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2020 GMC Canyon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

Limited mileage data: 8 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2024
EngineExterior Lighting

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ODI #11577092

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2022
EnginePower Train

When rolling to stop signs or red lights, the vehicle occasionally fails to downshift properly and will attempt to continue pushing the vehicle when trying to stop. On multiple occasions, the vehicle acts as if it cannot be stopped due to the transmission failing to downshift. One must aggressively apply the brakes to get the ve…

Read full complaint

When rolling to stop signs or red lights, the vehicle occasionally fails to downshift properly and will attempt to continue pushing the vehicle when trying to stop. On multiple occasions, the vehicle acts as if it cannot be stopped due to the transmission failing to downshift. One must aggressively apply the brakes to get the vehicle to come to a stop. Unable to have the vehicle checked out at a local dealer, due to being backed up for weeks when trying to have it looked at. No visual indication/warning is given when this happens. There is a current class action lawsuit for models up to 2019, but this needs to be extended to 2020 models as well, as multiple online forums discuss this issue being prevalent in newer models of the 8-speed transmission.

NHTSA ODI #11446376

13,000 miles · Oct 3, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I'M THE OWNER OF A NEWLY BOUGHT (6/5/2020 PURCHASED DATE) 2020 GMC CANYON. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OR ACCELERATING. MY MOST COMMON ISSUE IS 'SHUDDERING' WHEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATES AND SUDDEN 'JERKING' WHEN DOWNSHIFTING GEARS WHEN DRIVING UP …

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I'M THE OWNER OF A NEWLY BOUGHT (6/5/2020 PURCHASED DATE) 2020 GMC CANYON. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OR ACCELERATING. MY MOST COMMON ISSUE IS 'SHUDDERING' WHEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATES AND SUDDEN 'JERKING' WHEN DOWNSHIFTING GEARS WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE OR EVEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 CANYONS AND UNLESS IT READS A 'CODE' THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. GM SAID TELL THE CUSTOMER TO DRIVE IT AND WE WILL CALL IF WE GET ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN JERKING AND TRANSMISSION & OR ENGINE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE THE RPMS REVED UP TO OVER 4500 RPMS AND I WAS STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A LANE AND COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD CARS AVOIDING ME SO THAT WAY THEY WOULD NOT HIT ME HEAD ON OR ON THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND THE ISSUE IS GM KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITH THEIR 2015- 2019 COLORADO AND CANNON SERIES. DESPITE MANY COMPLAINTS AND NUMEROUS LAWSUITS ABOUT THESE SERIOUS ISSUES, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE DEFECTS FOR THESE VEHICLES WITHIN GM FOR THE 2020 CANON. I HAVE PAID ALMOST $50,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE A LEMON LAW PUT ON IT BECAUSE GM KNOWS THEY ARE PRODUCING BAD TRANSMISSION/ENGINES AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED GM CORPORATE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN I'M IN ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GET IN GEAR AND IS SHAKING AND SHUTTERING AND JERKING AND REVVING UP THE RPMS AND THE NEXT TIME. I SAID I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SO LUCKY AS TO HAVING PEOPLE AVOID ME AND THEN ME AND MY DAUGHTER WIND UP IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND WE DON'T MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11362569

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.