43 of the
1,948 complaints filed about the GMC Canyon
are about the throttle and cruise control —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2016.
43
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
When 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.
NHTSA complaint #11744895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX], at approximately 4:10 PM, I was at the McDonald’s drive-through located at [XXX] and [XXX] in Springfield, Missouri. I was stopped at the final service window. As I pulled away from the window, I approached a 90-degree left turn heading south. I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal to allow the truck to coast slowly around the corner, as the area is heavily pedestrian and requires caution. While coasting with my foot completely off the gas pedal, the truck suddenly and rapidly began to accelerate on its own. I immediately applied the brakes, and the unintended acceleration stopped right away. At that point, I called Thompson GMC in Springfield, Missouri, at 4:17 PM to report the incident. This was the second time this has occurred. The first incident happened several months ago on [XXX] north of Strafford, Missouri. While navigating a curve, I lifted my foot off the accelerator to coast, and the truck again experienced sudden, hard acceleration. I quickly applied the brakes, and the acceleration stopped immediately. I called Thompson GMC at that time as well. They advised me that I could bring the vehicle in for inspection, but without a check engine light or warning light illuminated, and without the issue occurring while a technician was driving, it might be difficult to diagnose. I did not bring the vehicle in after the first incident. Yesterday, a Thompson GMC employee scheduled an appointment for me to have the truck inspected. No warning lights or check engine lights were illuminated on the dashboard during either incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11727351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at 70–75 mph on an interstate, my vehicle suddenly displayed a “Brake Failure” warning and limited speed to 62 mph. Power steering failed completely, and braking became ineffective despite hard pedal pressure. Multiple warnings followed: ABS, engine, and others. I was in heavy traffic with vehicles at full speed. Loss of braking and steering control forced me to coast across lanes to the shoulder, narrowly avoiding collision. My safety and that of others was at extreme risk. After stopping, I turned the vehicle off for ~30 seconds. Upon restart, all systems returned to normal—no warnings or issues. This indicates a transient software malfunction, not mechanical failure. No prior warnings or symptoms occurred. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer/service center. I have not scanned or inspected the vehicle. It has not been examined by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11698288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at 70–75 mph on an interstate, my vehicle suddenly displayed a “Brake Failure” warning and limited speed to 62 mph. Power steering failed completely, and braking became ineffective despite hard pedal pressure. Multiple warnings followed: ABS, engine, and others. I was in heavy traffic with vehicles at full speed. Loss of braking and steering control forced me to coast across lanes to the shoulder, narrowly avoiding collision. My safety and that of others was at extreme risk. After stopping, I turned the vehicle off for ~30 seconds. Upon restart, all systems returned to normal—no warnings or issues. This indicates a transient software malfunction, not mechanical failure. No prior warnings or symptoms occurred. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer/service center. I have not scanned or inspected the vehicle. It has not been examined by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The vehicle is in my possession and available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11698289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I've noticed an issue since I picked up my vehicle from its last service where the RPMs stay around 1,000 when I let off the gas and should be coasting. The vehicle will continue to accelerate at 11 to 13 mph, and I really have to mash the brake pedal to stop. There is an update notice that popped up starting yesterday, but it will not install. Looks like the update is for the issue I am having. The update was supposed to be installed already per the service bulletin. Update number is N242452130
NHTSA complaint #11698266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
there seems to be electrical issue. the fan won't stop running even when shut off. the thermostat stop working with pretty low milage along with the tire sensors. Fixed the previous issues. Furthermore, while driving the vehicle stop working and had to use the momentum to park on the side of the road causing a unexpected break down. The vehicle won't start. This again seems electrical and the dealership want to charge for this. The vehicle is damaged since the manufacture and huge safety issue. Please urge to get a recall for all this items since it seems immersive expensive and unsafe to have to repair all this issues.
NHTSA complaint #11674524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am the owner of a 2016 GMC Canyon truck, which i purchased used in approx 2020 with about 43,000 miles on it...today's date is now 1/5/25 and the truck has approx 99,0000 mile on it. Over the last 2 years the electronic stability control has failed approx 20 times. A warning light appears on the dash stating the failure of the power steering and the stabilitrac. When this happens steering the truck and be extremely difficult and I am forced to pull off the road. Usually when the truck is turned off for a short while and then turned back on the problem will fix itself, but only for a few minutes or hours and the problem reoccurs. Last week I took the truck to a GM dealer and had the steering angle sensor recalibrated..which fixed the problem for 1 month. Now it is failing again! My wife is afraid and refuses to drive the truck because if this happens again while she is driving she isn't strong enough to turn the wheel..particularly from a complete stopped position. This is a very serious and dangerous problem that GM needs to be responsible to resolve.
