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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD

2004 GMC CanyonRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 80 owner complaints for the 2004 GMC Canyon. Most complaints involve structure (16) and suspension (13). The EPA rates it 18–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18–21mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Nov 2010
Owner complaints
80
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Child seat

Free remedy

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.

Child seatReported Nov 18, 2010NHTSA 10V575000

Exterior lighting: switch

Remedy pending

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.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 29, 2009NHTSA 09V310000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 27, 2006NHTSA 06V139000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

80 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2004 – Jun 2024
  1. Structure16
  2. Suspension13
  3. Electrical system13
  4. Engine and engine cooling8
  5. Exterior lighting8
  6. Air bags5
  7. Wheels4
  8. Power train4
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Canyon model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
200480
2005113
200648
200745
200842
200929
201013
201123
201229
2015321
2016271
201766
201853
201917
202015
202112
202228
202363
2024208
20258
20268
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

16 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2004 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that after work was completed on the tires, the independent mechanic informed him that due to severe undercarriage corrosion, the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact also took the vehicle to a dealer who provided the same information as the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and informed him that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. No additional assistance was offered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2022Suspension, StructureODI 11449726

Suspension

13 reports
“THE CHASSIS HAS BECOME SEVERELY RUSTED ON LEFT SIDE WHERE FRONT OF LEAF SPRING IS BOLTED TO IT. IT IS ABOUT TO BREAK OFF AND IT HAS BEEN DENOTED AS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE" BY THE LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP. TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION OTHERWISE. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE-KEPT FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. I BOUGHT IT NEW 9/2004. THE DEALERSHIP JUST DISCOVERED PROBLEM TODAY WHEN I WAS HAVING OTHER ROUTINE WORK DONE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2020SuspensionODI 11317941

Electrical system

13 reports2 fires
“AFTER READING A POST FROM THE 116 AFFECTED GMC CANYON OWNERS I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. LAST MONTH JUNE 2019 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY AC JUST QUIT WORKING (HOT WEATHER IN SACRAMENTO), NO MATTER WHAT SPEED IT WAS ON 1 THROUGH 4. I ALSO SMELT A BURNING SMELL. TODAY WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK TO THE REALER TO GET IT ANALYZED I HIT A BUMP AND THE BLOWER STARTED WORKING AGAIN ON SPEED 4. BOB FROM JOHN L SULLIVAN CHEVY JUST CALLED TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS...THE CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTS TO THE BLOWER WAS MELTED AND THE RESISTER WAS BURNT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2019Electrical systemODI 11231695
All 2004 Canyon problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
2.8L 4-cyl · 3.5L 5-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Canyon 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182421$2,850423
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182420$3,000444
Canyon 2WD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172319$3,150468
Canyon 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172219$3,150468
Canyon 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162318$3,350494
Canyon 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162218$3,350494
Canyon 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162118$3,350494
Canyon 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162118$3,350494
Canyon 4WD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162118$3,350494
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162318$3,350494
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162218$3,350494
Canyon Crew Cab 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162118$3,350494
  • Canyon 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $2,850/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L
    17 city · 23 hwy · $3,150/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    17 city · 22 hwy · $3,150/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    16 city · 23 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L
    16 city · 22 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    16 city · 23 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon Crew Cab 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L
    16 city · 22 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Canyon Crew Cab 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,350/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 GMC Canyon as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 1060
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Canyon questions

How many recalls does the 2004 GMC Canyon have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 GMC Canyon problems?

Owners filed 80 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (16), suspension (13), electrical system (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 GMC Canyon get?

The EPA rates the 2004 GMC Canyon at 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026