Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 GMC Canyon, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 17% |
| Air bags | 4 | 14% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 7% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Canyon. The contact stated during an oil change, he was informed by the mechanic that the sub frame was fractured between the driver’s side door and the passenger’s side door. The contact had
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 intersta
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Car will periodically and unpredictably not crank, fire or start. After attempting approximately 10 minutes later it wi
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
IT TIMES IT WONT START HAVE TO WAIT 15-20 MIN TO START WHILE PARKED I ALSO HAD A 2004 COLORADO THAT DID THE SAME THING .NOW FOR THE SAFETY END .IF YOUR IN THE COUNTRY AN YOU OR SOMEONE IS HAVEING A MEDICAL ISSUE AN IT W
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY WHEN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY TRUCK AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER OFF THE ROAD. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC & WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE F
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A BROKEN WIRE IN THE REAR DRIVERSIDE DOOR THEY SPLICED THE WIRE AND THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND NOW IT IS COMING BACK ON AGAIN BUT IT SEEMS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
INTERMITTENT AND REPEATED PARTIAL FAILURE OF FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE PART NUMBER 20850907 DURING DRIVING, INCLUDING ROUGH ENGINE OPERATION, LOSS OF MOST OF ENGINE POWER ON MODERATE HIGHWAY GRADE, SLOWING TO 15 MPH UN
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TAKATA RECALL. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE AIRBAGS BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO GET A REPLACEMENT. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR DEMANDING A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL OUR SUV CAN BE REPAIRED? THANKS!
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 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 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHICLES. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE
Risk: WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, SETTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR THE ENGINE MAY BE HARD TO START, MAY NOT START OR MAY STAL
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996
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 | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 5 of them (17%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 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 75/100. 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.