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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

What owners actually said

38 reports
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

34,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT GENTLY TOUCHED THE MEDIAN AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT GENTLY TOUCHED THE MEDIAN AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10788601

138,000 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED TO PARK THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. UPON INSPECTION THE CABLE WAS HANGING LOOSE AND WHATEVER KIND OF RETAINING CLIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WAS GONE. THIS IS EXACTLY TH…

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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED TO PARK THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. UPON INSPECTION THE CABLE WAS HANGING LOOSE AND WHATEVER KIND OF RETAINING CLIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WAS GONE. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SA,E ISSUE AS RECALL #11181 FOR 2011 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #10759317

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

129,000 miles · May 18, 2015
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI #10717141

75,963 miles · Apr 15, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE AVS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,963.

NHTSA ODI #10705971

26,000 miles · Feb 15, 2015
Engine

WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE(ESPECIALLY COLD STARTS) THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN STOPS AFTER IT WARMS UP FOR A WHILE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME I NEED NEW LIFTERS AND HAVE A INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN MANY D…

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WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE(ESPECIALLY COLD STARTS) THE ENGINE IS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THEN STOPS AFTER IT WARMS UP FOR A WHILE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME I NEED NEW LIFTERS AND HAVE A INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT GM IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN MANY DIFFERENT MODELS. HE EVEN SHOWED ME THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN GM HAS OUT ON IT TO TELL MECHANICS HOW TO REPAIR IT. I DID NOT HAVE HIM REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF THE COST AND BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT. I'M HOPING THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT TO FORCE GM TO RECALL IT. MY WARRANTIES ON IT HAVE EXPIRED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683547

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

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.