Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 GMC Canyon problems

Owners filed 42 complaints about the 2008 GMC Canyon with NHTSA between Feb 2009 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (16).

Complaints
42
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system16
  2. Engine14
  3. Service brakes8
  4. Vehicle speed control5
  5. Air bags5
  6. Exterior lighting4
  7. Structure4
  8. Power train3
  9. Fuel/propulsion system2
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  11. Fuel system, gasoline1
  12. Seat belts1
  13. Steering1
  14. Suspension1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20092
20100
20110
20120
20133
20145
20158
20165
201710
20183
20193
20200
20211
20220
20231
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

16 reports1 fire
“BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKING AND OUR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICE IT MOSTLY AFTER WE HAVE PARKED THE TRUCK AND TURN IT OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ILLUMINATED, NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AWAY. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ILLUMINATED HAVE CAUSED OUR VEHICLE TO HAVE A DEAD BATTERY MANY TIMES. THIS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO STAY ON HAS ACTUALLY CAUSED US TO HAVE TO BUY 2 BRAND NEW BATTERIES IN JUST OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD. THIS ISSUE HAS KILLED OUR BATTERY AND LEFT US STRANDED FOR HOURS WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME HELP US JUMP THE BATTERY. THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR THIS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE, BUT THIS SPECIFIC YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. EVEN THO THIS TRUCK IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THE THE RECALL IS FOR. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 11387619

Engine

14 reports
“When sitting at idle, the engine miss & spark knock at times. When start driving down the road the throttle seems hard to Press & takes a little time to reach up to road speed. The truck does not get good gas mileage at all. I had the spark plugs & wires changed still don't help.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2026Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11744895

Service brakes

8 reports
“"ENGINE LIGHT" ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING. DURING THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THIS LIGHT APPEARS AND STAYS ON. THEN 15 MINUTES LATER AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH NO STOPPING OR TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE LIGHT GOES OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2017Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11044977

Vehicle speed control

5 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEFECT WAS A RECURRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT NOT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 03/11/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10818336

Air bags

5 reports1 crash
“DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED ABOVE THE DRIVERS INSTRUMENT DISPLAY, AROUND SPEAKER AND NOW HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITH THE DASHBOARD BEING LOOSE. IF THE AIR BAG IS EVER TO DEPLOY IT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HURT MY PASSENGER WHICH COULD BE MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF GMC VEHICLES HAS THIS SAME ISSUE !!!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2018Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11076725

Exterior lighting

4 reports1 related recall
“1. "THEFT DETERRENT" ILLUMINATES AND TRUCK WILL NOT START. HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES WITH KEY IN THE "ACC" POSITION AND THEN IT STARTS. HAPPENS OFTEN AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. ALSO, WHILE I AM DRIVING THE "THEFT DETERRENT" ILLUMINATES AT LEAST 4 TIMES A WEEK WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING BUT LUCKILY THE TRUCK DOES NOT STALL OR STOP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11044973
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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