Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 GMC Canyon problems
Owners filed 29 complaints about the 2009 GMC Canyon with NHTSA between Jun 2009 and Jun 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (8).
Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system8
- Power train5
- Air bags4
- Service brakes3
- Engine3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Exterior lighting2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Structure1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Other / unknown1
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 Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
2
1
1
1
7
1
3
3
3
0
2
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
8 reports1 fire
“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Car will periodically and unpredictably not crank, fire or start. After attempting approximately 10 minutes later it will. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? One never knows circumstances in which they need reliable transportation. In my case I have elderly parents that can need me at any given time. In most cases it is an annoyance but due to the unpredictable factor anything could happen. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes but no codes were trapped in ECM Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No”
Power train
5 reports
“I DRIVE A 2009 GMC CANYON. WHEN DRIVING I'VE NOTICE THAT WHEN HITTING A HARD BUMP, SOMETIMES TURNING OR ACCELERATING QUICKLY WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR STREET, THE TRUCK SHUTS OFF CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES USELESS AND VERY HARD TO APPLY. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE COURSE OF ONE TRIP AND HAPPENS AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE ICON FOR THE THEFT DETERRENT APPEARS. THEN I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO RESTART THE TRUCK. THE DATE BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT DAY IT HAS HAPPENED. THIS HAS BECOME A VERY SERIOUS CAUSE OF CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE IGNITION RECALL OR ANY OTHER RECALL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN I HIT A HARD BUMP IN THE ROAD, AGAIN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I'VE DECIDED TO ASK THE DEALER IF THEY KNOW OF ANY RELATED PROBLEMS AND SEE WHAT RESPONSE I GET, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, CAN YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME SO THAT I MAY RESOLVE THE…”
Air bags
4 reports1 crash
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A BROKEN WIRE IN THE REAR DRIVERSIDE DOOR THEY SPLICED THE WIRE AND THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND NOW IT IS COMING BACK ON AGAIN BUT IT SEEMS TO ONLY COME ON WHEN IT IS DAMP OR RAINING. I OPEN THE DOOR AND MOVE THE WIRE HARNESS AROUND IT WILL GO BACK OFF.”
Service brakes
3 reports
“My husband recently asked if I had encountered any problems using the cruise control in this vehicle. Since I seldom drive any distance with that vehicle, I never noticed anything. But he had traveled onto the interstate, and when attempting to set the cruise, noticed it didn't work. Yesterday, I had to follow him somewhere, and I noticed the brake lights weren't coming on. We tested all the other things (tail lights, back up lights, turn signals), and everything was working properly. Today I was looking to see how to replace the brake light switch, and also noticed there were instructions on how to replace the cruise control switch and fuses,too (as they all seem to be related.) Then I found that some models of the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon were affected by a recall for this same issue. When I looked it up just now, this model (2009 GMC Canyon) is not under the recall (but it has the same issue).”
Engine
3 reports
“IT TIMES IT WONT START HAVE TO WAIT 15-20 MIN TO START WHILE PARKED I ALSO HAD A 2004 COLORADO THAT DID THE SAME THING .NOW FOR THE SAFETY END .IF YOUR IN THE COUNTRY AN YOU OR SOMEONE IS HAVEING A MEDICAL ISSUE AN IT WONT START THEIR IS A POSSIBLE LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION THAT PERSON HAS A GREATER CHANCE OF DIEING .I HAVE TALKED TO DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALL THEY SAID WE CAN TRY DIFFERENT THINGS BUT AT MY EXPENCE. I WAS TOLD IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SECURITY LOCK SYSTEM . GM SAID THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT .IAM SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE SOME INFO BACK YHANK YOU”
Fuel/propulsion system
3 reports
“I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY WHEN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY TRUCK AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER OFF THE ROAD. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC & WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL MODULE. RECALL NO. 08411 2009 GMC CANYONS WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE SEPARATION OF THE RTV SEAL BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE HOUSING MAY ALLOW WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MODULE. WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT (WHICH WAS ON IN MY TRUCK). ALSO THE ENGINE MAY BE HARD TO START, MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL. IF THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IT IS MOVING, A CRASH MAY OCCUR! THIS HAPPENED TO ME BUT I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT CRASH AND DIE. LIKE OTHERS MY TRUCK DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE VIN #S. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART. MY TRUCK HAD THE PROBLEMS STATED IN THE RECALL AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MY MECHANIC & DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, GMC DENIED THE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WITHIN THE RECALLED VIN#S. GMC WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH WITH THEIR RECALL!! I'M ATTACHING A PHOTO OF…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.