Model year guide

2012 GMC Canyon

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 GMC Canyon is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 17 on record.

2012 GMC Canyon — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 GMC Canyon at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints29
Combined16–21 mpg
Typical price$17,952

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2012 GMC Canyon recalls 2

Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch NHTSA Campaign #12V594000 · 19/12/2012

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.

Fix: General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or G…

Seat Belts:front NHTSA Campaign #11V552000 · 17/11/2011

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 19, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS THAT DO NOT FIT SNUGLY WITH …

Fix: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2012 GMC Canyon common problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2012 GMC Canyon safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 GMC Canyon PU/CC AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 GMC Canyon MPG & running costs

Combined16–21 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,644

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 16 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2012 GMC Canyon worth?

Low
$14,400
Typical price
$17,952
High
$21,900

From 17 comparable 2012 GMC Canyon listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 GMC Canyon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,220
Depreciation (5 yrs)$10,200
Total$28,420
Per mile$0.38

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($17,952) with the same model 5 model-years older ($7,766), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 GMC Canyon trims & engines on record

Trims
SLE-2 · SLE-1 · SLE · Work Truck · SLT
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl · 2.9L 4-cyl · 5.3L 8-cyl

2012 GMC Canyon vehicles on record

2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFE2C8108025 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTH6MFE9C8153199 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFE3C8132334 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFEXC8106104 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon Work Truck1GTE5LF98C8121394 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-11GTD5MF93C8126391 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFE6C8157938 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTH5PFE0C8168596 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFE1C8100773 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTH6PFE3C8145066 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-11GTD5MF96C8114459 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-11GTD5MF92C8118797 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTH6MFE0C8138929 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE-21GTD5MFE8C8114816 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE1GTJ6MF91C8144176 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLT1GTH6NFP9C8150083 2012 GMC Canyon 2012 GMC Canyon SLE1GTE5MF9XC8146917

Other GMC Canyon model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

2012 GMC Canyon — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 GMC Canyon have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 GMC Canyon. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Canyon?

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, air bags, structure.

What is the 2012 GMC Canyon safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 GMC Canyon crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 GMC Canyon get?

The 2012 GMC Canyon has U.S. EPA estimates of 16–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (16 versions).

How much is a 2012 GMC Canyon worth?

Comparable 2012 GMC Canyon listings run roughly $14,400–$21,900, typically around $17,952 (from 17 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.