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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)

12 of 318 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Jun 17, 2024Brakes

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for service, the dealer made her aware of a failure with the vacuum pump. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V278000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 137,000.

NHTSA ODI 11594806

Feb 8, 2024Brakes

Service brake assist light comes on and Vehicle loses braking power. Brake pedal gets hard and unable to stop if needed and has potential of injury / accidental death. This similar problem has been recalled in the larger trucks /SUVs due to safety issues. It appears it's also happening in the smaller truck's canyon and Colorado's as well, however no recalls. Many blogs online discussing the issues and failures of the braking system.

NHTSA ODI 11570688

Oct 19, 2020BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 GMC DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WHEN THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP CAUSING THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKING PEDAL EXCESSIVELY, HOWEVER, THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP AND THE BRAKES WERE FLOORED. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND LOWER ABDOMEN AREA. THE ONLY MEDICAL ATTENTION RECEIVED WAS BY EMT AT TIME OF THE CRASH. THE DEALER (CARDINALE GMC 2 HEITZINGER PLAZA, SEASIDE, CA 93955, (831) 322-4112) WAS MADE AWARE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING THEIR VEHICLE HAVING ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ISSUES AFTER THE CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN*DT*DT*JB THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11365222

Aug 29, 2020SteeringBrakesEngine

THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME IN THE CITY CROSSING AN INTERSECTION USUALLY AT SLOW SPEED BRAKING AND TURNING AND ALL THE SUDDEN I LOSE EVERYTHING. NO STEERING ELECTRICAL AND BRAKING. THE PARK ASSIST WILL SOMETIMES START GOING OFF LIKE CRAZY JUST BEFORE IT HAPPENS, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. PUT IN PARK AND OPEN THE DOOR IT COMES BACK ON. THEN SAYS ROLL DOWN DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THEN BACK UP. AT ON TIME I DID HAVE IT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GETTING READY TO PASS AND GIVING IT GAS AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN TOOK OFF AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11351977

Jul 14, 2020SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

LOST POWER STEERING, POWER STEERING SERVICE MESSAGE, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND "!" LIGHT ALL CAME ON. MATCHES UP TO RECALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE. TOOK IT TO CHEVY, IT'S NOT COVERED, COSTING $400. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11339424

Mar 16, 2020Brakes

LOW SPEED BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT AS RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IN MOTION AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKS FLUID. DEALERSHIP INFORMS ME THE VACUUM PUMP HAS A LEAK WHICH MAY BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND THE LEAK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING FLUID, AN OIL OR OIL LIKE SUBSTANCE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11318293

Jan 26, 2020Brakes

I WAS PARKED. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK I PUT IT IN REVERSE. WHILE BACKING UP I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE POWER FOR THE BRAKES WAS GONE. I HAD TO SLAM AS HARD AS I COULD TO STOP THE TRUCK. A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO THIS WEBSITE TO FIND OUT. IT STATES THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IF GMC PUTS A PRODUCT OUT LIKE THIS THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ALL HE SAID TO ME WAS IT DANGEROUS AND IT WOULD COST THIS MUCH TO CHECK IT OUT. NOTHING ABOUT IT WAS A RECALL OR NOT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS ON THEM AS I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11301899

Dec 4, 2018SteeringBrakesAirbagsSeats

2015 GMC CANYON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONTAL AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS FOR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, DUE TO THE VIN NUMBER. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11153890

May 7, 2016Brakes

REAR BRAKE SQUEAK AND LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. ANTI-LOCKING FUNCTION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT SKID/LOCK UP THE TIRES IN AN EMERGENCY STOP. REAR PADS DO NOT MATCH SIZE OF THE REAR DISCS. RUSTY DUST BUILD UP. GM HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX 3X AND INDICATES THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE ISSUE. SQUEAKING ON EVERY STOP WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO DISCERN IF THE PADS ARE WORN OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI 10863764

Apr 9, 2016Brakes

BRAKES SQUEAK ON EVERY STOP. WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PADS NEED CHANGED SINCE THE SQUEAK IS SAME AS THE PAD WORN INDICATORS. ALSO VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES OR SKID THE TIRES. IT STOPS, BUT IS MUSHY.

NHTSA ODI 10854553

Sep 22, 2015SteeringBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC CANYON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH ON A FOUR LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE POWER STEERING PINION, GEAR, AND ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,458.

NHTSA ODI 10767520

May 7, 2015Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER INITIAL START OF VEHICLE, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE, A MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) THAT READ: "SERVICE, BRAKE ASSIST, DISMISS" - A FEW MINUTES LATER RECEIVED TWO EMAILS FROM ONSTAR WHICH READ: AN ISSUE WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IN YOUR 2015 GMC CANYON CREW CAB HAS BEEN DETECTED. AN ISSUE WITH THE STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN YOUR 2015 GMC CANYON CREW CAB HAS BEEN DETECTED. SUBSEQUENTLY, VISITED SELLING DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED FUSE IN RELATION TO TSB # PB-14669, NHTSA ID # 10056603. DEALERSHIP FOUND 30 AMP FUSE TO ALREADY BE IN PLACE. CLEARED TROUBLE CODE, BUT IT HAS SINCE DISPLAYED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE DIC. CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SEVERAL EMAILS FROM ONSTAR WITH SUBJECT LINE OF "ONSTAR VEHICLE HEALTH ALERT NOTIFICATION FOR YOUR 2015 GMC CANYON CREW CAB" - ONSTAR HAS ADVISED THAT THESE ARE "FALSE EMAIL ALERTS" AND THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING ON A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NO UPDATE OR FIX IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. NO ESTIMATED DATE OF RESOLUTION, AND UNKNOWN EXACTLY HOW SERIOUS THIS APPARENT SAFETY ISSUE MIGHT BE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10715181

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 →