This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 GMC Canyon engine problems
severe Owners of the 2017 GMC Canyon have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 14,800 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Canyon | 5 |
| 2016 Canyon | 7 |
| 2017 Canyon (this page) | 12 |
| 2018 Canyon | 3 |
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 engine complaints filed for the 2017 GMC Canyon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of GMC Canyon in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Engine accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on vehicles outside of a California Emissions State who move to and register their vehicle in a California Emission State may be entitled to the 7 year, 70,000-mile Emission Select State Component Limited Warranty.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 GMC Canyons report six distinct failure patterns across both diesel and gas powertrains.
Diesel NOX sensor failures cause limp mode—a progressive speed limitation that can reduce highway capability to 4 mph—without driver override or quick-reset options. One owner caught on a construction-zone highway nearly reached 4 mph speed before finding a dealer 178 miles away. Another had complete power loss and stalling twice, requiring 5-minute restarts.
Diesel DPF regeneration fails to complete automatically, triggering "reduce engine power" messages and limp mode at highway speeds. Manual regeneration by dealers fixes it temporarily; failures recur within 2,500 miles. Dealers warn of $2,000 filter replacement costs for future failures.
High-pressure oil cooler lines develop pinholes, spraying oil under pressure, particularly in cold weather. Owners lose pints of oil and find large pools after short drives. One owner reports the hose was replaced multiple times; another notes GM issued a Canadian recall for the same 3.6L LGZ engine issue but not in the U.S., despite similar northern climates.
Catastrophic engine failures with zero warning—loud pop, smoke, complete seizure—occur below 100,000 miles. One owner faced a $12,000 engine replacement bill with no warranty.
Temperature gauge failures and unexplained exhaust debris coincided with owner symptoms (headaches, dizziness) suggesting potential cabin contamination.
Engine stalling with total power loss recurred in one vehicle after initial NOX sensor repair, suggesting incomplete fixes.
Failure modes owners describe
NOX Sensor (Position 2) Failure
Nitrogen oxide sensor failure causing limp mode engagement, limiting vehicle speed to 4 mph and below. Occurs in diesel models. False sensor readings can incorrectly indicate DEF fluid issues. Multiple owners report repeat failures of the same sensor.
When: Various mileages; one case at 3,000 miles initial failure
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Limp mode activation (progressive speed reduction); Exhaust system warning message displayed; Vehicle speed limited to 4–20 mph; False positive DEF fluid warning
Codes mentioned: NOX sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement required; dealers may not stock part, requiring travel to distant locations. Limp mode cannot be reset without dealer intervention or vehicle restart.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls noted in complaints. Dealer advised owners that limp mode is a known protection feature but offered no override or quick-reset capability.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Regeneration Failure
DPF fails to complete automatic burn/regeneration cycle, triggering limp mode and 'reduce engine power' message. Manual regeneration restores function temporarily, but failures recur. Owners note lack of burn-alert system and manual burn switch found on competing diesel vehicles.
When: 3,000 miles (initial failure); recurrence at 2,500 miles after first repair
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light and 'reduce engine power' message; Severe power loss during highway driving (70 mph reduced to 20 mph); Vehicle slowing drastically; Repeated failure after 2,500 miles
Codes mentioned: DPF regeneration fault
Repairs/costs cited: Manual regeneration performed by dealer at no cost initially. Dealer warned of $2,000 filter replacement if failure reoccurs. No mention of filter actually replaced in complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer confirmed no recalls for this failure.
High-Pressure Oil Line Pinhole Leak
Oil cooler hose or high-pressure oil line develops pinhole ruptures, typically in rubber section between radiator and engine. Severe pressurized oil spray occurs, particularly in cold weather starts. Multiple owners report discovering large oil pools after short drives; risk of engine fire noted.
When: 5,000–62,000 miles; complaint #3 on 1/1/21 in cold weather (low 30s F); complaint #8 March 2018 and November 2019; complaint #11 around 62,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Large oil pool under engine after short drive; Visible pressurized oil spray from pinhole during engine operation; Oil on inside of tires and throughout engine bay; Low oil pressure warning; Gasoline/oil smell in cabin
Codes mentioned: Low oil pressure warning
Repairs/costs cited: Oil cooler hose replacement; one dealer replaced with different hose. Some dealers reported swapping oil pump for lower-flow unit (similar to GM recall N1821800260). Pints of oil lost per incident; repair cost not specified in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Canadian recall on 3.6L LGZ engine for cold-weather oil overpressurization; same recall not applied to U.S. models despite cold winters in Minnesota and other northern states.
