GMC Canyon years to avoid (and the best years)
1,055 NHTSA owner complaints and 25 recalls across 12 model years, 2011 to 2024. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 1,055complaints
- 25recalls
- 25reported crashes
- 10reported fires
- 22reported injuries
Which GMC Canyon years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the GMC Canyon years to avoid are 2015, 2016 and 2024. The typical GMC Canyon year has 39 complaints on file.
- 2015: 302 complaints, 7.7 times the typical year. Most complaints name the steering (75% of complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (13% of complaints).
- 2016: 268 complaints, 6.9 times the typical year. Most complaints name the steering (66% of complaints) and the transmission and drivetrain (15% of complaints).
- 2024: 205 complaints, 5.3 times the typical year. Most complaints name the exterior lighting (78% of complaints) and the electrical system (13% of complaints).
What are the best GMC Canyon years?
The GMC Canyon years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2021 (11), 2011 (12) and 2020 (14). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 205 | 5.3× | 3 | 0 | 0 | Approach with caution | Exterior lighting |
| 2023 | 60 | 1.5× | 3 | 0 | 1 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 26 | 0.7× | 1 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 11 | 0.3× | 2 | 2 | 5 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2020 | 14 | 0.4× | 0 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2019 | 16 | 0.4× | 0 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2018 | 52 | 1.3× | 1 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2017 | 66 | 1.7× | 1 | 3 | 4 | Some concerns to check | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2016 | 268 | 6.9× | 4 | 8 | 4 | Approach with caution | Steering |
| 2015 | 302 | 7.7× | 8 | 7 | 4 | Approach with caution | Steering |
| 2012 | 23 | 0.6× | 2 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2011 | 12 | 0.3× | 5 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 328 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment204 (62%)
- Engine & powertrain45 (14%)
- Brakes31 (9%)
- Steering, suspension & tires14 (4%)
- Other systems13 (4%)
Recalls (25)
Airbags · 25V856000 · Dec 2025 · model year 2024
An air bag that deploys improperly increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Seat belts · 24V703000 · Sep 2024 · model year 2023
A loose seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Exterior lighting · 24V673000 · Sep 2024 · model year 2024
Headlights flickering can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 24V491000 · Jun 2024 · model year 2024
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 24V237000 · Mar 2024 · model year 2023
Damaged bolts may loosen or break, which can result in a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 24V133000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2023
Unexpected automatic emergency braking can cause the vehicle to abruptly stop or slow down, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V375000 · May 2022 · model year 2022
An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Safety · 21V497000 · Jul 2021 · model year 2021
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 21V213000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2015
A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 20V811000 · Dec 2020 · model year 2021
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.
Fuel system · 18V358000 · May 2018 · model years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Airbags · 17V621000 · Oct 2017 · model years 2015, 2016
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Airbags · 16V125000 · Mar 2016 · model year 2016
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Steering · 16V054000 · Feb 2016 · model year 2015
A loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 15V807000 · Dec 2015 · model year 2016
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.
Brakes · 15V278000 · May 2015 · model year 2015
If the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Safety · 15V267000 · May 2015 · model year 2015
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.
Airbags · 15V157000 · Mar 2015 · model year 2015
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.
Airbags · 14V645000 · Oct 2014 · model year 2015
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.
Safety · 12V594000 · Dec 2012 · model years 2011, 2012
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.
Seat belts · 11V552000 · Nov 2011 · model year 2012
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.
Transmission · 11V337000 · Jun 2011 · model year 2011
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.
Body & glass · 11V276000 · May 2011 · model year 2011
DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Suspension · 11V007000 · Jan 2011 · model year 2011
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Safety · 10V575000 · Nov 2010 · model year 2011
BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.