canyon fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 GMC Canyon involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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,…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 GMC Canyon? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 GMC Canyon have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 64 of 270 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Canyon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 GMC Canyon?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 GMC Canyon is steering: 180 of 270 complaints (67%) name it, followed by power train (39) and electrical system (37). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 24% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 GMC Canyon reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 24% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 81% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 GMC Canyon years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 GMC Canyon?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 GMC Canyon involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 18V358000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which GMC Canyon years are better?
Among the GMC Canyon years we track, the 2012 (16%) and the 2015 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (24%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-canyon
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.