AI Damage2021 GMC Canyon: common problems
Owners of the 2021 GMC Canyon filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and steering. The maker issued 746 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 746
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- 8 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 96.
- Steering: 2 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Air bags: 2 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 144.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 135.
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 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 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 | 2 | 0 | 96 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| Air bags | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 144 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 135 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 208 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 62 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 50 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
What troubles me is that while my airbags didn't deploy, the other vehicles did! I was spun 90* to 180* from the way I was traveling. (I don't recall any portion of the accident, I was planning on making a right hand turn and I ended up the opposite way from the way I intended to go.
I was involved in a serious front end collision that totaled my vehicle. My truck was deemed not repairable and declared total by the insurance company. I was driving on the nj garden state parkway when the accident occurred. Not one airbag was deployed!
The contact stated that there was a large cloud of white smoke and immediately associated the failure with the vacuum pump. The contact over safely, the vehicle was towed. The contact became aware that there was no oil in the engine. The vehicle was towed back to the residence.
While driving a few days ago, power steering abruptly stopped working and a service power steering message appeared. It was very difficult to steer the vehicle back home. I've tried replacing the battery and resetting the steering sensor to no avail.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that upon further inspection, an unknown electrical fuse was burned.
The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention screen image was solid blue, and there was no image displayed, creating a visibility hazard for the driver.
The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a recurring failure.
The electric power steering motor stopped working while driving on the highway. The vehicle was almost impossible to control and almost caused me to enter the oncoming lane of traffic.
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 1,428 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 32% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Canyon has 67 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an…
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
- Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
- 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 Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
- This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered…
This PI advised dealer technicians of possible causes of diesel fuel contamination in gasoline powered vehicles and advises of warranty direction.
NHTSA lists 746 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 2021 GMC Canyon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, steering, air bags. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (33%), rear-view camera (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 GMC Canyon?
NHTSA lists 746 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 2021 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 2021 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.