AI Damage2017 GMC Canyon: common problems
Owners of the 2017 GMC Canyon filed 66 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. The maker issued 991 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 66
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 991
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 27% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 21% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 12% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 18 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 113.
- Engine: 14 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 93.
- Electrical system: 12 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 191.
- Steering: 8 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.8 L · diesel · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 6 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 66 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 18 | 0 | 113 |
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 93 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 0 | 191 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 17 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 157 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 61 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 32 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 342 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On 10/07/2018 I was involved in an accident which totaled my vehicle . It was a left turn accident I was driving straight and the impact was front and center of my vehicle.
The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. A police report was filed. The driver and the front passenger received minor injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was damaged, but driven to the contact's residence.
The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated, and the message " Check Trailer Brakes” was displayed. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the braking system randomly activated, causing the vehicle to abruptly decelerate.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the engine oil was changed several times, but the failure persisted.
The vehicle won't start. This again seems electrical and the dealership want to charge for this. The vehicle is damaged since the manufacture and huge safety issue. Please urge to get a recall for all this items since it seems immersive expensive and unsafe to have to repair all this issues.
Check engine light came on, had it looked into, the radiator active shutter grille was stuck and wouldn't close. It had to be replaced. No causation or incident to have caused this. Bottomline, it had to be replaced to avoid further damage and from becoming a safety issue.
Catastrophic engine failure. Piston #1 damage after a fuel injector issue. The truck just hit 100k miles. This left my husband stranded over an hour away. No check engine light or warning other than a loud pop and smoke. No warranty on the truck, I’ve been quoted $12k for a new engine.
The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the diagnosis was that that evaporative emission control system purge control had malfunctioned. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 750 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Canyon has 67 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 66, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent…
This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- This PI Addresses a possible solenoid wiring fault and how to inspect the build date to identify
NHTSA lists 991 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 GMC Canyon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 66. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), jerking, harsh shifts (17%), steering or power steering problems (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 GMC Canyon?
NHTSA lists 991 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 GMC Canyon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.