2023 GMC Canyon Problems: 10 Known Issues

On the 2015-2025 GMC Canyon, the 3.6L V6 with Active Fuel Management experiences lifter failure where the AFM lifters collapse, causing misfires and a ticking noise. The collapsing lifter can damage the camshaft lobe if not addressed.

On the 2016-2025 GMC Canyon 2.8L Duramax LWN, the 2016+ Canyon Duramax 2.8L LWN diesel uses DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) injection and a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) as part of its SCR emissions system. Owners frequently report DEF quality/level sensor faults, DPF regeneration failures in stop-and-go use, DEF pump failures, and NOx sensor faults. Trucks used primarily for short trips often cannot complete DPF regeneration cycles, leading to DPF plugging and the truck going into reduced power mode. GM issued multiple TSBs on DEF sensor calibration and DPF regen procedures.

On the 2023 GMC Canyon, certain 2023 GMC Canyon trucks left the plant with front wheel hub bolts that were over-torqued during assembly. Over-tightening damages (stretches) the bolts, and a damaged bolt can fracture in service. If enough bolts fail, the front wheel hub assembly can loosen or separate from the steering knuckle, causing loss of vehicle control. GM issued NHTSA recall 24V237000 covering the wheels/hub bolts on the 2023 Canyon. This is a first-model-year build-quality defect of the redesigned truck and is not the same as the previously documented stabilizer-bar-link or steering-gear-connection issues.

On the 2015-2025 GMC Canyon, the 2015+ Canyon experiences front end clunking and rattling over bumps and during steering inputs. The most common cause is worn front stabilizer bar end links, though lower control arm ball joints and upper strut mounts also contribute. The end links use a ball-and-socket design that wears quickly on trucks used off-road or in harsh winter road conditions. GM issued TSB PIT5488 for front end noise diagnosis on the Canyon/Colorado platform. The issue is shared with the Chevrolet Colorado, which shares the identical GMSV platform.

On the 2015-2025 GMC Canyon, the 2015+ Canyon with the 3.6L V6 uses the GM 8L45 8-speed automatic (smaller sibling of the 8L90 in full-size trucks) which suffers the same torque converter lock-up clutch shudder at light throttle between 25-50 mph. The clutch friction material degrades and contaminates the fluid. GM issued TSB 18-NA-355 and Customer Satisfaction Program 18302 extending coverage to 6 years/100,000 miles. The fix and fluid are identical to the Sierra 1500 8L90 procedure — Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP (GM 19417577). This is the same issue affecting the Chevrolet Colorado V6.

On the 2023 GMC Canyon, on 2023 GMC Canyon trucks (3rd generation), the forward collision avoidance system's front camera module can falsely detect an obstacle that is not present and command an unexpected automatic emergency braking event while driving. GM recalled the vehicles under NHTSA campaign 24V133000 (Electrical System / Forward Collision Avoidance). An unexpected hard brake application at speed, particularly with traffic following, increases crash risk. This is a launch-year software calibration defect on the new-architecture ADAS camera introduced with the 2023 redesign, and it is separate from the later headlight and seat-belt campaigns already documented for this truck.

On the 2023-2026 GMC Canyon L3B 2.7L Turbo, 2023-2026 GMC Canyon trucks with the L3B 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder use plastic quick-connect fittings at the radiator hose ends. The seal at the upper radiator hose quick connector can fail relatively early in service, allowing a slow coolant leak. Low coolant leads to elevated running temperature, reduced engine performance or limp mode, and in a neglected case sudden shutdown and engine damage. GM issued Service Bulletin PIT6494A in March 2026 addressing upper radiator hose quick-connect seal failure on the Colorado and Canyon, but the bulletin only applies while the truck is inside the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. A class action (Dixon v. GM, filed 2026) alleges the defect - the named plaintiff's truck logged DTC P3075 with low coolant from a leak at the quick-connect end of the upper radiator hose at about 44,400 miles and was charged $489.36 out of pocket. The same connector family is alleged on the 2.5L LK0 Traverse/Acadia/Enclave, but on the Canyon the affected engine is the 2.7L L3B.

On the 2023-2024 GMC Canyon, nHTSA campaign 24V673 covers certain 2024 GMC Canyon vehicles. The headlights can flicker while driving or while parked, causing the trucks to fail federal lighting requirements.

On the 2023-2025 GMC Canyon, 3rd-generation GMC Canyon trucks (2023-2024 especially) suffer repeated dead-battery / no-crank events traced to two distinct electrical-architecture faults. First, an Over-The-Air software update that begins but fails to complete can leave modules awake and drain the battery flat. Second, GM has directed technicians to check for excessive parasitic draw from the radio module - the radio can remain powered for up to about 11 minutes after Retained Accessory Power should have cancelled - and separately for a Vehicle Communications Unit (VCU) that does not power down. GM addressed these in Service Bulletin PIT6232 (2024 Canyon), bulletin 24-NA-136 (radio parasitic draw) and 24-NA-228 (VCU not powering off). Owners on ColoradoFans report the problem persisting into 2024 build trucks, often on vehicles that sit for a few days.

On the 2023-2024 GMC Canyon, the 2023 redesign moved the Canyon and Colorado to a new rear axle from a different supplier than the previous generation, and early-build trucks developed a moaning, howling or groaning noise from the rear end, sometimes accompanied by a driveline clunk on the Drive-to-Reverse shift. GM addressed it with Service Bulletin 23-NA-208 (originally released November 2023). The bulletin has technicians look past the differential carrier bearings: if the carrier bearings are not the source, the axle shafts are pulled and inspected, and where chatter marks are found on the axle shaft the seal, the bearing and the axle shaft are all replaced. Important for this generation - because the axle hardware changed in 2023, the older Colorado/Canyon rear-axle TSBs and their fixes do NOT apply to these trucks.