Last updated: 2026-10-10
2019 GMC Canyon Reliability Report
The 2019 GMC Canyon has good reliability and beats most 2019 trucks, but owners report transmission slipping and fuel pump failures.
Recalls
0
Complaints
14
Complaint Rate
N/A
Est. Repair Cost
$548
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,700–$4,000
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Good reliability with no federal recalls and well above other 2019 trucks, though transmission slipping and high pressure fuel pump failures lead the complaints.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (6)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2019 is year 5 of the Second generation (RG; 2011).
- Redesigned for the 2015 model year.
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- A refresh arrives in 2020.
- 2nd generation Canyon (US).
What this means for buyers
Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.
2015: Second generation (RG; 2011) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2019: This Model Year
2019 is year 5 of the Second generation (RG; 2011).
2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2019 GMC Canyon?
Good is the standing here, and it holds up well. Against other 2019 trucks this Canyon rates well above average, and it is among the stronger of the nine scored Canyon years. The 2018 rates worse, with 49 complaints and one recall. The 2020 rates about the same. Federal recall records show none for the 2019. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $548, level with its class.
The transmission draws the most complaints. Owners describe slipping, hesitation, and hard shifts when pulling away from a stop, at low speed, or on hills, with the engine revving high while the truck lurches. Several say it started within months of buying new. Dealers often find nothing, and a fluid change did not stop it. The high pressure fuel pump is the more serious worry. It can break while driving, send the truck into limp mode, and stall it at highway speed. Leaking gasoline creates a fire risk. One parked truck also burned, with no cause found.
Test drive for pulling away from a stop and climbing a hill. Ask for any transmission or fuel pump repair records. The 2020 is a reasonable comparison.
Compared to the 2020 GMC Canyon, which scored the same. See also the 2018 GMC Canyon for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (12%)
- +No recalls issued
Cons
- −POWER TRAIN: Transmission slips, hesitates, and shifts hard, mostly when pulling away from a... (6 complaints)
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Parked truck caught fire and burned, destroying the cabin and bed (3 complaints)
Compare 2019 GMC Canyon With
2019 Chevrolet Colorado
Reliability: 78/100
2019 Toyota Tacoma
Reliability: 55/100
2019 Ford Ranger
Reliability: 64/100
2019 Nissan Frontier
Reliability: 80/100
2019 Honda Ridgeline
Reliability: 65/100
Common Problem Categories
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (6)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2019 GMC Canyon — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
14
complaintsSafety Incidents
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2019 GMC Canyon? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2019 GMC Canyon, and 0 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2019 GMC Canyon NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 21.4%
Safety Technologies
GMC CanyonRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3Maintenance rating: 3 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$548
vs $548 avg for midsize trucks
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
12%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
GMC Canyon Resale Value
The GMC Canyon is estimated to retain about 96.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the GMC Canyon model overall and is not specific to the 2019 model year.
- Value Retained
- 96.3%
- Depreciation
- 3.7%
- Listings Analyzed
- 62
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore GMC Canyon depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
15–23 MPG
Running cost: $3,250–$4,550/yr
Fuel + repair
15–20 city / 15–30 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2019 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,700 |
| Canyon 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,700 |
| Canyon 4WD 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 19 | 24 | 21 | $2,850 |
| Canyon 2WD 3.6L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,000 |
| Canyon 4WD 3.6L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,150 |
| Canyon 2WD 2.8L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 20 | 30 | 23 | $3,500 |
| Canyon 4WD 2.8L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,700 |
| Canyon Cab Chassis 2WD 3.6L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 8-spd | 15 | 15 | 15 | $4,000 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2019 GMC Canyon.
Pull away from a full stop several times and feel for hesitation, jerking, or harsh shifts.
Drive up a steep hill and watch for engine revs climbing without matching acceleration.
Inspect the engine oil cooler pipes for corrosion, and check under the truck for fresh oil drips.
Ask for records of any high pressure fuel pump replacement, and smell for gasoline under the hood.
Confirm no check engine light or Engine Power Reduced message appears during a highway test drive.
Turn the key through every position and make sure it turns and comes out freely.
Start the engine cold and listen for a loud clunk from the front of the truck.
2019 GMC Canyon Common Problems by Component
14 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
6 complaintsThe transmission slips, hesitates, and shifts hard, mostly when pulling away from a stop, at low speed, or climbing a hill. Drivers describe the engine revving high while the truck lurches, jerks, or feels like it will stall. Several say the problems began within months of buying the truck new. Dealer visits often find nothing wrong, and a fluid change does not cure the slipping. A separate report describes a corroded engine oil cooler pipe that sprays oil onto hot engine parts, with smoke coming from under the hood.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsSafety-relatedA parked truck caught fire and burned, destroying the cabin and bed. The fire department could not find a cause. Another report describes a key that will not turn or come out of the ignition, so the truck cannot be started or shut off. No warning lights come on, and that failure appears at about 52,000 miles. There is also a report of a loud clunk from the front on cold starts, strong enough to feel inside the cab.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 complaintsThe high pressure fuel pump breaks while driving, and mechanics find a bolt sheared off inside the engine. The truck loses power, shows a check engine light, StabiliTrak and Engine Power Reduced warnings, drops into limp mode, and can knock hard or stall at highway speed. Broken pumps can dump gasoline across the engine, which creates a fire risk. One owner reports the same failure again less than 6 months after a pump and fuel line replacement.
STEERING (1 complaints)
STEERING
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2019 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact continued to drive, and the steering wheel seized again. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 65,200.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2019 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. There was an abnormal scratching noise detected. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that an unknown part had fractured inside the engine. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000. The VIN was not available.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintAll 5 tires including the spare are dry rotted, and have become extremely unsafe in wet weather conditions. Truck came with these tires and only has 27k miles with a lot of tread left.
Best & Worst GMC Canyon Years
Best GMC Canyon Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2024
2020
2019
(Current Model)
GMC Canyon Years to Avoid
GMC Canyon Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 76/100 | Good |
GMC Canyon Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2019 GMC Canyon reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC Canyon?
Does the 2019 GMC Canyon have transmission problems?
Has the 2019 GMC Canyon been recalled?
Is the 2019 GMC Canyon better than the 2018?
Don’t buy a 2019 GMC Canyon without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2019 GMC Canyon
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2019 GMC Canyon does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (60/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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