2018 GMC Canyon: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
52 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The GMC Canyon's years to avoid are 2015 and 2016 (AVOID at 29 and 39, with Steering at 226 and 177 of 319 and 267 complaints) and 2023 and 2024 (45 and 39). The years to buy are 2017 to 2022, all BUY, with the 2019, 2020 and 2021 trucks at 95, 94 and 90 on 16, 14 and 11 complaints. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 52 complaints, score 84/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used mid-size pickups: Colorado, Canyon and Ridgeline years to avoid, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 52 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 6.5
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
On many occasions, over several years of ownership, ''NEW in 2018, the trans has had violent shift Problems. I could only find 1, ONE instance where a person was "injured'' by ANY of the GM 8L transmissions. My neck is hurting Now. I'm compelled to do this for Others who been Scammed by GM as they still sell a 8 speed rewrapped. I can't believe this has been protected against being called a SAFETY ISSUE By any Gov. a…
The truck have a bad shudder that can shake you off the road. They know about the issue because its been an issue with there vehicles. I have a 2020 colorado also with this dangerous issue.
This is a known problem with GMC and Chevy trucks, known as the Rumble. At approximately 45mph and up, the truck feels like it’s going over rumble strip and the back end is slipping. This causes the steering wheel and truck to shake. It could result in the loss of control if it gets too bad. I took it in for diagnostic testing, which confirmed that it was the transmission. They recommended a triple flush and replac…
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V358000 | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a pickup of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,800
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train27 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System10 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine6 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other5 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Steering4 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Fuel/Propulsion System4 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other GMC Canyon years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Canyon?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (27 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 GMC Canyon a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 84/100, computed from 52 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 GMC Canyon's most common problem?
27 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 GMC Canyon sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 GMC Canyon cost to run per year?
About $4,713 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,568 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 GMC Canyon have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 GMC Canyon, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 31/05/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other pickups of about the same age.
What will a 2018 GMC Canyon really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 52 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 52 NHTSA complaints on record (6.5/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (6.5/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems