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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

What owners actually said

38 reports
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

23,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Service Brakes

THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. MAINLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR WARNING SOUND WOULD COME ON AND WHEN STARTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ABS BRAKES WOULD ACTUALLY ENGAGE(VIBRATING PEDAL) AND IT WOULD FEEL AS THOUGH THE TRUCK WASN'T GOING TO STOP. AFTER IT DID STOP…

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THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. MAINLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR WARNING SOUND WOULD COME ON AND WHEN STARTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ABS BRAKES WOULD ACTUALLY ENGAGE(VIBRATING PEDAL) AND IT WOULD FEEL AS THOUGH THE TRUCK WASN'T GOING TO STOP. AFTER IT DID STOP AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THE NORMAL BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. THEN THE WARNING SOUND/BEEP WOULD STOP BUT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ALWAYS STAY ON. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES HAPPENING I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD A DEFECTIVE ABS SENSOR IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS STILL UNDER MY 6 YEAR WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT$1000 TO FIX. I TOLD THEM NOT TO FIX IT. AFTER, I MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT NOWHERE WITH THEM. I COMPLAINED BECAUSE I FELT THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING CAUSED BY ME AND WAS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. AFTER GETTING NOWHERE WITH GMC I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD IT REPAIRED $900. I WRITE THIS COMPLAINT TO YOU BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FEEL IF IT HAPPENED TO MY GMC CANYON IT PROBABLY HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS AND WOULD FORCE GM TO RECALL THEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588930

32,000 miles · May 15, 2014
Service Brakes

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS INFORMING ME THAT MY VEHICLE "MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE CONTAMINATION IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKE LAMPS OR CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS". THE LETTER STATED NOT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALER UNLESS I BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAD THE CONDITION DESC…

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I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS INFORMING ME THAT MY VEHICLE "MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE CONTAMINATION IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKE LAMPS OR CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS". THE LETTER STATED NOT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALER UNLESS I BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAD THE CONDITION DESCRIBED. THEY OFFER TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ONLY IF IT FAILS FIRST. MY CONCERN IS THAT ILL FIND OUT MY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED AS ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH ME FROM THE REAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588597

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

26,272 miles · May 1, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE DEALER CLEANED THE EN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE DEALER CLEANED THE ENGINE AND FUEL WIRING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V154000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,272 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10510216

3,000 miles · Mar 1, 2009
SteeringSuspension

2008 GMC CANYON CREW CAB 4WD: PURCHASED NEW JUN08. IN JULY08 DEALER REPLACED 1 TIRE. IN DEC08 DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I ASKED ABOUT CAUSE FOR WEAR AND WAS TOLD "YOU GOT A BAD SET OF TIRES". FEB09 THE TRUCK IS IN AGAIN WITH CUPPED TIRES AND I'M TOLD I NEED TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS…

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2008 GMC CANYON CREW CAB 4WD: PURCHASED NEW JUN08. IN JULY08 DEALER REPLACED 1 TIRE. IN DEC08 DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I ASKED ABOUT CAUSE FOR WEAR AND WAS TOLD "YOU GOT A BAD SET OF TIRES". FEB09 THE TRUCK IS IN AGAIN WITH CUPPED TIRES AND I'M TOLD I NEED TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD, HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, DOES NOT PULL AND THE TIRES ARE ALWAYS PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED......THE DEALER IS COVERING A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH MISDIRECTION OR MISINFORMATION TO GET TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD -- THEN I'M STUCK WITH A BIG REPAIR BILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260347

450 miles · Feb 11, 2009
SeatsStructure

THIS IS A NEW 2008 EXTENDED CAB 4X4 GMC CANYON. THE DOORS RATTLE ALL THE BECAUSE THE REAR DOORS ARE NOT MOUNTED TO THE FRAME BUT ONLY TO THE SKIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS THERE IS CONSTANT FLEXING AND VIBRATING BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS AND THE DOOR FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES IN THE MONTH I'VE OWNED IT AND…

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THIS IS A NEW 2008 EXTENDED CAB 4X4 GMC CANYON. THE DOORS RATTLE ALL THE BECAUSE THE REAR DOORS ARE NOT MOUNTED TO THE FRAME BUT ONLY TO THE SKIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MEANS THERE IS CONSTANT FLEXING AND VIBRATING BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS AND THE DOOR FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES IN THE MONTH I'VE OWNED IT AND THEY SAY "THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS". THERE IS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT KNOCK IN THE RT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT THE DEALER CAN'T FIND. FINALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MATERIAL IS HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WEAR AND STRETCHING AND THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 500 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258375

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.