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2012 GMC Truck Canyon 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Canyon 2WD.

Body TRUCK

The 2012 GMC Canyon 2WD is a truck utilizing a 5-quart engine oil capacity with a 5W-30 viscosity. This model year recorded 29 total owner complaints and two recalls, with the electrical system cited as the top complaint area. These figures position the 2012 model well below the 2015 peak of 318 complaints within the overall 2004-2026 history, though it remains above the 2026 low of 4.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-75R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386 alt 12731172
Engine air filter	15942429 discontinued
Spark plug	12681663 alt 12680072
Front wiper blades	88958228 alt 88958226
Serpentine belt	19210691 alt 12611636
Thermostat	89018168 alt 12561155

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30

Engine torques

Cylinder Head Steps	Install NEW cylinder head bolts.
Cylinder Head Steps	Install the NEW cylinder head bolts.
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	56.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	63.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	63.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	191 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-5-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.45 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.00 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.28 lbs
Oil Group	PAG

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	43-58
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-100
RPM	43-58 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60 w/o FPCM
RPM	43-45 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	47 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	133 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Drum Runout Limit	0.006 in
Drum Maximum Machining	11.673 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.002 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.141 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket — tightening sequence 1 stages

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 150 ft. lbs., step 3: 180

110 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 150 ft. lbs., step 3: 180

110 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

Installation, 110 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees., step 3: 59 ft. lbs., step 4: 125 degrees, install new bolt.

110 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs, Step 2: 15 ft. lbs., Step 3: 15

15 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs, Step 2: 15 ft. lbs., Step 3: 15

15 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.4

3.7 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 45,000 mi	Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 GMC Truck Canyon 2WD lead in one area — the electrical system, 6 of 29 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1321

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’11’12’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 29 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System6

Structure2

Steering2

Unknown Or Other2

Suspension2

Air Bags2

Air Bags,Seat Belts1

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

12V594000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 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… Remedy: 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…

11V552000Seat Belts:FrontReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1321 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…