YearToAvoid

2018 GMC Canyon Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2018 GMC Canyon has 52 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 61, ranking 8th worst out of 19 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 52% of complaints, with one recall covering the fuel pump.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
61/100
#8 of 19 Canyon years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
52
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19.5 city / 25.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2018 GMC Canyon problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain27 (52%)
  2. Electrical System12 (23%)
  3. Engine8 (15%)
  4. Fuel System5 (10%)
  5. Other5 (10%)
  6. Steering4 (8%)
  7. Airbags2 (4%)
  8. Brakes2 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Automatic transmission jerks or surges between gears, especially shifting from 4th to 5th, feeling like a rear-end collision.
  • Transmission shifts aggressively and sluggishly on cold starts when moving from park to drive.
  • Electronic power steering intermittently fails after idling or during highway driving, sometimes triggering traction control, ABS, and brake warning lights.
  • Steering knuckle cracks at the ball joint connection, requiring a dealer-ordered replacement part.
  • Vehicle drops out of four-wheel drive unexpectedly while driving uphill, causing loss of traction.
  • Backup camera display is excessively bright at night, obscuring the driver's view when reversing.
2018 GMC Canyon complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2018Feb 2020Oct 2020Dec 2021Sep 2022Oct 2023Oct 2024Feb 2026
52 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2018 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2018 (3).

2018 GMC Canyon recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V358000May 31, 2018Fuel System895 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

    Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

2018 GMC Canyon fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
21.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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.

2018 compared with other Canyon years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Avoid89268421.5
2017Caution7266121.5
2018Caution6152121.5
2019Best1116021.5
2020Best2214021.5

All GMC Canyon years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 GMC Canyon reliable?
NHTSA data shows a complaint index of 61 for the 2018 Canyon, ranking 8th worst among 19 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other Canyon years.
What problems does the 2018 GMC Canyon have?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 52% of the 52 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 22,000 miles. Electrical system issues make up another 23% of complaints.
Does the 2018 GMC Canyon have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 18V358000, covering the high pressure fuel pump and fuel pipe, which GM replaces free of charge.
What year GMC Canyon should I avoid instead of 2018?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, 2015, 2016, 2024, and 2023 rank as Avoid years for the Canyon, with complaint indexes of 94, 89, 100, and 83 respectively, all worse than the 2018 model's index of 61.
Is the 2018 GMC Canyon better than the 2017 model?
Yes, the 2018 Canyon has a complaint index of 61 compared to 72 for 2017, though both carry a Caution verdict relative to other Canyon years.

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.