Midsize pickups · 3 model years, 2015 to 2024
GMC Canyon vs Toyota Tacoma: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Canyon looks better on 3 and the Tacoma on 1, with 3 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 23, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2015 to 2024 | Canyon | Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 1.9% | 4.2% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 0.8% | 2.8% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 50,000 | 15,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 2 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Canyon owners complain about most is steering; for the Tacoma it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing steering make up 53% of all Canyon complaints, against 2.1% on the Tacoma. The Tacoma leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 35% of its complaints, against 10% for the Canyon.
GMC CanyonToyota Tacoma
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Canyon is power steering loss (46% of its complaints). On the Tacoma it is brake wear (11% of its complaints), against 4.1% on the Canyon.
| Problem | Canyon | Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 46% 357most in 2015 · 67k mi | 0 |
| Headlights too dim or fail | 19% 148most in 2024 | 0 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 4.1% 3216k mi | 11% 63most in 2024 · 13k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 3.6% 289k mi | 7.3% 42most in 2016 · 9k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 4.9% 3847k mi | 5.1% 2916k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 3.0% 2315k mi | 3.7% 21 |
| Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on | 6.6% 51most in 2015 · 62k mi | 0 |
| Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems | 0 | 6.5% 37most in 2016 · 15k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Tacoma owners report problems earlier. Half the Tacoma complaints that give a mileage come before 15,000 miles; for the Canyon the halfway point is 50,000. 49% of Canyon reports and 77% of Tacoma reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
GMC CanyonToyota Tacoma
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 356 for the Canyon and 277 for the Tacoma.
Worst and best years
The 2024 Canyon draws 11.1 times the complaints of a typical Canyon year for its age. The 2024 Tacoma draws 3.7 times the complaints of a typical Tacoma year for its age.
Toyota Tacoma
GMC CanyonToyota Tacoma
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 4.3 campaigns per model year for the Canyon and 4.0 for the Tacoma. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
GMC Canyon
13 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (5), fuel system (2) and steering (2).
- 17V-621 (airbags) covers 2 model years
- 18V-358 (fuel system) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA26006: Electronic brake module component failure (open)
- RQ19001: Loss of power steering assist (closed, led to a recall)
Toyota Tacoma
12 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (4), structure (1) and tires (1).
- 17V-425 (structure) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Tacoma complaints report a crash: 4.2%, against 1.9% for the Canyon. Fire reports: 6 for the Canyon and 7 for the Tacoma.
GMC CanyonToyota Tacoma
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the GMC Canyon or the Toyota Tacoma more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Canyon looks better on 3 and the Tacoma on 1, with 3 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Canyon has 777 complaints and the Tacoma 572 for the 3 model years from 2015 to 2024 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Canyon or the Tacoma?
The Canyon has 13 recall campaigns and the Tacoma 12 across the 3 model years from 2015 to 2024 that both have on file. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 4.3 campaigns per model year for the Canyon and 4.0 for the Tacoma.
What are the most common problems on the Canyon and the Tacoma?
The most reported problem on the Canyon is power steering loss (46% of its complaints). On the Tacoma it is brake wear (11% of its complaints), against 4.1% on the Canyon.
More comparisons
- Toyota Tacoma vs Chevrolet Colorado2015 to 2024
- Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger2019 to 2021
- Toyota Tacoma vs Honda Ridgeline2017 to 2023
- Toyota Tacoma vs Jeep Gladiator2020 to 2022
- GMC Canyon vs Chevrolet Colorado2015 to 2024