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Engine & cooling

2006 GMC Canyon Engine problems

Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 2006 GMC Canyon's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 19% of all its complaints, most recently on March 24, 2025. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Electrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

The Passlock System intermittently fails and prevents the fuel pump from pumping fuel to the engine. Even after paying GMC to repair the truck, the problem persists.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11650301
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Cranks but no start intermittently. Gmc dealer states that there is not problem. Must wait 10 mintures, then try and it always starts. Not isolated...Google, 2006 canyon won't start and there are multiple descriptions of the same problem. Some have speculated that it is a 'relay', problem with the ignition system or the "passlock". I am not aware of any accident but if avoiding an accident and it won't start it is just a matter of time. This has been an ongoing problem for at least 3-4 years, occurring at least...

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once per month. Others recorded the same history. ([redacted]) parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11118143
Engine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 gmc canyon. While driving at various speeds, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. After the vehicle was shifted into the park position and the key was turned to the off position, the engine was still running. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle besides regular wear and tear. The...

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vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the timing kit failed, water pump failed, intake manifold gasket and valve cover gasket failed, coolant needed to be flushed, fuel injection needed to be flushed, and the thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure still recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10712192
Engine & coolingFuel system

I bought this 2006 gmc canyon in december of 2011. Yet they mysteriously couldn't give me tags for it until april 2012. They knew there was an on going recall for bad valve seats and seals and sold the truck to me anyway. I immediately began having engine problems as soon as I got it and had the truck back to motor city gmc here in bakersfield, ca. Three times under the limited 10,000 mile warranty missing three day's of work each time. Every time they never diagnosed the problem and told me all three times, 'we...

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had a service adviser drive the truck around and couldn't find anything wrong with it.' And yet!!! As soon as the 10,000 warranty was up they suddenly will be glad to diagnose the problem for over a hundred dollars. How convenient. Now it will cost over $3000.00 To fix this truck that they would not fix under warranty. They should be investigated and sued by the county, the state and very unhappy consumers such as myself. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10652529
Engine & coolingFuel system

The 2.9 4 Cyl. Engine in my 06 gmc canyon dies intermittently. When it does, "reduced power" displays in the driver info center and the truck will not restart. The power is cut to the starter and fuel pump but all accessories still function properly. After a few minutes the system seems to reset and the truck will start and operate normally. Until the next time it decides to go out. I would say that under no circumstance should an engine die unexpectedly on the highway or at a red light and not allow restart for several minutes. This is extremely dangerous. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10605696
Engine & cooling

Check engine light came on, I used a code reader and p0300 came up. I replaced the appropriate sensors and reset it. Truck ran fine. One week later the check engine light comes on again and this time I get a p0017 code. I replaced two of the sensors and replaced oil filter with a oil change. Now the truck is hard to start and when it does start it idles rough. I have it in the garage right now and mechanic doesn,t know what is wrong with it. From what I have been reading on here these engines in the canyon and...

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colorado pick-ups are bad engines that wont last. I have the 4 cylinder engine with 53 thousand miles on it that I bought used with 19 thousand on it. I feel gmc should fix these motors for free even though im not the original owner and that they know that these motors are bad. Id like tho know how much more bad stuff is out there from gmc that they know about and refuse to fix, knowing that it is there fault from the start. I have paid to much money for repairs from other gm products that I have bought. This will be my last gmc product that I will ever bye and if I can convince others not to bye their junk so be it. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10576845
Engine & cooling

Engine will crank but not turn over. Upon multiple attempts the engine will get close to turning over and then cut itself off in the anti-theft security manner. Waiting 10-20 minutes will most times allow for the engine to then turn over successfully. Numerous websites and vehicle owners, have posted complaints and had no real solution, even after visiting local dealerships who try to investigate the source of the problem, with no one solution or fix. Owners try trouble shooting the problem through sensors,...

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key weights, battery connection, and the throttle body, all with no fix and continuing random recurring incidents. The safety issue of this complaint is that you are leaving drivers in a potential stranded situation. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10503837
Engine & coolingFuel system

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 gmc canyon. The contact attempted to start the vehicle but it would not start. The contact was able to start the vehicle within approximately fifteen minutes. The contact stated whenever it was raining or snowing the failure would occur. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. There was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v154000 (fuel system, gasoline) that was similar to the failure experienced but included the gmc canyon but not the 2007 model. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 01/10/12*lj updated 01/27/17

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 10413695
Engine & coolingFuel systemTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLightsVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structure

I have a 2006 canyon and in the last year I have had to replace tail lights,three sterios,4x4 buttons,windows,wiring has been repaired severial times,the truck is excessivly hard on gass,and as soon as my inline five cylinder engine hit 31.000 Km I had to take it back to the dealer once again ,this time for a new engine. Apparently there only good for thirty thousand and then need to be replaced. Hard to believe this truck cost me almost forty thousand dallors. Dont get what you pay for with a gm.My next truck will be a toyota and this canyon has convinced me to never buy another gm product again and hopfully I can save some people from making the same mistake I did.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Power train · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility · Structure · Latches / locks / linkages · Interior lightingNHTSA 10185437

GMC Canyon engine complaints by year

Canyon engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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