NHTSA complaint #11634218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Adaptive Cruise Control has applied brakes multiple times while cruise has been sent at speeds ranging from 55-75 MPH. Vehicle aggressively slowed down 10-20 MPH then picked up speed. No vehicles in sight ahead of vehicle, aggressively applied braking without warning. Aggressive braking could cause traffic behind vehicle to crash into me while driving at high speeds. Multiple other reports of this happening to other 2023-2024 GMC Canyon owners based on comments on Facebook and Reddit with acknowledgement from the manufacturer that this is a know issue they currently are trying to resolve. Issue not isolated to this vehicle. Vehicle has not been inspected by Manufacturer or problem been reproduced dealership. Vehicle goes in for service next week, meanwhile cruise is not being used as it is a safety hazard. No collision warning or any other warnings experienced with this issue. Issue first happened on day 1 of vehicle ownership and has happened 2-3 other times with one instance of it braking and accelerating 3 times over a 2-3 mile stretch of highway with cruise set at 75MPH with vehicle slowing down to around 55MPH before resuming set speed.
NHTSA complaint #11614391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
“Engine power reduced” service message “Stabilitrack” service message “4x4” service message Vehicle is available for inspection Vehicle jerks and loses power while driving at highway speeds causing 18-wheelers and other drivers to swerve around me, vehicle accelerates very slowly while in city traffic. Intersections and traffic lights are difficult to navigate due to reduced engine power endangering myself and family, also other drivers. Vehicle erases all stored messages after a certain period of non-use. Dealer service center hasn’t reproduced symptoms. Service center technicians say nothing is wrong and releases the vehicle back to me. I have invoices of the vehicle taken in 3 times. Vehicle is currently in the service center as of 10 June 2023, for the same problems indicated above. Problem is unpredictable and occurs at random. Vehicle hasn’t been inspected by manufacturer, police or insurance representatives. Warning lamps, messages and symptoms started prior to September 23, 2022 can’t remember actual date. I have the first invoice vehicle was taken in to be serviced.
NHTSA complaint #11526123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving and the Stabilitrak warning comes on as well as the Power steering warning. later after the vehicle is turned off it will not restart (no crank, no Start) and there is no communication with the ECM until it has had the battery disconnected for an extended period. This is very dangerous losing power steering and stabilitrak while driving is going to cause an accident. I would like to see a recall on the 2016 like there is on the 2015 with this same issue. I have not had the issue repaired yet. waiting to get it into a shop who tells me they will likely need to replace the Rack and Pinion on this truck to correct the issue.
NHTSA complaint #11475141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My husband recently asked if I had encountered any problems using the cruise control in this vehicle. Since I seldom drive any distance with that vehicle, I never noticed anything. But he had traveled onto the interstate, and when attempting to set the cruise, noticed it didn't work. Yesterday, I had to follow him somewhere, and I noticed the brake lights weren't coming on. We tested all the other things (tail lights, back up lights, turn signals), and everything was working properly. Today I was looking to see how to replace the brake light switch, and also noticed there were instructions on how to replace the cruise control switch and fuses,too (as they all seem to be related.) Then I found that some models of the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon were affected by a recall for this same issue. When I looked it up just now, this model (2009 GMC Canyon) is not under the recall (but it has the same issue).
NHTSA complaint #11445613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION COMMAND WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY OR DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF COLLATION WITH OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SUSPECT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS A MAJOR AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE, GM CONTINUES TO IGNORE AND I DO NOT WANT TO BECOME THE NEXT STATISTIC DEAD IN US HIGHWAYS. THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, DURING A RED TRIANGLE YIELD SIGN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION COMMAND CAUSING A BOTTLE NECK OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND HIGH RISK OF BEING REAR ENDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION, IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #11415989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,294.
