Model year guide

2016 GMC canyon

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2016 GMC canyon is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 6 on record.

2016 GMC canyon — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2016 GMC canyon at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints270
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined16–25 mpg
Typical price$25,939

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2016 GMC canyon recalls 4

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #18V358000 · manufacturer #18188 18268 · 31/05/2018

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.

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, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-…

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #17V621000 · manufacturer #17387 · 05/10/2017

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #16V125000 · manufacturer #28030 · 02/03/2016

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.

Fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages NHTSA Campaign #15V807000 · manufacturer #16370 · 01/12/2015

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…

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2016 GMC canyon common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

2016 GMC canyon safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 21.2% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2016 GMC Canyon PU/CC 4WD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2016 GMC canyon MPG & running costs

Combined16–25 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,506
EPA size classSmall Pickup Trucks 2WD
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd or Manual 6-spd
Forced inductionTurbocharged
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,531 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 8 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2016 GMC canyon worth?

Low
$23,191
Typical price
$25,939
High
$31,999

From 5 comparable 2016 GMC canyon listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2016 GMC canyon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,530
Depreciation (5 yrs)$11,800
Total$29,330
Per mile$0.39

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($25,939) with the same model 5 model-years older ($14,140), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
212.6–224.8 in
Width
74.4 in
Height
70.5 in
Wheelbase
128.3–140.6 in
Curb weight
3,949–4,480 lb
Front track
62.2 in
Rear track
62.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2016 GMC canyon — ranges cover the 6 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 1578

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 1578.

This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.

Bulletin PIT5698F · Sep 2026

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

Bulletin PIP4902W · Sep 2026

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

Bulletin PIT5099J · Jul 2026

This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.

Bulletin PIT5509N · Jul 2026

This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.

Bulletin PIT5509M · May 2026

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

Bulletin PIT3271Q · Apr 2026

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

Bulletin PIP6104 · Mar 2026

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

Bulletin PIP4902V · Mar 2026

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

Bulletin PIP4902U · Jan 2026

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General M…

Bulletin PIT5214G · Nov 2025

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CANYON 4WD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2016 GMC canyon. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

On certain vehicles, the second stage of the driver frontal airbag may not deploy properly in certain high speed crashes. If the vehicle were to be involved in a high speed crash that triggers the second-stage deployment of the driver frontal airbag, the second stage of the inflator may not fill the airbag as completely and as quickly as designed, which could increase the risk…

Transport Canada #2016102 · Mar 2016

Accessories

Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 201 - Occupant Protection. The console-compartment latch assembly may be unable to retain the door in the event of a crash, contrary to the requirements of the standard, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the console-compartment latch assemb…

Transport Canada #2015575 · Nov 2015

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the GMC canyon

The Chevrolet Colorado is a series of compact pickup trucks and mid-size pickup trucks marketed by American automaker General Motors. They were introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma compact pickups. The Colorado is named after the U.S. state of Colorado, while the Canyon took its name from the deep chasm between cliffs.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2016 GMC canyon trims & engines on record

Trims
SLT · SLE
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl

2016 GMC canyon vehicles on record

Other GMC canyon model years

2016 GMC canyon — frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 GMC canyon have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 GMC canyon. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC canyon?

Across all 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, power train, electrical system.

What is the 2016 GMC canyon safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2016 GMC canyon an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 3★).

What gas mileage does the 2016 GMC canyon get?

The 2016 GMC canyon has U.S. EPA estimates of 16–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (8 versions).

How much is a 2016 GMC canyon worth?

Comparable 2016 GMC canyon listings run roughly $23,191–$31,999, typically around $25,939 (from 5 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.