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GMC CanyonModel year report

2015 GMC Canyon Problems

Compared with other GMC Canyon years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 6.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2017, 2018

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
303filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
54,680miles, 219 complaints with mileage
Recalls
8campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 GMC Canyon (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year report one problem far more than any other: the electric power steering assist cutting out while driving, usually with power steering and StabiliTrak warning messages, and often returning after the truck is shut off and restarted. Complaints describe the loss as sudden and recurring, and many owners say the dealer could not reproduce it or quoted rack-and-pinion or steering gear replacement. Other reports involve the Service 4WD message and electrical faults such as an erratic touch screen and a burnt transmission fuse.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out while driving

    • 203 complaints (67%)
    • median 68,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (150 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,750 (median of 16 quotes)
    • filed 2015–2026

    Owners describe the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, from parking-lot speeds to highway speed, usually with Service Power Steering and StabiliTrak or traction-control messages on the dash. In many complaints the assist returns after shutting off and restarting the truck, sometimes only briefly before failing again. Dealers are reported to have replaced the rack and pinion or steering gear, reprogrammed modules, or been unable to duplicate the fault, and several owners note their VIN was not covered by the power steering recalls. Reported from under 10,000 miles to past 200,000 miles, most often between roughly 45,000 and 125,000 miles, at all speeds and in varied weather.

    Recall 21V213000Recall 16V054000

    What to check: Ask whether either power steering recall (16V054000 or 21V213000) was performed and whether the steering gear or rack has been replaced; on a test drive, watch for power steering and StabiliTrak messages and confirm the assist works at low speed and after a restart.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My vehicle lost power steering while in motion. Approximate speed was 65mph. Icons on the dash lit up. I had little to no control over the vehicle. I nearly crashed into several cars around me. I pulled the car off the road, turned all power off, and started the engine after a few minutes. I was able to get the car home without any further problems.”

    NHTSA complaint #11352865, filed 2020-09, 60,000 miles

    “Several times over past month and time since I have owned the vehicle . The power steering module will go out during driving. When this happens power steering is lost and I receive warning chime and am not able to steer properly. I am very concerned this could cause a crash. Gm is offering no help because my vehicle VIN does not show up under the recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #11365511, filed 2020-10, 90,000 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Service 4WD message when engaging four-wheel drive

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report a Service 4WD warning appearing when shifting into four-wheel drive, and in one case while the truck was stationary. Complaints describe the dealer resolving it by reprogramming the control module, with the message coming back after a few months in at least one case. The warning can reappear even after a reprogramming attempt. Reported between about 44,000 and 95,000 miles.

    What to check: Cycle through 2WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low during the test drive and confirm no Service 4WD message appears; ask whether the transfer case or 4WD control module has been reprogrammed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Service 4wd message again appears. When driving and switching into 4wd received this message. Third time, needs reprogramming . Filed complaint with GM about a design flaw and no satisfaction.”

    NHTSA complaint #11353634, filed 2020-09, 94,500 miles

    “The contact owns a 2015 Gmc Canyon. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, the service 4wd warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 44,430.”

    NHTSA complaint #11414138, filed 2021-04, 44,430 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission fuse failure and limp mode

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the truck dropping into limp mode with the check engine light on and staying in one gear, traced by a mechanic to a burnt transmission control module fuse and a burnt fuse box. In one report the fuse failed a second time about a month later, with transmission codes stored and no clear cause found after a road test. Reported around 50,000 miles, occurring during acceleration and turning.

    What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the TCM fuse or wiring harness has been repaired; have a pre-purchase scan check for stored transmission codes.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “April 13, 2018 steering went out when driving dealer fixed, january 27, 2021 steering went out when driving dealer said it was battery they installed new battery. February 6, 2021 steering went out while driving on interstate again took truck to dealer who kept vehicle and will call me!?”

    NHTSA complaint #11395037, filed 2021-02, 99,086 miles

    “The touch screen display has become erratic or unresponsive. Sometimes buttons will begin clicking on their own while driving. Suddenly the display changes or radio stations will change. Other times, when attempting to press a button on the touch screen, the screen is unresponsive. All of this forces the driver's eyes off of the road and creates a safety hazard. I called the dealership and this is a common problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11351761, filed 2020-08, 50,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Touch screen unresponsive or changing on its own

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the center touch screen becoming erratic, with buttons activating by themselves, radio stations changing, or the screen ignoring presses while driving. One owner reports the dealer called it a common problem on these trucks and that the fix is replacement of the display unit. Reported around 50,000 miles; complaints describe it as an ongoing issue on this generation.

