vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Gmc CANYON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

38 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

68,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 38 complaints (39.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior923.7%
Electrical and battery issues615.8%
Engine operation37.9%
Transmission and shifting25.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
15
Engine
14
Service Brakes
8
Unknown Or Other
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Exterior Lighting
4
Structure:Body
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System15
Engine14
Service Brakes8
Unknown Or Other5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Exterior Lighting4
Structure:Body4
Fuel/Propulsion System2

Electrical System: 15; Engine: 14; Service Brakes: 8; Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
2
2013
3
2014
5
2015
8
2016
5
2017
8
2018
1
2019
3
2021
1
2023
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20092
20133
20145
20158
20165
20178
20181
20193
20211
20231
20261

2009: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 8; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10588597 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS INFORMING ME THAT MY VEHICLE "MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE CONTAMINATION IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKE LAMPS OR CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS". THE LETTER STATED NOT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GMC DEALER UNLESS I BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAD THE CONDITION DESCRIBED. THEY OFFER TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ONLY IF IT FAILS FIRST. MY CONCERN IS THAT ILL FIND OUT MY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED AS ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH ME FROM THE REAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10588930 · 2014-05-16 (May 16, 2014)

THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. MAINLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE ABS SENSOR WARNING SOUND WOULD COME ON AND WHEN STARTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ABS BRAKES WOULD ACTUALLY ENGAGE(VIBRATING PEDAL) AND IT WOULD FEEL AS THOUGH THE TRUCK WASN'T GOING TO STOP. AFTER IT DID STOP AND CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THE NORMAL BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. THEN THE WARNING SOUND/BEEP WOULD STOP BUT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ALWAYS STAY ON. AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES HAPPENING I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOU…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588930 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10510216 · 2013-05-01 (May 1, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE DEALER CLEANED THE ENGINE AND FUEL WIRING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V154000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510216 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10545311 · 2013-09-25 (September 25, 2013)

FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE, THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS, WHERE TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH RESULTED IN NO STARTER ENGAGEMENT, DEAD BATTERY INDICATION. FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT FOLLOWING A JUMP START, THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORE WHERE THE NEW BATTERY (ABOUT 1 MONTH OLD) WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE FULLY CHARGED AND IN GOOD CONDITION. FOLLOWING A THIRD INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545311 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11044973 · 2017-11-09 (November 9, 2017)

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-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11044973 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10759317 · 2015-08-25 (August 25, 2015)

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED. WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED TO PARK THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN DRIVE AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY. UPON INSPECTION THE CABLE WAS HANGING LOOSE AND WHATEVER KIND OF RETAINING CLIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WAS GONE. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SA,E ISSUE AS RECALL #11181 FOR 2011 MODELS.

Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759317 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10818336 · 2016-01-06 (January 6, 2016)

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-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818336 at NHTSA ↗