NHTSA complaint #11403348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL DASH LIGHTS NAV SYSTEM GAUGES ETC. TURNED OFF. IT WAS AS IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THEN IT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND SEEM TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM PREVIOUS TO THIS AND THERE WAS A RECALL PERFORMED ON IT RECENTLY. ALSO THIS VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO GET CLOSE TO 30 MPG AND NOW THE BEST I CAN GET IS 21 MPG. IT HAS HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND SHUT DOWN ON ME SEVERAL TIMESDURING THE LAST FEW YEARS. I FEEL LIKE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND GMC SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WANTED GOOD FUEL ECONOMY FROM A DIESEL AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF MAJOR ISSUES AND NUMEROUS RECALLS BUT NONE HAVE ADDRESSED THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF OWNERS NEARLY GETTING KILLED WHEN THEIR VEHICLE RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SEEMS UNSAFE AND I FEEL THEY MISREPRESENTED THE FUEL ECONOMY OF THE DIESEL ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11396057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF DURING BRAKING OR WHILE STOPPED AND MUST BE RESTARTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAN OPERATE AGAIN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIOLENT GEAR CHANGES AND SIGNIFICANT LAGGING DURING PERIODS OF MODERATE ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS. GEAR CHANGES RESULT IN EITHER SEVERE UNRESPONSIVENESS AND A GENERAL LACK OF ACCELERATION OR AN AGGRESSIVE GEAR CHANGE THAT JERKS THE VEHICLE AND SPINS THE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #11377276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M THE OWNER OF A NEWLY BOUGHT (6/5/2020 PURCHASED DATE) 2020 GMC CANYON. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OR ACCELERATING. MY MOST COMMON ISSUE IS 'SHUDDERING' WHEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATES AND SUDDEN 'JERKING' WHEN DOWNSHIFTING GEARS WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE OR EVEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 CANYONS AND UNLESS IT READS A 'CODE' THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. GM SAID TELL THE CUSTOMER TO DRIVE IT AND WE WILL CALL IF WE GET ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN JERKING AND TRANSMISSION & OR ENGINE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE THE RPMS REVED UP TO OVER 4500 RPMS AND I WAS STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A LANE AND COULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAD CARS AVOIDING ME SO THAT WAY THEY WOULD NOT HIT ME HEAD ON OR ON THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND THE ISSUE IS GM KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITH THEIR 2015- 2019 COLORADO AND CANNON SERIES. DESPITE MANY COMPLAINTS AND NUMEROUS LAWSUITS ABOUT THESE SERIOUS ISSUES, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE DEFECTS FOR THESE VEHICLES WITHIN GM FOR THE 2020 CANON. I HAVE PAID ALMOST $50,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE A LEMON LAW PUT ON IT BECAUSE GM KNOWS THEY ARE PRODUCING BAD TRANSMISSION/ENGINES AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED GM CORPORATE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN I'M IN ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GET IN GEAR AND IS SHAKING AND SHUTTERING AND JERKING AND REVVING UP THE RPMS AND THE NEXT TIME. I SAID I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SO LUCKY AS TO HAVING PEOPLE AVOID ME AND THEN ME AND MY DAUGHTER WIND UP IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND WE DON'T MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11362569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE SEPARATELY DEVELOPED FOR TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND JUST RANDOMLY MATCHED IN THE TRUCK. THE ACCELERATOR IS VERY NON-LINEAR AND UNRESPONSIVE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY IN THE WRONG GEAR. THIS TRUCK IS A NIGHTMARE TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC OR ON WINDY HILLY ROADS. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY GUESS WHERE YOUR FOOT SHOULD BE TO GET ANY KIND OF STABILITY OR ACCELERATION FROM THE TRUCK. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC YOU BETTER BE PREPARED TO HAVE A LOT OF ROOM BECAUSE IT MIGHT JUST SHAKE AND SHUTTER BEFORE FINDING A GEAR AND ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I FIND IT ODD THAT THERE HAVENT BEEN COLLISIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THIS. IF ANYONE FROM GM IS READING THIS, KNOW THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT I EVER BUY. EITHER YOU DONT KNOW HOW TO ENGINEER A VEHICLE, OR YOU SIMPLY JUST DONT CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS. IM GUESSING THE LATTER.
NHTSA complaint #11344186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LIGHTS DID YOU BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE I'LL BRAKE BALLS HAVE BEEN REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11320590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS FAULT I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES WHEEL HUBS AND SENSERS 2 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS STILL ABS FAULT 98,000 MILES ON TRUCK THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
NHTSA complaint #11316316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.