2004 GMC Canyon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

103 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 GMC Canyon, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 85,000 miles.

103Complaints
28/100Trouble index
3Recalls
86,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2004 sits among all Canyon years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 22 complaints (21%) · typically ~85,000 miles
Body & structure 16 complaints (16%) · typically ~94,000 miles
Suspension 13 complaints (13%)
Engine 8 complaints (8%)
Wheels & tires 8 complaints (8%)
Brakes & stability 7 complaints (7%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 70 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 86,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 120,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (3)

CHILD SEAT 10V575000 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT…

Fix: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09V310000 2009

GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA,…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06V139000 2006

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.

Federal defect investigations

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION RQ09001 opened 2009, closed 2009

Led to recall campaign 09V310000.

INADVERTENT FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PE04076 opened 2004, closed 2005

Technical service bulletins

602 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 GMC Canyon. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2004 Canyon TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2004peak 13 in 20052024

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2004 GMC Canyon reliable?

The 2004 GMC Canyon drew 103 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (2015).

What are the most common 2004 GMC Canyon problems?

The top reported problems for the 2004 GMC Canyon are electrical (22 complaints), body & structure (16), and suspension (13).

At what mileage do 2004 GMC Canyon problems show up?

Owners most often report 2004 GMC Canyon problems around 86,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 120,000 miles.

Does the 2004 GMC Canyon have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 GMC Canyon. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

All Canyon years 2005 Canyon →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.