Home · 2015 GMC Canyon · Complaints

What 318 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Canyon

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (318)Crash / fire / injury (11)Steering (225)Transmission & drivetrain (43)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (37)Electrical system (36)Engine (14)Brakes (12)Lights (9)Airbags (7)Visibility & wipers (7)Fuel system (6)

5 of 318 complaints match · Electrical system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 28, 2025SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrashFire2 injuries

The contact's grandmother owned a 2015 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that her grandfather was driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway while her grandmother was occupying the front passenger's side seat. The contact stated that while the driver was attempting to switch to the right lane, the steering wheel locked up and the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. The driver was unable to pull to the side of the road and turned on the hazard lights. The contact stated that another van driving 80 MPH crashed into the vehicle, and the van caught on fire; however, the vehicle of the contact's grandparents did not catch on fire. The vehicle was then rear-ended by three other vehicles, causing the bed of the vehicle to be smooshed into the cab, and the driver's side of the vehicle was smooshed into the center divider wall. The center divider wall might have been damaged. The driver sustained whiplash and was thrown across his wife's lap. The emergency services assisted the driver out of the vehicle and put the driver on a stretcher. The contact's grandmother was assisted out of the vehicle. The contact stated that only the driver's side and passenger's side curtain air bags deployed. The driver was transported to the hospital by emergency services. The contact stated that the driver sustained a crushed spine and severed lower nerves, causing the lower body paralysis. Additionally, the driver sustained broken ribs, 15-20 staples across his head, ruptured lungs, which caused a loss of 7 pints of blood. The driver received a transfusion of 5 pints of blood. The driver's wife sustained a bruised right cheekbone, soreness on the face, the hand, the thumb, and the body. Both passengers were currently receiving medical assistance. It was unknown whether the other drivers sustained injuries. A police report was filed, and the police confirmed that four vehicles had crashed into the vehicle. The police report information was not available. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11683688

Dec 10, 2024Electrical systemLightsAirbagsCrash1 injury

Second email and attempt Truck is sitting untouched after a major accident. Please reach back [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11629802

Dec 3, 2024SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash1 injury

Nov 14 2024 my truck steering locked up and lost lighting/ front lights including interior and crash into another vehicle head on going 65 mph. Also no airbag deployed. I hit my chest hard. Need help. Water damaged now after I crashed and now won’t start. Smoke wire smells so disconnected battery. I feel unsafe taking this vehicle in repair without any recalls. This happen all at one time, still paying the loan on the vehicle. Paid almost 29,000. Been in no fault account. Help. Need help reporting issues to insurance to fix the crashed truck or total loss this model. Was scary

NHTSA ODI 11628468

Jul 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineFire

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 3 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAD AROUND 9000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 25 MPH WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND POPPED THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. OPENING THE HOOD JUST ENRAGED IT MORE. I SLAMMED THE HOOD SHUT, AND GOT TO A SAFE DISTANCE AND CALLED 911. WITHIN MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE FIREMEN SAID IT APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE BRACKET WAS MELTED OFF AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THE ALTERNATOR WAS A BASKET OF COPPER. EVERYTHING MINUS THE BED WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10735909

Apr 21, 2015Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC CANYON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS NOT FULLY CHARGED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY SAVER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE NOTICED UNDER THE HOOD APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES LATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 590.

NHTSA ODI 10712000

Working with the data? Download all 318 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 GMC Canyon verdict →