Catastrophic Engine Failure (Piston Damage / Total Engine Failure)
Complete or near-complete engine seizure, piston damage, or sudden catastrophic failure at highway speeds, often without advance warning. One case linked to fuel injector issue; others lack clear root cause in complaint narratives. Occurs below 100,000 miles.
When: 100,000 miles (complaint #10); 72,000 miles (complaint #12); specific mileages not stated in complaint #5 second incident
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop and smoke (complaint #10); Complete engine shutdown mid-highway; Engine seized or inoperable; No check engine light or warning prior to failure (complaint #10)
Codes mentioned: Fuel injector fault (complaint #10 only)
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required. One owner quoted $12,000 for replacement engine with no warranty coverage. Owner reports forums with 77+ posts describing identical or similar catastrophic failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented in complaints.
Engine Stalling / Loss of All Power (NOX-Related)
Vehicle experiences sudden, unannounced complete power loss and engine stall during normal highway driving. Restart possible after 5 minutes. Pattern suggests NOX sensor fault. Multiple occurrences in same vehicle; owner reports other owners with identical issue.
When: Unknown mileage; second occurrence at 55 mph on a curve
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power and electrical systems without warning; Engine stall mid-highway at 55 mph; Rough idle after stall clears; Vehicle requires 5-minute wait before restart; Second occurrence on blind curve (safety hazard)
Codes mentioned: NOX sensor fault (presumed; first incident diagnosed as NOX sensor)
Repairs/costs cited: First failure repaired by Matthews GMC as NOX sensor issue. Second occurrence suggests repair did not resolve underlying fault. No further repair detail provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states no response received from NTSB after filing complaint.
Temperature Gauge Malfunction & Exhaust Hair-Like Fiber Debris
Temperature gauge failure combined with unexplained hair-like fiber debris emerging from exhaust pipes and entering engine bay. Owner suspects clogged exhaust system causing carbon monoxide accumulation in cabin, correlating with reported headaches and dizziness requiring medical attention.
When: 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge non-functional; Improper acceleration response; Hair-like fiber visible in exhaust pipes; Headaches and dizziness (owner attributed to suspected CO exposure); Owner required medical attention
Codes mentioned: Temperature gauge fault, Exhaust system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified temperature gauge and exhaust system as faulty and requiring replacement. Hair-like fiber source not identified by dealer. Vehicle not yet repaired per complaint date.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no response documented.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Canon. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated along with the following displayed message "ISSUE WITH EXHAUST SYSTEM REDUCE ENGINE POWER TAKE TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY", as the vehicle slowed down drastically not allowing the driver to accelerate over 20 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer where…
Gm had a recall on the 3.6 lgz equipped in trucks in canada. Cold weather caused oil pump to over pressurizing of oil and damage to oil cooler and lines. Leaking oil in to engine compartment and on roadway. This has happened to me twice now once in march of 2018 and now again in november 2019. Doing research this is a common complaint. I would like national highway traffic safety department…
Gm had a recall on the 3.6 lgz equipped in trucks in canada. Cold weather caused oil pump to over pressurizing of oil and damage to oil cooler and lines. Leaking oil in to engine compartment and on roadway. This has happened to me twice now once in march of 2018 and now again in november 2019. Doing research this is a common complaint. I would like national highway traffic safety department…
Catastrophic engine failure. Piston #1 damage after a fuel injector issue. The truck just hit 100k miles. This left my husband stranded over an hour away. No check engine light or warning other than a loud pop and smoke. No warranty on the truck, I’ve been quoted $12k for a new engine. I have read MULTIPLE forums (one thread of 77 posts) of the same thing/similar thing happening.
Duramax 2.8 engine suffered gcatastrophic engine failureh at less than 72,000 miles. Documentation available to show engine has received proper maintenance. This occurred in center lane of I-95 in heavy traffic. This occurred on 07sep18 in stafford va.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the temperature gauge would not operate and the vehicle would not properly accelerate while pressing the accelerator pedal. Also while operating the vehicle the contact had become ill with headaches and dizziness which required medical attention. Upon inspection, it was discovered that a hair-like fiber was…
Owned this 2017 GMC canyon for 1 year and 1 month with 5000 miles when it developed an oil leak. Brought to dealer who found the oil leak coming from a "pinhole" in the oil coolant hose. When I researched this specific oil leak online a found a forum post with many other people who have had this same issue since the 2015 model year. Other people did not notice the leak until all of their oil had…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 GMC Canyon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 GMC Canyon?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 5,000 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 14,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,000; a quarter make it past 41,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/GMC/Canyon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.