MODELYEARINDEX

Which GMC Canyon years to avoid

Across 8 scored model years, the 2015, 2016 and 2017 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · GMC Canyon Full report
F
Grade 2012–2021
2015 vs model median 7.7×
Model median3× median
Steering 69
Drivetrain 27
Driver Assist 18
Avoid

2015 · 2016

Best

2012 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2012
0.50× 12 B
2015
7.67× 166 F
2016
4.94× 103 F
2017
2.63× 60 F
2018
1.21× 35 C
2019
0.79× 12 B
2020
0.59× 15 A
2021
0.76× 11 B
2022 P
1.62× 40 C
2023 P
3.97× 96 F
2024 P
9.07× 255 F
2025 P
0.50× 13 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2015 F 166 reports · median 33,646 mi

  1. Steering 69

    Steering wheel rattles and is distracting to driver. Took to dealership and manufacturer is aware of the problem with no current solution as of 4/27/15. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 27

    Transmission does not down shift at speeds between 27 MPH and 40 MPH, at 30 MPH you have to put pedal to the floor then it will shift and tachometer goes around 4000 and takes off like a dragster .watch out for the guy… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 18

    The power steering on my 2015 gmc canyon has failed repeatedly while driving in different road conditions. In one case, I was going straight on a surface street at low speed. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

5 crash · 4 fire

2016 F 103 reports · median 20,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 26

    The transmission does not downshift from a high gear (5 or 6) to a lower gear when slowing down from 45 MPH to 20 MPH (or lower). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Steering 23

    Faulty electric power steering caused vehicle veer off the rode hitting a concrete wall, concrete mail box and telephone. Vehicle was totaled. The vehicle was north bound a two black top road at a slight right hand turn. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 11

    I have a friend who has a 2016 gmc canyon where the radio/onstar/rear view camera etc cuts out after a short operation time -- my friend has taken it to the dealer with no results. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

8 crash · 2 fire · 2 injuries

The best year for the Canyon

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring Canyon model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.1 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2012 at 0.50× this model’s median, against 0.59× for 2020.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.59× 15 A
2012 0.50× 12 B
2019 0.79× 12 B

Recalls

22 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
12V594000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2012 118,800
21V213000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2015 60,681
24V133000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:CAMERA/SENSOR 2023 55,755
15V267000 SEATS 2015 49,980
15V278000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER 2015 24,380
24V673000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 2024 13,241
15V807000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2016 8,763
24V491000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY 2024 8,622
21V497000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2021 7,199
26V114000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL 2025 5,861
11V552000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT 2012 5,593
16V054000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2015 2,988

+ 10 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2015 were reported at a median of 33,646 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which GMC Canyon years should you avoid?
2015, 2016, 2017 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any GMC Canyon model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the GMC Canyon?
2020 is the best-scoring GMC Canyon model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the GMC Canyon have?
22 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored GMC Canyon model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2015 Canyon
Complaints in window
166
Severity-weighted
232
Model median (weighted)
30
vs model median
7.67×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
0
Score 10 F