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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Gmc CANYON problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

27 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

49,928 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 27 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior622.2%
Engine operation518.5%
Transmission and shifting311.1%
Electrical and battery issues311.1%
Steering behavior27.4%
Fuel system concerns27.4%

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
8
Air Bags
3
Engine
3
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Power Train
3
Service Brakes
3
Exterior Lighting
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System8
Air Bags3
Engine3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Power Train3
Service Brakes3
Exterior Lighting2

Electrical System: 8; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 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
2010
2
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2014
7
2015
1
2016
3
2017
2
2018
2
2020
2
2021
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20092
20102
20111
20121
20131
20147
20151
20163
20172
20182
20202
20212
20231

2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10273632 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC CANYON. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINE, AND THAT THE AIR SHOULD BE BLED FROM THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND BLEEDING THE AIR OUT OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER. CURRENTLY, THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO F…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10468516 · 2012-07-31 (July 31, 2012)

MY HUSBAND'S BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON HIS 2009 GMC CANYON. HE TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WE READ ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR HIS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THEY CHECKED HIS VIN AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING. IT ISN'T THE BULBS, FUSE, ETC. THEY "FIXED" IT AND SAID "IT'LL EITHER WORK FOR THE NEXT 5 MIN OR IT WON'T WORK AT ALL." AND HANDED HIM THE KEYS. HE DROVE IT AND SURE ENOUGH, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, AGAIN. HE TOOK IT BACK AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. "IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK, YADA YADA..." WHY WOULD THEY HAND THEM THE KEYS PLUS ALLOW…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10468516 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10336031 · 2010-06-13 (June 13, 2010)

WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS STARTING THE TURN INTO A PARKING STALL WHEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY MOVING FORWARD. TRANSMISSION HAD GONE INTO 4X4 LOW WITHOUT ANYONE PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE DASH. I HAD A 2007 CANYON AND IT DID THE SAME THING ABOUT 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKADE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THERE COMMENT WAS TO BRING IT IN WHILE THE INCIDENT IS OCCURRING. WHEN I DID TAKE THE 2007 IN FOR SERVICE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I WILL MENTION THE INCIDENT ON 2009 WHEN …

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336031 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618085 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)

TO START OUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS MY FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE I HAVE EVER BOUGHT. I WAS ON I 475 DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH WHEN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY TRUCK AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO THE NEAREST GMC DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP FLOW CONTROL MODULE. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AT HOME AND FOUND OUT THAT 2009 GMC CANYONS WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 31,791 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618085 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525733 · 2013-07-19 (July 19, 2013)

THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND GOING THROUGH THE GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY, THE ACCELERATOR HAS STUCK EVEN WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF OF THE PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS AS I AM SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS THEN PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND SHIFT GEAR AND RELEASE THE CLUTCH, THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RESPOND TO MY FOOT COMING OFF THE THROTTLE. THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE EVEN WITH MY FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATION IS TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525733 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10584040 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)

WE WERE AT FAMILY GATHERING WHEN A NEIGHBOR CALLED AND SAID THE BLACK TRUCK IS ON FIRE. I RUSHED OUT THE DOOR TO INVESTIGATE AND THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE THE CAB ON DRIVERS SIDE IN REAR SECTION. I STARTED SPRAYING IT WITH A WATER HOSE AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILLED FUEL TANK WITH WATER JUST IN CASE THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL STARTED THE FIRE IN THAT SECTION OF THE TRUCK. FIRE MARSHALL GOING COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND INSURANCE WAS CALLED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584040 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10622255 · 2014-08-14 (August 14, 2014)

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND REMAINED ON. THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO BROKEN AIRBAG (ORANGE WIRING IN THE EXTENDED CAB DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. UPON INSPECTION, SEVERAL WIRES (AIR BAG (ORANGE), A SPEAKER WIRE (BROWN) WERE COMPLETELY BROKEN. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVY COLORADOS/GMC CANYONS WITH EXTENDED CABS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. THE AIRBAG SHOULDN'T BE COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF A POOR WIRING DESIGN IN THE REAR DOOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10622255 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10907366 · 2016-09-17 (September 17, 2016)

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 D…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907366 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11374161 · 2020-11-11 (November 11, 2020)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374161 at NHTSA ↗