Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 25% | 14,000 miles |
| 2024 | 14 | 7% | 4,000 miles |
| 2023 | 10 | 16% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 8% | 78,000 miles |
| 2020 | 4 | 29% | 80,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 18% | 64,000 miles |
| 2018 | 7 | 13% | 74,000 miles |
| 2017 | 16 | 24% | 16,000 miles |
| 2016 | 22 | 8% | 37,000 miles |
| 2015 | 14 | 5% | 35,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 9% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 25% | 30,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 11% | 60,000 miles |
| 2008 | 14 | 37% | 68,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 19% | 82,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 19% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 16 | 14% | 50,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 10% | 95,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was rattling abnormally. The check engine warning light was briefly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the vehicle was test-driven; however, the failure was not identified. The failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed as needing a rear intermediate steering shaft, and a retest was performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where the vehicle remained under investigation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,491.
Upper radiator hose connection to radiator is faulty causing leak of coolant. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. Truck began to run cooling fan at full speed in the middle of winter with no warnings of high heat or low coolant. After two weeks, check engine light finally cut on to indicate low coolant flow. Coolant reservoir was subsequently checked and found to be completely empty. It is apparent this reservoir had been extremely low / empty for at least two weeks with no warnings. Without proper warning and leaking coolant, truck could have overheated. Should this had happened in dead of summer, truck could have very well overheated with no warning. The problem was investigated and confirmed by dealer as leaking coolant at the connection of the upper radiator hose to the radiator. Was quoted $983 to replace the hose. …
The upper radiator hose on a significant number of these trucks is failing prematurely. In my case, the failure occurred at just over 35,000 miles. Numerous reports on owner forums (such as the Colorado Chevy / GMC Canyon forum), YouTube, and other platforms document the same issue, indicating this is not an isolated incident but a widespread defect. Because this hose is part of the cooling system, its failure can quickly lead to engine overheating and potentially catastrophic engine damage. The root cause appears to be an engineering flaw in the sealing method: GM uses a rubber seal instead of a durable, high-quality o ring to connect the upper hose to the radiator. …
The upper radiator hose on some huge percentage of these trucks fail (mine has failed at just over 37K miles). You can check the Colorado Chevy and GMC Canyon forums, youtube, Facebook, etc., et al, and find plenty of instances where this has failed. As this is the cooling system, it can cause the engine to overheat and potentially ruin the engine. The flaw seems to be an engineering issue with the rubber seal they use (instead of a high quality o-ring) to seal the upper hose to the radiator. Additionally, since this can cause engine failure it should be addressed immediately. Instead, my local Chevy dealer, since its not a recall item, said they could schedule a time next week for me to LEAVE the truck and that I am responsible for the repair. This is extremely unfair to the consumer who depends on these vehicles. This should absolutely be a recall item. …
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while her son was attempting to park the vehicle in a parking garage, there was a loud screeching sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal. The contact's son used excessive force to depress the brake pedal, and an unknown warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with a vacuum pump failure, which caused the end of the cam shaft to fracture. The contact called several dealers and was informed that the cam shaft was on backorder. The contact stated that one of the dealers stated that the failure was a common issue resulting in the part being on backorder. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. …
When rolling to stop signs or red lights, the vehicle occasionally fails to downshift properly and will attempt to continue pushing the vehicle when trying to stop. On multiple occasions, the vehicle acts as if it cannot be stopped due to the transmission failing to downshift. One must aggressively apply the brakes to get the vehicle to come to a stop. Unable to have the vehicle checked out at a local dealer, due to being backed up for weeks when trying to have it looked at. No visual indication/warning is given when this happens. There is a current class action lawsuit for models up to 2019, but this needs to be extended to 2020 models as well, as multiple online forums discuss this issue being prevalent in newer models of the 8-speed transmission.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. There was an abnormal scratching noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that an unknown part had fractured inside the engine. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000. The VIN was not available.
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 off. These symptoms are consistent with the vehicle entering fail-safe mode due to loss of a valid coolant temperature signal. The problem was confirmed by an independent mechanic who diagnosed a failed coolant temperature sensor. The mechanic attempted to source a replacement part through GMC but was informed the part was unavailable. …
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Canyon years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (22), 2005 (16), 2017 (16), 2008 (14) and 2015 (14) model years. Engine complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for GMC Canyon engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any GMC Canyon model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do GMC Canyon engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles; 55% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the exhaust system (4 mentions), followed by the engine (4).
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.