2016 GMC Canyon: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Mar 10, 2026 · Transmission · NJ

Transmission shudder that is causing Drivability issues. Multiple mechanics have told me to drive it and maintain it until the transmission gives out.

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 Oct 22, 2020 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · PA

Transmission consistently shudders when accelerating in all driving conditions and speeds, and sometimes goes to higher rpms when engine is warm and restarted. Dealer said this was normal when recently brought in. It was not showing any codes. Dealer said not to keep 4x4 in auto mode. Less than a week after receiving truck back from dealer, a 4 wheel drive warning message was displayed and the car would not go into 4 wheel drive or auto. Message and problem comes and goes. Shuddering should not occur and keeping in auto more during rain and cold weather is a safety precaution that should not be an issue.

Filed May 7, 2017 · Engine · 2,667 miles · GA · crash

I purchased a gm 2016 canyon in october, 2016 and had driven it nearly six months when the event decribed here occurred. Up until april 16, 2017, I had had no problems with the truck. However, on easter sunday afternoon, while attempting to slow my canyon down and preparing to stop at a stop light, the engine seemed to go forward of it's own volition and the truck did not respond to my efforts to bring it to a complete stop. Consequently, my vehicle struck the vehicle immediately in front of it. A subsequent internet search revealed that a technical safety bulletin issued by gm in september of 2016 described this event as having occurred to 2016 canyon diesel engines. My vehicle has a gasoline engine; nonetheless the condition was described in the bulletin (tsb 16-na-276) as: "some customers may comment on a shudder at low speeds, an idle surge when stopped or approaching a stop." this idle surge describes exactly what happened to my vehicle as I was attempting to slow down and stop at a red light. Although there was no damage done to my vehicle, the officer who investigated the accident would not let us drive our vehicle until it had been examined and evaluated by our local gm service department. The service personnel adamantly maintained then (and now) that the accident did not happen as I described it. I had to contact gmc customer care center to have 15 minutes worth of diagnostics done per computer, esp the engine control module. The tsb states: "if you encounter a vehicle with the above concern, reprogram the engine control module with the latest calibrations." luckily, the gentleman at the customer care service was able to intervene and have the engine control module evaluated and documentation that there were no problems with it or any other "control modules" provided to us by our local gm service department.

Filed Jan 19, 2017 · Transmission · 3,200 miles · TX

Noticed a few days after I bought the truck it seems the transmission never knows what gear to be in. You can take off fine but when you try to add a little speed, does nothing until a few more inches of pedal is applied then it accelerates way to fast, almost hit the car in front several times. Also, coming out of u-turn or freeway underpass, seems to be stuck in 6th gear, have to dang near floor it to get it to accelerate , all the while folks are trying not to hit me from behind since I am not moving very well. Freeway driving, same issues, say you are at 60mph and traffic clears and you try to add a little pedal to get to 65-70, I have to push down 2-3 inches before anything happens. Same when driving 30 then trying to go to 45, shudders and stumbles like a manual transmission vehicle would in 5th gear @ 30mph. You have to really stay on the gas and drive hard to for it to do any better. I took back to the dealer under warranty and was told this is normal according to gmc tech support. Not. I have been driving 45 years, many different cars, and this is in no way normal. It is not only aggravating but quite dangerous. From what I have seen online, this is a very common complaint. Should take no more than some re-programming of the shift points and throttle position sensor.