The Lemon IndexGMC Canyon reliability.
Is it reliable? About average. About as many complaints as the average car.
About average · 2015–2022
20162nd generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied GMC Canyon videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2019.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/gmc-canyon/" title="GMC Canyon reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="491" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/gmc-canyon/">Lemon Index</a> (GMC Canyon reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the GMC Canyon.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the GMC Canyon reliable?
About average. It draws about as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2019. Most complaints: 2015 and 2016.
Is the GMC Canyon a good car?
It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2015-2022: Lemon Index 93; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2019 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2015 the most.
What are the best GMC Canyon years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2019, 2021, 2020. 2019 drew the fewest.
What GMC Canyon years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold since 2010: 2015 (avoid, Lemon Index 254), 2016 (worse than average, Lemon Index 165), 2017 (about average, Lemon Index 93). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the GMC Canyon have?
52 safety recalls across the 20 model years we track. Most: 2015 (8), 2011 (5), 2006 (4). Each year's page lists them, and every GMC Canyon recall is in one list here.
What are the most common GMC Canyon problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name lights, electrical and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 134 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 31 | suspension (16%) | 3 | — | 18–21 |
| 2005 | 162 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 39 | lights (21%) | 3 | — | 17–21 |
| 2006 | – | too few complaints to score | 12 | electrical (58%) | 4 | — | 17–20 |
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 8 | service brakes, hydraulic (25%) | 3 | — | 15–20 |
| 2008 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 2 | body structure (50%) | 2 | — | 15–20 |
| 2009 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 6 | transmission & drivetrain (33%) | 3 | — | 16–20 |
| 2010 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | speed control (29%) | 2 | — | 16–21 |
| 2011 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | service brakes, hydraulic (25%) | 5 | — | 16–21 |
| 2012 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 6 | stability control (33%) | 2 | — | 16–21 |
| 2015 | 254 | about 3 times the average car's complaints | 83 | steering (47%) | 8 | ★★★★☆ | 16–22 |
| 2016 | 165 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 62 | transmission & drivetrain (35%) | 4 | ★★★★☆ | 16–25 |
| 2017 | 93 | about average | 33 | transmission & drivetrain (36%) | 1 | ★★★★☆ | 15–25 |
| 2018 | 62 | a bit over half as many complaints as the average car | 21 | transmission & drivetrain (57%) | 1 | ★★★★☆ | 15–25 |
| 2019 | 15 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 5 | transmission & drivetrain (60%) | 0 | ★★★★☆ | 15–23 |
| 2020 | 32 | about a third as many complaints as the average car | 8 | transmission & drivetrain (50%) | 0 | ★★★★☆ | 19–23 |
| 2021 | 25 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 6 | airbags (33%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 18–23 |
| 2022 | 52 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 18 | electrical (39%) | 1 | ★★★★☆ | 19–23 |
| 2023 | 232 | about twice the average car's complaints | 62 | automatic emergency braking (40%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 16–20 |
| 2024 | 625 | about 6 times the average car's complaints | 206 | lights (77%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 16–20 |
| 2025 | – | too few complaints to score | 8 | brakes (38%) | 2 | ★★★★☆ | 16–20 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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