VehicleVerdict

2015 GMC Canyon problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 400 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 6.6 times the median Canyon year — the 2015 model ranks #1 of 21 Canyon years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 12 injuries in total across these filings.

The trouble concentrates in one system: steering issues account for 56% of all reports (223 of 400), far ahead of electrical system at 70. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

400

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

1

Investigations

15

Crash-involved

8

Fires reported

12

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2015 compare to other Canyon years?

See all Canyon years to avoid →

What are the most common 2015 GMC Canyon problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering22356%
Electrical System7018%
Transmission3810%
Engine144%
Other144%
Brakes103%
Airbags72%
Visibility & Wipers62%
Fuel System51%
Tires & Wheels31%
Lighting31%
Suspension21%
Seats21%
Body & Structure21%
Speed Control10%

Does the 2015 GMC Canyon have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V213000SteeringMarch 25, 2021 · 60,681 units

Defect

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles. The power steering assist may be lost due to a poor electrical connection within the steering gear assembly.

Consequence

A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace steering gear torque sensor cover assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202325410.

18V358000Fuel SystemMay 31, 2018 · 895 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence

A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

17V621000AirbagsOctober 5, 2017 · 16 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.

16V054000SteeringFebruary 1, 2016 · 2,988 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 17, 2015, and 2015 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 19, 2015. A poor electrical connection within the steering gear connector may cause a loss of power steering assist.

Consequence

A loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear torque sensor cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15595.

15V278000BrakesMay 12, 2015 · 24,380 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to December 24, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience the front brake calipers leaking brake fluid. This is due to air pockets, an imperfection in the metal caliper body.

Consequence

If the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front-brake calipers if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14888.

15V267000SeatsMay 8, 2015 · 49,980 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to April 1, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the hooks that secure the driver's and/or front passenger's seat frame may not have been properly attached to the vehicle body during assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence

If the seat-frame attachment hooks are not secured properly, the seat may not be adequately anchored to the vehicle, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats, correcting their installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15150.

15V157000AirbagsMarch 18, 2015 · 40 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured September 15, 2014, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured October 3, 2014, to December 9, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front driver air bag inflator that may be misaligned to the air bag module backplate. This can cause the inflator to separate from the backplate during a deployment.

Consequence

If the inflator separates from the back plate in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, this may cause the air bag or steering wheel components to separate and be propelled into the interior compartment, potentially seriously injuring the driver or other occupants. Additionally, the air bag may fail to properly inflate, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.

Remedy

GM has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the driver air bag module inflator for proper alignment, replacing the air bag, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15037.

14V645000AirbagsOctober 9, 2014 · 2,283 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 1, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver air bag connections may have been wired incorrectly. This could reverse the deployment sequence and disrupt the deployment timing of the driver air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

If the driver air bag does not deploy as designed, there is an increased risk of driver injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM), free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet) or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14690.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 14, 2024 · crash

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)

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 14, 2024 · crash

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 16, 2015 · fire

Ignition locking solenoid fails to release when put into park, resulting in the key stuck in the ignition. I'm then unable to leave the vehicle unattended without threat of theft or battery failure. Dealer has not been able to fix the issue. No warnings or failure indications are observed, other…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · October 7, 2022

The contact's customer owns a 2015 GMC Canyon. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, they noticed smoke emerging from the engine compartment. There was an abnormal popping noise detected and the vehicle caught fire. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. There…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 31, 2022 · fire

2015 GMC Canyon — common questions

Is the 2015 GMC Canyon reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 400 complaints put the 2015 model at #1 of 21 Canyon years. It is one of the Canyon years to avoid.

What are the most common 2015 Canyon problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (223 complaints), electrical system (70 complaints), transmission (38 complaints).

Does the 2015 GMC Canyon have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2015 GMC Canyon. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2015 GMC Canyon under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Canyon years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Canyon years to avoid are 2015, 2016, 2024, 2005, 2004, 2023. The cleanest record among Canyon years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2015 GMC Canyon?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2015 GMC Canyon earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.