2016 GMC Canyon electrical problems

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · LA

Issue #1: While driving on the highway, the screens flickered once in a while. While stopping at a gas station, the vehicle did not turn on. Everything was black as if there was no power. After a several minutes of trying, it came back. Apparently it was an electrical issue. Took it to the dealership shop, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it. A couple of month after, my son was driving and when he turned right, the vehicle shut off. Same issue, the vehicle went black but after a few minutes, he was able to turn it back on. Third time, my other son was driving. Arrived at his destination and when he was about to leave, the vehicle did not turn on. It was completely dead. The battery was good but all the electrical systems were dead. I had to tow the vehicle to the dealership. They changed the fuse box and that fixed the issue. It is dangerous because the vehicle can shut off anywhere at any time. Safety issue. Issue #2: Oil leak. The vehicle is a 2016 Canyon. It has about 76,000 miles on it. An oil leak was found in the engine. Had to take it to the dealership to fix it. Another high expense and repair. Issue #3: Power steering. While driving in the city, I got a warning saying that the power steering needed service. The wheel became extremely hard and it was difficult to steer the vehicle. I was able to bring the vehicle to a parking lot near to where the issue occurred but had to use a lot of strength to steer the vehicle to safety. I can not imagine what would've happened if I was driving on the highway or in a busy street. Apparently there is a recall for the 2015 vehicles but not for the 2016 even though it uses the same system and parts. Lots of complains online from 2016 vehicle owners reporting this same issue. Cost to repair the issue: $3,500 out of pocket. Issue #4: Media screen. The media screen keeps failing. This is the second screen installed by the dealership and it still have the same issues. At times it got black.

Filed Jun 30, 2026 · Electrical · MS

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.

Filed Jun 20, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA

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, they can't do much due to that they don't know what is causing the power steering to malfunction. I haven't been able to take it to the dealership because the warnings have occurred while I'm far away from a dealership or diagnosis area. Also, I will not risk my safety maneuvering a vehicle that has lost electric power steering around a city where lots of left or right turns are necessary to drive to a locality. This is the only vehicle I have to go to work or travel and fear for my safety when this happens. PLEASE HELP.

Filed May 9, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · SC

The power steering and Stabilitrak systems intermittently fail while the vehicle is in operation. The issue occurs unpredictably, both immediately after startup and while driving. On several occasions, the systems have failed during turns, requiring sudden corrective action and increased steering effort to maintain control and avoid veering off the road or colliding with nearby vehicles. No warning signs or noticeable symptoms are present prior to the failure occurring.

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · TN

At random the power steering and traction control turn off making it difficult to drive.. This happens randomly and has become unable to steer. Once the vehicle is turned off for a period of time you can start it up and the steering returns. The issue was reported in the 2015 models. That recall needs to extend into the 2016 models since most of the parts were most likely manufactured tot eh same specs as the 2015. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent repair shop. The dealership wanted $200 for just the diagnostics. Every time this happens it becomes very difficult to drive and is a safety issue. The issue first appeared 2 months ago and after the restart stopped. Then all of a sudden it seems to occur daily.

Filed Sep 29, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · 105,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that the headlights failed to activate automatically. Additionally, one of the phone charger ports had become inoperable. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A message advising that the power steering was inoperable and to drive carefully was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH after the power steering failure, the vehicle was pulling to the right. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Filed Aug 14, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · FL

Transmission has been shuddering since 15,000 miles till now. Dealerships says it's normal on these transmissions, 6 fluid and filter changes and now at 72,000 miles the transmission is failing just outside of warranty. They scammed me and kept my transmission barely alive until warranty ran out and now they want 8k-10k for a replacement. They knew. Dash goes crazy from the touch screen to the digital information screen in the speedometer. They say it's normal and happens on all the units. But it's distracting and has been messing up since bought the truck new. Again they just kept saying it was nothing they can do. Now they say it needs to be replaced after my warranty has run out. DEF system is failing conveniently after the warranty has run out. It's dangerous because they programmed the truck to go into limp mode when anything emissions related fails stranding me anywhere at anytime. Emission failures like sensors should not restrict travel. This is a major issue with the diesels in these trucks and they need to be forced to remove anything that's not dangerous to the health of the engine or drive train from the software or hardware from being able to restrict travel. In every situation I've been restricted to limp mode by dirty particulate sensors, but the code that pops and puts my truck in limp mode says that the NOX sensor is bad. This is false and is just a way for GM to get service at their dealers. Then they charge customers a fortune to replace parts that don't need to be replaced when you can just remove and clean the four particulate sensors and the restrictions will clear themselves shortly after. EMISSIONS RELATED ISSUES SHOULD NOT RESTRICT TRAVEL BY ANY MEANS! It is dangerous to be stranded on a trip because your emission sensors may be malfunctioning.

Filed May 2, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · TX

While driving the power steering went out making the vehicle difficult to control. Once I stopped the vehicle and turned it off then back on, the power steering came back on leading me to believe an electrical issue is the cause

Filed Mar 29, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · VA

The vehicle will lose power steering while driving. The lights come on for stabilitrak and traction control then it says power steering is gone. It randomly deactivates the power steering, while driving. It's extremely dangerous and have almost had accidents. They are telling me that it may not be under a recall. If gmc used the same steering box as the previous model year, the same issue is occurring. Intermittent power steering failure.

Filed Jan 5, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · OH

I am the owner of a 2016 GMC Canyon truck, which i purchased used in approx 2020 with about 43,000 miles on it...today's date is now 1/5/25 and the truck has approx 99,0000 mile on it. Over the last 2 years the electronic stability control has failed approx 20 times. A warning light appears on the dash stating the failure of the power steering and the stabilitrac. When this happens steering the truck and be extremely difficult and I am forced to pull off the road. Usually when the truck is turned off for a short while and then turned back on the problem will fix itself, but only for a few minutes or hours and the problem reoccurs. Last week I took the truck to a GM dealer and had the steering angle sensor recalibrated..which fixed the problem for 1 month. Now it is failing again! My wife is afraid and refuses to drive the truck because if this happens again while she is driving she isn't strong enough to turn the wheel..particularly from a complete stopped position. This is a very serious and dangerous problem that GM needs to be responsible to resolve.