2018 Gmc CANYON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
22,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 52 complaints (51.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 42.3% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 27 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Power Train: 27; Electrical System: 10; Engine: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Steering: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 32 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 8; 2021: 6; 2022: 8; 2023: 8; 2024: 7; 2025: 2; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 11123060 · 2018-08-28 (August 28, 2018)
TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 4TH TO 5TH. SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE REAR ENDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128149 · 2018-09-07 (September 7, 2018)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AGGRESSIVELY THE FIRST GEARS FROM A COLD STARTED ENGINE AFTER ENGAGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. SLUGGISH SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207241 · 2019-05-13 (May 13, 2019)
IT STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL IF THE TRUCK IDLES FOR A 10-20 MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME. AND WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THAN START WORKING AGAIN. DURING ANY PROLONGED HIGHWAY TRIP THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ILLLUMINATE. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD NOW THAT I CAN COUNT ON IT BEING A DAILY OCCURRENCE. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WILL COME ON BUT THE STEERING DOESN'T ACTUALLY FAIL. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I WROTE A BAD REVIEW ABOUT THE SERVICE I RECEIVED ON MY FACEB…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11321050 · 2020-04-14 (April 14, 2020)
NO BRAKE FLUID HAD REPAIRED BY DEAL IN ONE WEEK SAME ISSUES NO BRAKE FLUID ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC REPORT AND ALERTS SAY BRAKE SYSTEM ERROR NONENO ERROR CODE FOUNDNONE ABS - BRAKING AND STABILITY SYSTEMC0273AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.SERVICE WITHIN 7 DAYS GOT THIS TODAY PULLED OVER NO FLUID DRIVING 30 MPH ON CITY STREET I HAVE ALL ONSTAR AND MECHANICS REPORT'S
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11321050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130462 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS CRACKED WHERE IT CONNECTED TO THE BALL JOINT. THE DEALER (DARLING'S AUTO MALL, 16 KINGSLAND CROSSING, ELLSWORTH, ME 04605, [phone removed]) INDICATED THAT THEY ORDERED THE PART FOR THE STEERING KNUCKLE REPLACEMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT SPECIFY WHEN IT WOULD ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443236 · 2021-12-09 (December 9, 2021)
I have been receiving the “Service Trailer Brake System” error intermittently. The only information I have been have to find around this is a defective wiring harnesses between two modules. This defect is not due to wear/tear and has been reported as a defective part on multiple GMC models. When this service error pops up it is distracting and very unsafe for driving as well as dangerous when towing as the driver has no idea of the trailer brake system is functioning properly..
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11492501 · 2022-11-06 (November 6, 2022)
Key sticks in ignition on accessory and cannot be removed. Service Bulletin generated by GMC. Available for inspection. Safety: with key stuck in accessory position battery goes dead in 4-6 hours, potentially stranding occupants and depending on location possibly creating a traffic hazard. Three attempts by GMC Fremont CA to repair so far. They have confirmed the problem. No warning or message.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11420373 · 2021-06-10 (June 10, 2021)
No accident to report. I wasn’t aware of the problem with the High Pressure Fuel Pump intel a week later when the noise got louder, at first I figure it was the belt drive that needed check do to it sitting in the lot do to not being moved a lot. I then took it back to where the Vehicle originally came from they where able to identified the problem quickly to do them knowing already that the truck had that problem but never went to fix the problem or to take time to figure the problem out.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11592919 · 2024-06-06 (June 6, 2024)
Major potential for deadly fire or explosion. Fuel tank strapped failed after forward strap bolt fell out of threaded cross member where fastened in frame. The failure led to the fuel tank hanging inches off the ground on the freeway stressing fuel pump lines to forward upper tank. Metal grinding noises heard to prompt roadside inspection confirming hanging, unsecured tank full of 26gal of diesel. The tank wedged the fuel tank strap between plastic tank and drive shaft (propeller shaft) with heat and potentially spark as the the metal strap gro…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11592919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11466513 · 2022-05-28 (May 28, 2022)
When cold the transmission slips badly causing a loss of power that has caused me to narrowly avoid being struck from behind by another vehicle. The slippage can be severe. The transmission appears starved for fluid. After completely warmed up the problem goes away. It is clearly a factory defect that GM is aware of and refuses to fix.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11466513 at NHTSA ↗