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GMC · Large Pickup truck

2021 GMC Canyon

Gas Diesel

Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints2 crash · 1 fire · 5 injured reported 12

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 GMC Canyon is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large pickup truck with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Canyon 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 12 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

GMC Canyon — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — GMC Canyon · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Canyon 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.5L 4-cyl	19	25	22	$3,050
Canyon 2WD	Gas	RWD	3.6L 6-cyl	18	25	21	$3,200
Canyon 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.5L 4-cyl	19	24	21	$3,200
Canyon 4WD	Gas	4WD	3.6L 6-cyl	16	22	18	$3,700
Canyon 2WD	Diesel	RWD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo	20	30	23	$4,150
Canyon 4WD	Diesel	4WD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo	19	28	22	$4,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42547, 42548, 42552, 42553, 42812, 42751.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Canyon 2WD, Canyon 4WD	6 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Canyon 2WD, Canyon 4WD	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Pickup
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2.5 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: AT4, Denali, Elevation, Elevation Standard). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	212.6–224.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.4 in
Height	70.5 in
Wheelbase	128.3–140.6 in
Track, front	62.2 in
Track, rear	62.2 in
Curb weight	3,948–4,480 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: Crew Cab L/Box 2WD, Crew Cab L/Box 4X4, Crew Cab S/Box 2WD, Crew Cab S/Box 4X4, Extended Cab L/Box 2WD, Extended Cab L/Box 4X4. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Equipment

N212340735

7,199 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Canyon vehicles. The load carrying capacity printed on the Tire and Loading Information placard is 22.5 kg (51 lbs.) more than intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GM will mail owners a new B-pillar label, free of charge. Owners may apply the label, or bring it to a dealer for installation. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 17, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340735.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V497000 reported Jul 1, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230

470 vehicles 94% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle. Risk If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V811000 reported Dec 23, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Canyon

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. GMC publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →GMC’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 GMC Canyon, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

12complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

3.8 per 10,000 built · GMC reported 31,794 Canyon built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Air Bags 2

Unspecified 2

Power Train 2

Steering 2

Forward Collision Avoidance 1

Lane Departure 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes became inoperable and the vehicle shut off. The contact repeatedly pumped the brake pedal to stop the vehicle.

Service Brakes at 78,378 miles Oct 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11769121

While driving a few days ago, power steering abruptly stopped working and a service power steering message appeared. It was very difficult to steer the vehicle back home. I've tried replacing the battery and resetting the steering sensor to no avail

Steering Jul 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11753891

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side low beam headlight failed to illuminate as intended. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that upon further inspection, an unknown electrical fuse was burned.

Exterior Lighting at 36,121 miles Feb 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11715755

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention screen image was solid blue, and there was no image displayed, creating a visibility hazard for the driver.

Back Over Prevention at 46,000 miles Nov 10, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11698517

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated and shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but became a recurring failure.

Power Train at 69,000 miles Aug 11, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11679892

I was involved in a MVA with another car. The other car had all their airbags deploy after they struck me. None of my airbags deployed. I was hit in the right front corner ahead of my right tire. The secondary impact was to my right side between my rear passenger door and rear tire.

Air Bags Oct 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11438689

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by GMC itself: 10 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 13 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 31 per 100,000 built. Every Canyon model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
PU/CC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%
PU/CC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%
PU/EC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%
PU/EC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension 22-NA-244This warranty administration service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension N242445290Certain vehicles, equipped with a 2.8L diesel engine (RPO LWN), could have a condition that may intermittently cause the throttle body motor to fail to complete the throttle position learn cycle…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 746

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 740 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

PIT5698F Service bulletin
2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
PIP5700H Service bulletin
2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
PIP4902W Service bulletin
2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
PIC6551C Service bulletin
2026-08-20 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
PIT5099J Service bulletin
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
PI to help diagnose A/C concern
PIT5509N Service bulletin
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT5966F Service bulletin
2026-06-23 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
PIT5509M Service bulletin
2026-05-14 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0300 P0300 on GMC →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	7 bulletins
C1114 C1114 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	5 bulletins
P2463 P2463 on GMC →	Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit.	Equipment	5 bulletins
B3055 B3055 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	4 bulletins
B3060 B3060 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	4 bulletins
B3935 B3935 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	4 bulletins
P0308 P0308 on GMC →	Cylinder 8 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	4 bulletins
P050D P050D on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	4 bulletins
C0010 C0010 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	3 bulletins
P0442 P0442 on GMC →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Electrical System · Gas cap →	3 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on GMC →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Electrical System · Gas cap →	3 bulletins
P0171 P0171 on GMC →	The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.	Electrical System · Mass air flow sensor →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 4.8%

failed emissions

906 initial inspections of 890 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 Canyon	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	4.8%	1.9%	905
Failed the safety inspection	2.2%	1.5%	906
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.19%	906
Miles driven a year	10,470	10,343	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	55,122	54,681	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Canyon by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 B 2 8 20 mpg 2025 B 2 8 20 mpg 2024 B 3 207 20 mpg 2023 C 3 62 20 mpg 2022 A 1 27 23 mpg 2021 this page B 2 12 23 mpg 2020 A 0 14 23 mpg 2019 A 0 17 23 mpg 2018 A 1 53 25 mpg 2017 A 1 66 25 mpg 2016 C 4 271 25 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Canyon

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 GMC Canyon have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 GMC Canyon. The most serious on file is 20V811000, covering Seat Belts. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 GMC Canyon?

NHTSA gave the 2021 GMC Canyon 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (89/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 GMC Canyon?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 GMC Canyon, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 GMC Canyon?

Transport Canada measured it at 212.6–224.8 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.5 in tall, on a 128.3–140.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,948–4,480 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 GMC Canyon?

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Canyon, most often about air bags, unspecified, power train. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 GMC Canyon?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 GMC Canyon runs 3 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 GMC Canyon?

The manufacturer has filed 746 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 GMC Canyon, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 GMC Canyon do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 GMC Canyon failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.2% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	12	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	746	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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