GMC Canyon Engine Problems
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the GMC Canyon across 17 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (22). The words owners use most often: “upper radiator hose” (10% of reports).
- 125engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Upper radiator hose: mentioned in 12 of 125 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 69 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 125 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire.
GMC Canyon engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Canyon | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2024 Canyon | 14 | 7% | 4,491 |
| 2023 Canyon | 10 | 16% | — |
| 2022 Canyon | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2020 Canyon | 3 | 21% | 13,000 |
| 2019 Canyon | 3 | 18% | 32,092 |
| 2018 Canyon | 6 | 12% | — |
| 2017 Canyon | 14 | 21% | 15,400 |
| 2016 Canyon | 22 | 8% | 36,028 |
| 2015 Canyon | 13 | 4% | 31,000 |
| 2012 Canyon | 1 | 4% | 39,650 |
| 2011 Canyon | 3 | 25% | 30,000 |
| 2009 Canyon | 3 | 11% | 60,000 |
| 2008 Canyon | 14 | 37% | 68,000 |
| 2007 Canyon | 5 | 12% | 103,705 |
| 2006 Canyon | 6 | 13% | 67,500 |
| 2005 Canyon | 5 | 4% | 52,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the GMC Canyon. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
When sitting at idle, the engine miss & spark knock at times. When start driving down the road the throttle seems hard to Press & takes a little time to reach up to road speed. The truck does not get good gas mileage at all. I had the spark plugs & wires changed still don't help.
Coolant leak observed at the upper radiator hose quick-connect fitting. The leak appears to originate from the internal seal at the radiator inlet connection. This issue developed without warning and is consistent with a known defect in the radiator hose seal design used in 2023 GMC Canyon…
The engine coolant temperature sensor has failed on my 2019 GMC Canyon. The check engine light is illuminated, the temperature gauge does not register correctly, the air conditioning has been disabled by the vehicle's computer, and the engine cooling fan continues to run after the engine is turned…
Coolant leak caused by known manufacture defect in upper hose assembly causes coolant to drain and engine to overheat. CEL only comes on when coolant is almost gone. GMC refuses to cover the known issue after 36k miles.
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Canyons have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 125 owner complaints about engine for the GMC Canyon. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the GMC Canyon engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine problems on the GMC Canyon?
The most frequent phrase is “upper radiator hose”, in 12 of 125 complaints.
Other GMC Canyon problems
- Steering problems (447)
- Electrical System problems (266)
- Exterior Lighting problems (212)
- Power Train problems (183)
See all GMC Canyon problems.