YearToAvoid

2020 GMC Canyon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

23/100

#11 most-complained of 14 Canyon years

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

The 2020 GMC Canyon has a complaint index of 23, ranking 11th worst out of 14 model years, and NHTSA lists no recalls for it. Among Canyon years it is rated Best, with Transmission & Powertrain the top reported problem area at 43% of complaints.

Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21.5
19 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2020 GMC Canyon problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (43%)
  2. Electrical System4 (29%)
  3. Engine4 (29%)
  4. Brakes2 (14%)
  5. Airbags1 (7%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
  7. Steering1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the transmission hesitating or lagging on acceleration from a stop, then suddenly slamming into a lower gear.
  • Some report the vehicle failing to downshift smoothly when rolling to a stop, requiring hard braking to stop the truck.
  • One owner reported the forward collision avoidance system did not warn of a slowing vehicle ahead, at 2,000 miles on the odometer.
  • An electrical failure was reported causing total loss of power at low speed, with melting near a battery cable connection and a battery-related warning message, at 774 miles.
  • One owner reported the steering became difficult to turn at 40 MPH along with unknown warning lights, at 63,432 miles median mileage for that problem area.
  • Infotainment system reboots and uncontrollable volume spikes were reported when a phone was plugged in.
2020 GMC Canyon complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2020Oct 2020Jan 2022Apr 2023Jan 2024Jan 2025Jan 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2020 (2).

2020 GMC Canyon recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 GMC Canyon fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 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.

2020 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
2018Caution5452121.5
2019Best1516021.5
2020Best2314021.5
2021Caution6211221.5
2022Good4626121.5

All GMC Canyon years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 GMC Canyon reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Canyon has a complaint index of 23 and ranks 11th worst out of 14 model years, earning a Best verdict relative to other Canyon years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 GMC Canyon?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the most common, making up 43% of reported issues, with a median mileage at failure of 13,500 miles.
Does the 2020 GMC Canyon have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2020 GMC Canyon.
How does the 2020 Canyon compare to other years like 2015 or 2024?
The 2020 model's complaint index of 23 is much lower than the 2015 (92) and 2024 (100) model years, both rated Avoid, making 2020 one of the better Canyon years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 GMC Canyon?
The 2020 Canyon gets an EPA-rated 21.5 mpg combined (19 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.

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.