Why the 2015 and 2016 GMC Canyon Should Be Avoided at All Costs
A hard part of shopping for a new or used truck is investigating the problems that go along with each model. Dealerships certainly won’t be upfront, so it’s imperative that you do the research yourself. It’s also important to know that the problems plaguing one model year won’t necessarily be an issue for another.
GM faces this problem with the 2015 and 2016 GMC Canyon model years. According to Car Complaints, these models disappointed shoppers. If you’re considering buying a used GMC Canyon, you should know about the following model years’ issues as well as the newer ones that may be better.
2015 GMC Canyon problems
According to Edmunds, GMC briefly gave up on the Canyon and sent it into retirement. In 2015, the U.S. automaker decided to bring it back. This move was met with much acclaim by consumers who enjoyed driving the Canyon in the past. This didn’t last long.
Car Complaints reports several problems with the 2015 Canyon. The biggest has to do with the transmission. The website explains, “Most owners reporting transmission problems with their 2015 Canyon report sluggish shifting or other similar problems with the truck not shifting properly.”
The average repair cost comes up to $150, but that was for the consumers who actually fixed the issue. Most of the drivers filing reports on Car Complaints never found a solution to the transmission problem. Those who did explain that a software update fixed the solution, but finding a dealer who would work with them long enough to figure this out was nearly impossible.
Car Complaints also reports that the NHSTA has filed seven recalls on the Canyon. For a vehicle that is only four years old, this is a lot. According to iSeeCars.com, the 10 cars with the highest recall rates have “an average recall rate of 2.73 recalls/year per 100,000 units sold.”
Other Car Complaints reports that the recalls include a fuel pump flange weld that may fracture, improper air bag inflation, loss of power steering assist, brake fluid leaks, improperly wired driver air bags, misaligned front air bag inflator, and loose seat frame attachment hooks.”
2016 GMC Canyon problems
The 2016 GMC Canyon had fewer problems than the 2015 model, but it had a similar story. The biggest complaint from drivers also involved transmission problems, according to Car Complaints.
Most consumers report that the problem was never really fixed. As with the 2015 model, most dealerships declined to spend much time working with drivers. One consumer even reported, “Truck lags (almost as if it is going to stall) when accelerating to cruising speed. Dealer said this is normal.”
It shouldn’t have to be stated that driving a truck that lags should not be “normal.” The Canyon had approximately 4,000 miles on it, making consumers question what will happen when it has over 100,000 miles. That is, if it doesn’t make it to the junkyard before then.
2017, 2018, and 2019 GMC Canyons
If you have your heart set on a Canyon, there is good news. While GMC may have dropped the ball on the 2015 and 2016 models, things have drastically improved for later years.
U.S. News gave the 2017 GMC Canyon a No. 2 ranking in the 2017 Compact Pickup Trucks category. Some of the things that appealed to the website include a great interior, above-average towing capacity, and plenty of engine options.
The 2018 GMC Canyon seemed to perform well with consumers. According to Cars.com, 94% of consumers would recommend the 2018 model year, and it received 4.7 out of 5 stars from the website. Some of the high points for the 2018 Canyon include comfort, reliability, performance, and value for the money.
The 2019 GMC Canyon also gets rave reviews, but drivers don’t seem to like it as much as the 2018 model. Kelley Blue Book gave the 2019 Canyon 4.2 out of 5 stars. Its biggest setback was that other trucks, like the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, perform better for off-roading. Still, there were no major complaints about the 2019 GMC Canyon.
