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GMC CanyonModel year report

2011 GMC Canyon Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
51,073miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 2.9L 4-cyl RWD · 18 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 GMC Canyon (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Canyon. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and engine (3). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 51,073 miles. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 1,260 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 239 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall airbag light is on . Truck will shut down when the truck is going down the road at 60 miles an hour less or more. When you start the truck it shuts off again. Or will start right up and wash it right back down. The safety belt light comes on or is the car locked I should say. Which is the little picture with the car with the lock on it. I have videotaped what comes across the dash and hasn't shown it to the dealership and they have not done anything because they can't find anything. Shuts off again. Or will start right up in the shut right back down. …”

NHTSA complaint #11186002, filed 2019-03

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2011 Gmc Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred on many occasions. The dealer diagnosed that the ignition switch caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,500.”

NHTSA complaint #10700627, filed 2015-03, 57,500 miles

Engine: “I am experiencing problems with this vehicle that are terrifying as it is putting my family in jeopardy. My first indication of a problem occurred in august 2013 and continued until may, 2014, the problem seemed to have fixed itself as I did not experience any more serious problems after may 2014 until october 2014. This leads me to believe the problem seems to have some connection to colder weather. The stalling problem is now occurring regularly and the error messages tend to disappear overnight before I can get to a dealer. …”

NHTSA complaint #10658993, filed 2014-11, 30,000 miles

Brakes: “A day or two after purchasing vehicle I was in a cramped parking lot and when I applied the brakes the vehicle suddenly accelerated. This happened twice, once going forward and once in reverse before I realized that my foot was partly on the brake pedal and partly on the accelerator. It has happened at least eight times since then. I have found that it happens more often when I am wearing wide soled work shoes. (Gmc markets this vehicle as a work truck.) this is a very dangerous problem which caused me to nearly trap a woman who was standing behind her car in a gas station. …”

NHTSA complaint #10435421, filed 2011-11, 150 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 59,000 miles.

13%0–100%10–2538%25–5025%50–7513%75–10013%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 51,073 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

201120143201520162018201920222024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 GMC Canyon. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Canyon · extended cab AWDnot rated———4 · 17.9% risk
Canyon · crew cab AWDnot rated———4 · 17.9% risk
Canyon · regular cab AWDnot rated———4 · 17.9% risk
Canyon · crew cab RWDnot rated———4 · 18.5% risk
Canyon · extended cab RWDnot rated———4 · 18.5% risk
Canyon · regular cab RWDnot rated———4 · 18.5% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 GMC Canyon version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Canyon 2WD2.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182421$3,200
Canyon 2WD2.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual182521$3,200
Canyon 2WD3.7L 5-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550
Canyon 2WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152016$4,200
Canyon 4WD2.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172320$3,350
Canyon 4WD2.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual182420$3,350
Canyon 4WD3.7L 5-cyl4-speed automatic172219$3,550
Canyon 4WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD2.9L 4-cyl4-speed automatic182421$3,200
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD2.9L 4-cyl5-speed manual182521$3,200
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD3.7L 5-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550
Canyon Crew Cab 2WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152016$4,200
Canyon Crew Cab 4WD3.7L 5-cyl4-speed automatic162118$3,700
Canyon Crew Cab 4WD5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 GMC Canyon → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,260 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,260 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Canyon

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202683502420—Too new
2025813,5002420—Too new
20242074,0003420Too new to compareToo new
2023623,000342099 · MoreToo new
20222822,212142240 · TypicalRising
20211246,5002422—Not enough data
20201418,5000422—Not enough data
20191736,0820422—Rising
20185322,000142243 · TypicalStable
20176627,803142256 · TypicalFalling
201627146,5234422100 · MoreStable
201530354,6808422100 · MoreFalling
20122345,0002—21—Stable
20111251,0735—21—Not enough data
2010810,0002—21—Not enough data
20092749,9283—2030 · FewerFalling
20083868,0002—200 · FewerStable
20074273,6513—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20064860,0004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200511350,1063—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20048074,4563—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All GMC Canyon model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 GMC Canyon have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2011 GMC Canyon as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 GMC Canyon is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2011 GMC Canyon been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 GMC Canyon get?

The EPA rates the 2011 GMC Canyon (Canyon 2WD, 2.9L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 GMC Canyon reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 51,073 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 59,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.