2021 GMC Canyon Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2021 GMC Canyon, and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2021 GMC Canyon
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Labels (equipment)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Canyon vehicles. The load carrying capacity printed on the Tire and Loading Information placard is 22.5 kg (51 lbs.) more than intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy: GM will mail owners a new B-pillar label, free of charge. Owners may apply the label, or bring it to a dealer for installation. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 17, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer…
-
Critical fasteners (seat belts) and seat belts
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at…
12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 GMC Canyon have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 47,750 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes became inoperable and the vehicle shut off. The contact repeatedly pumped the brake pedal”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“While driving a few days ago, power steering abruptly stopped working and a service power steering message appeared. It was very difficult to steer the vehicle back home. I've tried replacing the batt”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 30, 2026 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 GMC Canyon (Canyon 2WD, Canyon 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–20 / 22–30 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.5/2.8/3.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Automatic 8-spd |
Compare GMC Canyon model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Canyon model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 GMC Canyon | 3 | 80 |
| 2005 GMC Canyon | 3 | 113 |
| 2006 GMC Canyon | 4 | 48 |
| 2007 GMC Canyon | 3 | 42 |
| 2008 GMC Canyon | 2 | 38 |
| 2009 GMC Canyon | 3 | 27 |
| 2010 GMC Canyon | 2 | 8 |
| 2011 GMC Canyon | 5 | 12 |
| 2012 GMC Canyon | 2 | 23 |
| 2015 GMC Canyon | 8 | 303 |
| 2016 GMC Canyon | 4 | 270 |
| 2017 GMC Canyon | 1 | 66 |
| 2018 GMC Canyon | 1 | 52 |
| 2019 GMC Canyon | 0 | 17 |
| 2020 GMC Canyon | 0 | 14 |
| 2021 GMC Canyon | 2 | 12 |
| 2022 GMC Canyon | 1 | 27 |
| 2023 GMC Canyon | 3 | 62 |
| 2024 GMC Canyon | 3 | 206 |
| 2025 GMC Canyon | 2 | 8 |
| 2026 GMC Canyon | 2 | 8 |
Checking a specific 2021 GMC Canyon
How do I know if my 2021 GMC Canyon has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2021 GMC Canyon; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 20V811000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.