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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.

About this comparison →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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130,000 miles · Jul 26, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

PASSLOCK SYSTEM THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND NOW GETTING WORSE AND IS INTERMITTENT, WHEN I INSERT AND TURN THE KEY SOMETHING HAPPENS MAKING THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATE AND KEEPS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING FOR EXACTLY 10 MINUTES. RECENTLY I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF TO SAVE GAS WHILE I WAS IN CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC …

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PASSLOCK SYSTEM THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND NOW GETTING WORSE AND IS INTERMITTENT, WHEN I INSERT AND TURN THE KEY SOMETHING HAPPENS MAKING THE THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATE AND KEEPS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING FOR EXACTLY 10 MINUTES. RECENTLY I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF TO SAVE GAS WHILE I WAS IN CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC AT A STAND STILL WITH A CONCRETE BARRIER ON BOTH SIDES AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AND THE POLICE WERE GOING TO HAVE ME TOWED, LUCKILY AT STARTED AT 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK CAME. IN MY OPINION THIS CAN BE UNSAFE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IF THE VEHICLE IS NEEDED FOR ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY. BELOW I AM PASTING SOMETHING FROM THE WEB, BUT IT IS BASICALLY THE PROBLEM THAT I AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE HAVING. "THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING LED IN CIRCLES BY ANY VEHICLE WITH A PASSLOCK II SYSTEM AND IT IS AN UNSAFE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT PREVENTS VEHICLES FROM RESTARTING IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AREAS WHILE THE VEHICLE RESETS AND CAN PERMANENTLY DISABLE THE CAR IF NOT ADDRESSED. THE PROBLEM LIES IN A DESIGN OVERSIGHT AND CUTTING A MATERIAL COST BY PUTTING IN A CHEAP COMPONENT THAT ANY BASIC CHEMIST COULD TELL YOU WOULD GO BAD WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. CHANGE YOUR IGNITION SWITCH CONTACT FROM NICKEL TO GOLD PLATED CONNECTORS AND OXIDATION WILL NOT CAUSE FAULTY READINGS TO TRICK YOUR VEHICLES INTO THINKING THAT THEY ARE BEING STOLEN AND SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL PUMPS. REMUNERATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THIS FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR THE PURCHASE OF YOUR VEHICLES IS ALSO A REQUEST AS THIS PROBLEM IS A GOLD MINE FOR CAR MECHANICS, BOTH GM CERTIFIED AND FREELANCE, TO TROUBLESHOOT NUMEROUS SYSTEMS BEFORE IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM PROPER."

NHTSA ODI #10888696

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM IS FAULTY...UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS MANY TIMES I GET STRANDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WON'T START DUE TO THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON

NHTSA ODI #10846238

67,500 miles · Nov 17, 2015
Unknown Or Other

[XXX] [XXX] WICHITA KANSAS 67203 RETIRED [XXX]@YAHOO.COM [XXX] HIGHWAY MESSAGE: ANYTHING ON GENERAL MOTORS USE OF THE PASS2 SECURITY SYSTEM, IT RANDOMLY WILL NOT "READ THE KEY", AT WHICH POINT YOU MUST WAIT 15 MIN. TO TRY AGAIN. HAVE TALKED TO 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE LAST MONTH IN MY AREA. TALKED WITH…

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[XXX] [XXX] WICHITA KANSAS 67203 RETIRED [XXX]@YAHOO.COM [XXX] HIGHWAY MESSAGE: ANYTHING ON GENERAL MOTORS USE OF THE PASS2 SECURITY SYSTEM, IT RANDOMLY WILL NOT "READ THE KEY", AT WHICH POINT YOU MUST WAIT 15 MIN. TO TRY AGAIN. HAVE TALKED TO 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE LAST MONTH IN MY AREA. TALKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND ALL THEY WOULD OFFER IS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, AT MY EXPENSE OF COURSE. DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE (GM) OF IT AS THEY ARE NOW ON SECURITY SYSTEM PASS4. THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS IN A SUDDENLY HAZARDOUS AREA. DEALER OFFERED TO ASSESS MY VEHICLE, PROBLEM IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR MORE, ALTHOUGH IT HAPPENED TO ME ON THE 9TH OF NOVEMBER 2015 AND AGAIN ON THE 11TH. CAN'T REALLY AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR THAT LONG. MY VEHICLE IS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ODI #10794497

60,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

ABOUT 3-4 DAYS PER WEEK THE TRUCK WILL NOT START. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND LET THE TRUCK SIT FOR AROUND 10 MIN. AND THEN THE TRUCK WILL START, OR IF IT DOES START THE COMPONENTS ON THE DASH AND THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK AND WE HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SWITCH TO GET IT TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10788690

90,000 miles · May 19, 2015
Unknown Or Other

ABOUT THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY WAIT TEN TO THIRTY MINUTES REINSERT THE KEY THEN THE TRUCK WILL START. SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK I MUST SHAKE THE KEY TO GET THE DASH BOARD AND RADIO TO WORK THEREFORE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE, THO THE VEHICLE SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, …

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ABOUT THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY WAIT TEN TO THIRTY MINUTES REINSERT THE KEY THEN THE TRUCK WILL START. SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK I MUST SHAKE THE KEY TO GET THE DASH BOARD AND RADIO TO WORK THEREFORE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE, THO THE VEHICLE SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, ALTHOUGH SEVERAL OTHER GMC VEHICLES HAVE.

NHTSA ODI #10717405

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.