YearToAvoid

2012 GMC Canyon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

31/100

#10 most-complained of 14 Canyon years

The 2012 GMC Canyon has 23 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 31, ranking 10th worst out of 14 model years, with a

Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 23 hwy

Top 2012 GMC Canyon problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System10 (43%)
  2. Brakes5 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (13%)
  4. Airbags2 (9%)
  5. Engine2 (9%)
  6. Steering2 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (9%)
  8. Other1 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles intermittently lose engine power, security light flashes, and headlights go out before everything resets after about thirty seconds.
  • Brake lights and cruise control stop working due to fuse box failures, sometimes recurring after replacement.
  • Brake pedal sinks to the floor and requires repeated pumping to stop the vehicle, traced to repeated master cylinder failures.
  • Automatic door locks cannot be disabled, raising concern about occupants being trapped inside after a crash.
  • Tires lose air suddenly at low speed, with one owner reporting a rear tire going flat while driving.
  • A control arm weld at the frame broke at 60,250 miles, causing a loss of control on the highway.
2012 GMC Canyon complaints: complaints filed per month5Jun 2012Jun 2015May 2018Dec 2018Jun 2020Jan 2023Sep 2025
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2012 to Sep 2025; peak Feb 2014 (5).

2012 GMC Canyon recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V594000Dec 19, 2012Structure & Body118,800 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.

    Risk: If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

  2. NHTSA 11V552000Nov 17, 2011Seat Belts5,593 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet colorado and gmc canyon vehicles, manufactured from september 9, 2011, through october 19, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection." these vehicles may have been produced with driver safety belt buckle electrical connector terminals that do not fit snugly with the connector pins, causing the connection to be intermittent.

    Risk: The loose connections may cause the driver to not receive a visual or audible warning that the driver seat belt is not fastened, thereby increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Gm will notify owners and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle electrical connector terminals free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before december 7, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

2012 GMC Canyon fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Canyon years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best08219
2011Best812519
2012Good3123219
2015Avoid92303821
2016Avoid85268421.5

All GMC Canyon years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 GMC Canyon reliable?
NHTSA lists 23 complaints for the 2012 GMC Canyon with a complaint index of 31, giving it a 'Good' verdict and a rank of 10th worst out of 14 model years for this model.
What is the top problem area for the 2012 GMC Canyon?
Electrical System complaints make up 43% of all complaints for this year, with a median mileage at failure of 42,325 miles.
Does the 2012 GMC Canyon have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls: one for a hood latch issue affecting Structure & Body (campaign 12V594000) and one for a seat belt buckle electrical connector issue (campaign 11V552000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2012 Canyon compare to other years?
The 2012 Canyon's complaint index of 31 is much lower than the 2015 (92), 2016 (85), and 2024 (100) model years, which are rated 'Avoid', making 2012 a comparatively better choice.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 GMC Canyon?
EPA rates the 2012 GMC Canyon at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,400.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.