Model year 2021 · Small Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 4WD

2021 GMC Canyon: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2021 GMC Canyon at 18–23 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 12 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

18–23

NHTSA overall rating

4/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a GMC dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2021 GMC Canyon recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 2 safety recalls for the 2021 GMC Canyon, newest first.

Equipment: Other: Labels

NHTSA 21V497000 Reported Jul 1, 2021

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N212340735)
Units affected: 7,199 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Canyon vehicles. The load carrying capacity printed on the Tire and Loading Information placard is 22.5 kg (51 lbs.) more than intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will mail owners a new B-pillar label, free of charge. Owners may apply the label, or bring it to a dealer for installation. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 17, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340735.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts: Critical fasteners and 1 more component

NHTSA 20V811000 Reported Dec 23, 2020

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202322230)
Components: Seat belts: Critical fasteners; Seat belts
Units affected: 470 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2021 GMC Canyon fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2021 GMC Canyon EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Canyon 2WD	2.5L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/25/22 mpg	$3,050	413
Canyon 2WD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Diesel	20/30/23 mpg	$4,150	435
Canyon 2WD	3.6L 6-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	18/25/21 mpg	$3,200	424
Canyon 4WD	2.5L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	19/24/21 mpg	$3,200	431
Canyon 4WD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Diesel	19/28/22 mpg	$4,350	455
Canyon 4WD	3.6L 6-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/22/18 mpg	$3,700	494

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2021 GMC Canyon crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2021 GMC Canyon NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2021 GMC Canyon PU/CC 2WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	21.9%	Optional
2021 GMC Canyon PU/CC 4WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	21.2%	Optional
2021 GMC Canyon PU/EC 2WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	21.4%	Optional
2021 GMC Canyon PU/EC 4WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	3 stars	22%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2021 GMC Canyon owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Canyon, most recently on Oct 5, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 5 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2021 GMC Canyon complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Air bags	2
Power train	2
Steering	2
Unknown or other	2
Back over prevention	1
Electrical system	1
Engine and engine cooling	1
Exterior lighting: Headlights	1
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking	1
Lane departure: Blind spot detection	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other GMC Canyon model years

GMC Canyon by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2026 Canyon	16–20 mpg	2	8	4/5
2025 Canyon	16–20 mpg	2	8	4/5
2024 Canyon	16–20 mpg	3	207	4/5
2023 Canyon	16–20 mpg	3	62	4/5
2022 Canyon	19–23 mpg	1	27	4/5
2020 Canyon	19–23 mpg	0	14	4/5
2019 Canyon	15–23 mpg	0	17	4/5
2018 Canyon	15–25 mpg	1	53	4/5
2017 Canyon	15–25 mpg	1	66	4/5
2016 Canyon	16–25 mpg	4	271	4/5
2015 Canyon	16–22 mpg	8	303	4/5

All GMC Canyon years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2021 GMC models

2021 GMC Acadia 2021 GMC Sierra 2021 GMC Terrain 2021 GMC Yukon

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with GMC.