IllustrationWhen 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.
2008 GMC Canyon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 GMC Canyon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Canyon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
625–50K
750–75K
475–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
31 reports with mileage · 7 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
5 reportsTL* 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 NOTI…
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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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT GENTLY TOUCHED THE MEDIAN AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT GENTLY TOUCHED THE MEDIAN AND INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN
THE INITIAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION ENGAGES ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I WOULD NOTICE THE RADIO PLAYING ON OCCASION. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THE BELLS SOUND LIKE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION BUT IT IS NOT. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE BATTERY WOULD JUST BE DRAINED DEAD. I TOOK IT IN TO…
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THE INITIAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION ENGAGES ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I WOULD NOTICE THE RADIO PLAYING ON OCCASION. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR THE BELLS SOUND LIKE THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION BUT IT IS NOT. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE BATTERY WOULD JUST BE DRAINED DEAD. I TOOK IT IN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GMC DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD SINCE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SOON AFTER, AND THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS THE SECURITY LIGHT LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LIGHT WOULD CLEAR WHEN I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND RESTARTED IT. FOR SEVERAL YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH TAILLIGHT BULBS AT A RATE OF ABOUT ONE PER MONTH. FINALLY A GMC DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUG FOR THE LIGHT BULB HAD MELTED / BURNED. ALL THESE INCIDENTS SEEM RELATED TO THE IGNITION / ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SEEM TOO SIMILAR TO ALL THE OTHER ISSUES RECALLED TO NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS RECALLS. *TR
AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL DISCOVERY OF A PROBLEM THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERY, A FRIEND STATED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND BULBS BOTH WERE SATISFACTORY. I CONDUCTED A CHECK OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A VOLT METER AND THE SWITCH IS BAD. THERE I…
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AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL DISCOVERY OF A PROBLEM THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MONTHS AFTER THE ORIGINAL DISCOVERY, A FRIEND STATED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND BULBS BOTH WERE SATISFACTORY. I CONDUCTED A CHECK OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A VOLT METER AND THE SWITCH IS BAD. THERE IS NO INDICATION TO THE OPERATOR THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE CONDUCTED A VIN SEARCH OF MY VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT COVERED IN CURRENT OR PAST RECALLS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS ISSUE TRANSLATES TO VEHICLES THAT COME FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH TOWING PACKAGES, IN THAT IF AN OPERATOR IS TOWING AND USING THE FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING CONNECTORS WOULD THE LIGHTING OF THE TOWED VEHICLE BE AFFECTED AS WELL. *TR
Official recalls
210V575000 · Child Seat
Nov 18, 2010
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR VISIT GM'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
09V310000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 29, 2009
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.