The Lemon Index
200420061st generation
Worse than average · most complaints: lights
39 owner complaints, first 3 years 17–21 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2005 Toyota Tacoma 1232005 Chevrolet Colorado 1522005 Ford Ranger 47
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2005 GMC Canyon
- Rust / frame corrosion13 complaintsmostly at 75,000–140,000 miles (121,000–225,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 113 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 GMC Canyon (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 6,000 and 40,000 miles (9,700–65,000 km) (the middle half of the 28 complaints, of all 39 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 10V575000 (child seat), 09V310000 (lights) and 06V139000 (lights) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- GMC sent dealers 658 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Fluid leak between transfer case and transmission adapter”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and GMC's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 39 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 40K miles (10K to 65K km) on the car (28 of all 39 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Brake light/cruise control switch failure. Second time in 30,000 miles replace switch each time.
2005 GMC Canyon owner · NHTSA complaint 10140912
More owner reports
#3 cylinder lost compression and head warped. This happened march 13. Gm issued a tsb on march 10 for this problem.
NHTSA complaint 10153111
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 658 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Fluid leak between transfer case and transmission adapter
- The 4l60e/4l65e automatic transmission slip condition in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear
- Harsh 1-2 shift
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Child seat · recall issued 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT …
- Lights · recall issued 2009
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED I…
- Lights · recall issued 2006
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedBrake lamp switch malfunction2009
- ClosedBrake lamp switch failure2005–2006
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,850–$3,550 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl.
Every GMC Canyon year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
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/?y=2005" 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/2005/">Lemon Index</a> (2005 GMC Canyon reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2005 GMC Canyon reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 162; 100 is average, lower is better). The GMC Canyon year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2019.
What are the most common 2005 GMC Canyon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (21%), engine (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 GMC Canyon have?
3 safety recalls (latest: child seat). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 GMC Canyon get?
17 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 GMC Canyon problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 6,000 and 40,000 miles (9,700–65,000 km) (the middle half of the 28 complaints, of all 39 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2005 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2005 GMC Canyon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 GMC Canyon cost in fuel a year?
About $2,850 to $3,550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 GMC Canyon have?
2.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl.
What GMC Canyon year is better than the 2005?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2019 drew the fewest (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car).
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. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works