2021 GMC Canyon Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Canyon years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 17th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Canyon. That ranks 17th out of 21 Canyon model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (2 complaints, 17%), typically at around 10,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 12owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 GMC Canyon problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 | 17% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 17% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 8% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | 78,378 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | 36,121 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 8% | 78,378 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 GMC Canyon recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Canyon vehicles. The load carrying capacity printed on the Tire and Loading Information placard is 22.5 kg (51 lbs.) more than intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will mail owners a new B-pillar label, free of charge. Owners may apply the label, or bring it to a dealer for installation. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 17, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340735.
Seat belts:critical fasteners
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
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.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes became inoperable and the vehicle shut off. The contact repeatedly pumped the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a large cloud of white smoke and immediately…
While driving a few days ago, power steering abruptly stopped working and a service power steering message appeared. It was very difficult to steer the vehicle back home. I've tried replacing the battery and resetting the steering sensor to no avail.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driverâs side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that upon further inspection, an unknown electrical fuse was…
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention screen image was solid blue, and there was no image displayed, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and it was determined that the rearview camera…
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a recurring…
Other GMC Canyon years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Canyon | 8 | 2 |
| 2025 Canyon | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 Canyon | 206 | 3 |
| 2023 Canyon | 62 | 3 |
| 2022 Canyon | 27 | 1 |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 |
| 2020 Canyon | 14 | 0 |
| 2019 Canyon | 17 | 0 |
| 2018 Canyon | 52 | 1 |
| 2017 Canyon | 66 | 1 |
| 2016 Canyon | 270 | 4 |
| 2015 Canyon | 303 | 8 |
| 2012 Canyon | 23 | 2 |
| 2011 Canyon | 12 | 5 |
| 2010 Canyon | 8 | 2 |
| 2009 Canyon | 27 | 3 |
| 2008 Canyon | 38 | 2 |
| 2007 Canyon | 42 | 3 |
| 2006 Canyon | 48 | 4 |
| 2005 Canyon | 113 | 3 |
| 2004 Canyon | 80 | 3 |
See all GMC Canyon problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Canyon?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, steering problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 GMC Canyon?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 GMC Canyon a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Canyon model years, the 2021 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.