Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Canyon, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 10% |
| Power train | 3 | 7% |
| Structure | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
| Air bags | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
Carrier Bearing ( Hanger Bearing) broken off mounts. Bearing is mounted via spot welds. The spot weld were not done properly. Was driving at about 30 MPH slowing down when the bearing broke loose from the mounts. The c
NHTSA complaint: Power train
BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKING AND OUR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON. WE NOTICE IT MOSTLY AFTER WE HAVE PARKED THE TRUCK AND TURN IT OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ILLUMINATED, NO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER'S GARAGE FOR ROUTINE BRAKE WORK. HE SHOWED ME A CRACK IN THE FRAME ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH EXCLUDING AN INCH. HE FOUND IT WHEN HE TRIED LIFTING THE VEHICLE TO DO THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
REPAIR SHOP LIFTED VEHICLE TO REPAIR FRONT BRAKES AND THE FRAME BROKE JUST BEHIND THE CAB.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE DECREASING POWER MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT CALLED BISHO
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC CANYON. WHILE UNDERGOING BRAKE SERVICE AT TRADITION CHEVROLET BUICK (847 RTE 5, GENEVA, NY 14456, (315) 789-6811), THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR OF THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE T
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED ABOVE THE DRIVERS INSTRUMENT DISPLAY, AROUND SPEAKER AND NOW HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITH THE DASHBOARD BEING LOOSE. IF THE AIR BAG IS EVER TO DEPLOY IT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2008 GMC Canyon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY
Risk: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING P
Fix: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S M
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIP
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 58 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 5 of them (12%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.