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2008 GMC Canyon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 GMC Canyon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
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15,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

THE INITIAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION ENGAGES ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I WOULD NOTICE THE RADIO PLAYING ON OCCASION. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THE BELLS SOUND LIKE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION BUT IT IS NOT. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE BATTERY WOULD JUST BE DRAINED DEAD. I TOOK IT IN TO…

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THE INITIAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION ENGAGES ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I WOULD NOTICE THE RADIO PLAYING ON OCCASION. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THE BELLS SOUND LIKE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION BUT IT IS NOT. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE BATTERY WOULD JUST BE DRAINED DEAD. I TOOK IT IN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GMC DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD SINCE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SOON AFTER, AND THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS THE SECURITY LIGHT LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LIGHT WOULD CLEAR WHEN I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND RESTARTED IT. FOR SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH TAILLIGHT BULBS AT A RATE OF ABOUT ONE PER MONTH. FINALLY A GMC DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUG FOR THE LIGHT BULB HAD MELTED / BURNED. ALL THESE INCIDENTS SEEM RELATED TO THE IGNITION / ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SEEM TOO SIMILAR TO ALL THE OTHER ISSUES RECALLED TO NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668071

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL DISCOVERY OF A PROBLEM THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERY, A FRIEND STATED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND BULBS BOTH WERE SATISFACTORY. I CONDUCTED A CHECK OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A VOLT METER AND THE SWITCH IS BAD. THERE I…

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AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL DISCOVERY OF A PROBLEM THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERY, A FRIEND STATED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND BULBS BOTH WERE SATISFACTORY. I CONDUCTED A CHECK OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A VOLT METER AND THE SWITCH IS BAD. THERE IS NO INDICATION TO THE OPERATOR THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE CONDUCTED A VIN SEARCH OF MY VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT COVERED IN CURRENT OR PAST RECALLS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS ISSUE TRANSLATES TO VEHICLES THAT COME FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH TOWING PACKAGES, IN THAT IF AN OPERATOR IS TOWING AND USING THE FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING CONNECTORS WOULD THE LIGHTING OF THE TOWED VEHICLE BE AFFECTED AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632543

65,248 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical System

I PURCHASED MY CANYON IN NOV 2007. AFTER A YEAR OF HAVING IT, IT WOULD NOT START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STARTER AND REPLACED IT. IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY. I'VE PURCHASED THREE BATTERIES SINCE OWNING THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN TRYING TO STAR…

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I PURCHASED MY CANYON IN NOV 2007. AFTER A YEAR OF HAVING IT, IT WOULD NOT START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STARTER AND REPLACED IT. IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY. I'VE PURCHASED THREE BATTERIES SINCE OWNING THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN TRYING TO START IT WONT START UNTIL AFTER SITTING IN THE TRUCK FOR EXACTLY 10 MINUTES. AFTER THAT IT WILL START. I NEVER NOTICED THE TIME DELAY PREVIOUSLY AND BOUGHT UNNECESSARY BATTERIES AND HAD A STARTER CHANGED. IF YOU LOOK ON GOOGLE ALL CANYONS AND COLORADO OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM WON'T START FOR 10 MINUTES. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID ITS A FAULTY PASSLOCK THAT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY $380.00. IF ALL THE TRUCKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE ALARM SYSTEM PREVENTS THE STARTING OF THE TRUCK FOR EXACTLY 10 MINUTES.THIS CAN BE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY. MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND ONLINE IN THE SEARCH. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10604352

95,000 miles · Nov 7, 2013
Electrical System

TRUCK WAS PARKED & LOCKED. UPON UNLOCKING TRUCK & TRYING TO START IT, DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WAITED TEN MINUTES & RESTARTED TRUCK. EACH TIME VEHICLE STOPPED & PARKED THAT DAY, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER CHECKING INTERNET DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS VERY …

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TRUCK WAS PARKED & LOCKED. UPON UNLOCKING TRUCK & TRYING TO START IT, DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WAITED TEN MINUTES & RESTARTED TRUCK. EACH TIME VEHICLE STOPPED & PARKED THAT DAY, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER CHECKING INTERNET DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CANYONS & COLORADOS!!! TWO SUGGESTIONS OFFERED ON INTERNET - 1) TAKE TO DEALER & SPEND BIG BUCKS FOR NEW COMPUTER CHIP. 2) ONCE TRUCK RUNNING, CUT WIRE TO THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM (BE ADVISED VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER HAVE A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM). WENT WITH OPTION 2. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS COMMON VEHICLE PROBLEM & NO FEDERAL ACTION TAKEN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551422

12,100 miles · Sep 25, 2013
Electrical System

FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS, WHERE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH RESULTED IN NO STARTER ENGAGEMENT, DEAD BATTERY INDICATION. FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT FOLLOWING A JUMP START, THE ENGINE ST…

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FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS, WHERE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH RESULTED IN NO STARTER ENGAGEMENT, DEAD BATTERY INDICATION. FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT FOLLOWING A JUMP START, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE WHERE THE NEW BATTERY (ABOUT 1 MONTH OLD) WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE FULLY CHARGED AND IN GOOD CONDITION. FOLLOWING A THIRD INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH AFTTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE GM DEAALER FOR DIAGNOSING. THE DEALER SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE BASED UPON THE COMPUTER CODE. DESPITE THE VEHICLE'S 2008 YEAR, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 14,769 MILES. MY OUT-OF-POCKET COST WAS $386. THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED OTHER GM PRODUCTS REPORTING THE SAME SWITCH FAILURE PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545311

Official recalls

2

10V575000 · Child Seat

Nov 18, 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 AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR VISIT GM'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

09V310000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Jul 29, 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 IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.