NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A poor electrical connection in the steering gear assembly may cause the power steering assist to stop working.
What the fix does
This page covers 13 recalls, 298 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 GMC Canyon.
20–21 mpg combined
11.2–11.8 L/100km
Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering dominates the complaint picture for the 2015 GMC Canyon by a wide margin, accounting for the vast majority of what owners report. The central issue is electric power steering failure: owners frequently describe the system cutting out without warning while driving, triggering a "Service Power Steering System" message on the instrument display and leaving the wheel suddenly heavy and difficult to turn. Some owners report the steering wheel locking up entirely, while others describe a recurring pattern where the failure happens multiple times across different speeds and conditions. A burning smell accompanying the stiffening wheel shows up in more than one report. Powertrain complaints are a distant second, with a smaller group of owners reporting issues there. The steering failures appear to be the defining complaint pattern for this model year, with many owners noting the problem surfaced while moving at highway speeds.
298
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 GMC Canyon has 13 recalls, the most serious being a high-pressure fuel pump that can detach and damage the fuel line, creating a fuel leak and raising the risk of fire.
Several recalls involve the driver's airbag. The inflator can separate from the module backplate during deployment, potentially sending fragments toward occupants. A separate issue affects the two-stage airbag system, where incorrect wiring can reverse the deployment sequence, and another recall covers improper inflation during second-stage deployment in a high-speed crash. On the restraint side, the hooks that anchor the front seat frames to the vehicle body may not have been properly secured during assembly, meaning a seat could shift or fail to hold an occupant in a crash.
Two other themes appear across multiple recalls. The electric power steering system can lose assist due to a poor electrical connection in the steering gear, causing the wheel to suddenly require much more effort, particularly at low speeds. The front brake calipers can leak fluid, which extends pedal travel and increases stopping distances.
At a glance
What can fail
A poor electrical connection in the steering gear assembly may cause the power steering assist to stop working.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 4 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the steering gear torque sensor cover assembly at no cost to restore power steering function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty electrical connection in the steering system can cause a sudden loss of power steering assist.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear torque sensor cover assembly to restore the electrical connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pump can separate from its mounting flange, potentially damaging the high pressure fuel line.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and fuel pipe at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag may inflate incorrectly during its second stage of deployment in a high-speed crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty electrical connection in the steering gear connector may stop the power steering from working, making the steering wheel harder to turn.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear torque sensor cover assembly at no cost to restore proper power steering function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose electrical connection in the steering sensor harness may cause the power steering to suddenly stop working. The steering will still work but require much more driver effort to turn the wheel.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the steering gear pinion sensor cover assembly to restore the electrical connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Air pockets in the front brake caliper metal body can cause the calipers to leak brake fluid.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front brake calipers and replace them if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front brake calipers may leak brake fluid, which can lengthen brake pedal travel and increase stopping distance.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front brake calipers and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The hooks that attach the driver's and/or front passenger's seat frame to the vehicle body may not have been properly secured during manufacturing, affecting seat stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat attachment points and correct the installation as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front driver or passenger seat attachment hooks may not be properly secured to the vehicle body, causing the seat to potentially not meet safety standards and increasing injury risk in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seats for proper installation and disassemble and reassemble them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver airbag inflator may separate from its mounting during a crash due to misalignment during assembly. This can cause airbag parts to break loose from the steering wheel and strike occupants, or prevent the airbag from deploying fully.
What the fix does
The dealer will remove the driver airbag module and inspect the inflator-to-backplate alignment. Any misaligned airbags will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver air bag inflator may be misaligned on the backplate. During deployment, the inflator could separate from the backplate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver air bag module inflator alignment and replace the air bag if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's airbag connection may have been wired incorrectly during manufacturing, causing the two-stage airbag system to deploy in the wrong sequence and timing. This could prevent the driver airbag from working properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module to correct the airbag deployment sequence.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
