GMC Canyon problems by model year
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
NHTSA has 849 owner complaints and 26 recalls on file for the GMC Canyon (2005–2026). The 2016 Canyon has the most serious complaints, most often about steering.
- Complaints
- 849
- Recalls
- 26
- Model years
- 20
- Worst year
- 2016
Complaints by model year
Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.
Worst GMC Canyon years to buy
Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).
- 2016 GMC Canyon — 208 complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fire; top problem: Steering
- 2015 GMC Canyon — 162 complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires; top problem: Steering
- 2024 GMC Canyon — 206 complaints; top problem: Lighting
- 2023 GMC Canyon — 62 complaints, 1 fire; top problem: Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
- 2018 GMC Canyon — 45 complaints, 2 crashes; top problem: Transmission & Drivetrain
Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2010 (0 complaints).
Every GMC Canyon model year
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Recalls | Top problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Canyon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2025 Canyon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Brakes |
| 2024 Canyon | 206 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Lighting |
| 2023 Canyon | 62 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2022 Canyon | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2021 Canyon | 12 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | Driver Assistance & Safety Tech |
| 2020 Canyon | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2019 Canyon | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2018 Canyon | 45 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2017 Canyon | 42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2016 Canyon | 208 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | Steering |
| 2015 Canyon | 162 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | Steering |
| 2012 Canyon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Electrical System |
| 2011 Canyon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Engine |
| 2010 Canyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2009 Canyon | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2008 Canyon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Brakes |
| 2007 Canyon | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2006 Canyon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2005 Canyon | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Body & Structure |
Most common GMC Canyon problem areas (all years)
- Steering333 complaints
- Lighting176 complaints
- Electrical System149 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain90 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech77 complaints
- Engine73 complaints
- Brakes55 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion31 complaints
- Airbags21 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control21 complaints
Complaint trend
GMC Canyon recalls
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Risk: A loose seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Risk: Headlights flickering can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Risk: Damaged bolts may loosen or break, which can result in a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Risk: Unexpected automatic emergency braking can cause the vehicle to abruptly stop or slow down, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Risk: A loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Risk: If the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Risk: If the seat-frame attachment hooks are not secured properly, the seat may not be adequately anchored to the vehicle, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of an injury.
Risk: If the inflator separates from the back plate in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, this may cause the air bag or steering wheel components to separate and be propelled into the interior compartment, potentially seriously injuring the driver or other occupants. Additionally, the air bag may fail to properly inflate, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.
Risk: If the driver air bag does not deploy as designed, there is an increased risk of driver injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.
Risk: If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
Risk: The loose connections may cause the driver to not receive a visual or audible warning that the driver seat belt is not fastened, thereby increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
Risk: The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle could roll away as the driver or other occupants exit the vehicle or have exited, resulting in the possibility of the vehicle striking them or someone around the vehicle, or could result in a crash without prior warning.
Risk: Driver visibility could be reduced increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
Other GMC models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology