Most common 2018 GMC Canyon problems
Share of the 53 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Canyon complaints by model year
Best Canyon years: 2011, 2012, 2019. Years to avoid: 2024, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2017. Compare all years →
2018 GMC Canyon recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018.
What 2018 GMC Canyon owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 27 →
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,929.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving in the snow, the 4WD function became inoperable, and the vehicle lost traction and started skidding. The "Service 4WD" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that a chip inside of the casing of the 4WD feature was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to remove the key fob from the ignition, and the key fob was stuck. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was in park(P) but the contact was unable to remove the key fob. The contact restarted the vehicle and shifted into other gears several times to remove the key fob. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,500.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the ignition key was difficult to remove from the ignition cylinder. The contact stated that the failure was constant and was unable to remove the key from the ignition cylinder, causing the 12-Volt battery to be drained. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the contact needed to jiggle the key until being able to remove the key from the ignition cylinder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the message "Bad Exhaust Fluid Warning" was displayed. The contact stated that he added exhaust fluid to the vehicle per owner manual's instructions; however, the message remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle would return to normal operation if he continued driving the vehicle. The contact stated that as he continued driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 55 MPH. A message indicating that the speed would decrease to 45 MPH for 40 miles, and then to 5 MPH, was displayed. The contact pulled into a gas station. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then driven to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. …
"Engine power reduced" service message "Stabilitrack" service message "4x4" service message Vehicle is available for inspection Vehicle jerks and loses power while driving at highway speeds causing 18-wheelers and other drivers to swerve around me, vehicle accelerates very slowly while in city traffic. Intersections and traffic lights are difficult to navigate due to reduced engine power endangering myself and family, also other drivers. Vehicle erases all stored messages after a certain period of non-use. Dealer service center hasn't reproduced symptoms. Service center technicians say nothing is wrong and releases the vehicle back to me. I have invoices of the vehicle taken in 3 times. Vehicle is currently in the service center as of 10 June 2023, for the same problems indicated above. Problem is unpredictable and occurs at random. …
2018 GMC Canyon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 GMC Canyon a good car?
Based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Canyon rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Canyon at the same age. It is one of the Canyon years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Canyon?
The transmission & drivetrain — 27 complaints, 51% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (10) and engine & cooling (7).
How many recalls does the 2018 GMC Canyon have?
There is 1 recall for the 2018 GMC Canyon, the most recent from May 31, 2018 (fuel pump). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Canyon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2012 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2015, 2016, 2023 and 2017. See the full GMC Canyon years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 GMC Canyon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 25,000 miles; 90% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.