    What to check: Test every screen function and button at a standstill and while driving; ask whether the infotainment unit has been replaced.

    An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Truck locked into limp mode suddenly one day and the check engine light came on. The truck was then stuck in one gear. Took it to a mechanic immediately who replaced the fuse box after finding it burnt out. Fast forward a month later, same issue occurs on the road. Both issues occurred while accelerating during a turn. Took to mechanic again to find TCM fuse burnt out and codes p0700 and p2534 present. Mechanic replaced fuse and stretched out wire bundle to see if wiring was an issue. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11324591, filed 2020-05, 50,000 miles

Buying note. The power steering assist complaints dominate this model year, so confirm both steering recalls were completed and that the steering gear has not been replaced or quoted for replacement, and test the steering at low speed and after a restart. A pre-purchase scan for stored transmission and 4WD codes is also worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 303 consumer complaints for the 2015 GMC Canyon. 219 of the complaints include a mileage, and 44% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,680 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns and 1,818 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 7 GMC Canyon model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (3), Wheels (3), Seats (2), Body and structure (2), Suspension (2), Engine cooling (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “In the last week my power steering went out 5 times on my 2015 Gmc Canyon. I took it to the dealer who diagnosed it with rack and pinion failure. I research this and there are numerous complaints of this and Gmc refuses to recall. And fix it. It is very dangerous as you have no control of the vehicle at all. P pleas help as it is a very expensive repair and a hazard.”

NHTSA complaint #11400121, filed 2021-03, 87,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Hi. This is my second formal complaint regarding intermittent loss of power steering, traction control, and stability control on my 2015 Gmc Canyon. There have been recurring temporary losses of the aforementioned vehicle capabilities while the vehicle is in motion, leading to severely degraded vehicle performance, handling, and traction. In every case, warnings lights have displayed immediately before the loss of control. These lights have also 'turned-off' or reset when the vehicle was restarted. …”

NHTSA complaint #11288874, filed 2019-12, 48,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “On two occasions recently, my power steering stopped working, once on start up and once while driving. When this happens, I get warnings that other systems aren't working, such as stabilitrak and backup assist. Problem seems to correct itself, after turning the truck off. This happened sunday, june 16th while driving and back in march when I first started the truck.”

NHTSA complaint #11220547, filed 2019-06, 62,500 miles

Electrical system: “While driving across parking lot at 8 MPH, vehicle lost power steering control without warning. Engine and other electronics continued to operate, however vehicle power steering and traction control warning lights were illuminated. I stopped vehicle, turned off ignition, and restarted, power steering and traction control lights went off and vehicle returned to normal operation. This also occurred about 2 weeks ago, in heavy traffic when I was going about 10mph, all power steering assist suddenly disappeared, again upon shut down and restart, all returned to normal. …”

NHTSA complaint #11320092, filed 2020-04, 94,400 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

44% of the 219 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,000 and 84,746 miles.

14%0–107%10–2524%25–5022%50–7518%75–10013%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (219 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 54,680 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20162018582020202220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 GMC Canyon. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Canyon · extended cab 4WD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 21.4% risk
Canyon · extended cab RWD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 22.0% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2015 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2016: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 GMC Canyon version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Canyon 2WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual192522$3,050
Canyon 2WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202622$3,050
Canyon 2WD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182521$3,200
Canyon 4WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic192421$3,200
Canyon 4WD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172420$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 8 recalls for the 2015 GMC Canyon → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,818 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,818 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Canyon

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202683502420—Too new
2025813,5002420—Too new
20242074,0003420Too new to compareToo new
2023623,000342099 · MoreToo new
20222722,212142240 · TypicalRising
20211246,5002422—Not enough data
20201418,5000422—Not enough data
20191736,0820422—Rising
20185322,000142243 · TypicalStable
20176627,803142256 · TypicalFalling
201627146,5234422100 · MoreStable
201530354,6808422100 · MoreFalling
20122345,0002—21—Stable
20111251,0735—21—Not enough data
2010810,0002—21—Not enough data
20092749,9283—2030 · FewerFalling
20083868,0002—200 · FewerStable
20074273,6513—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20064860,0004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200511350,1063—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20048074,4563—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All GMC Canyon model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 GMC Canyon?

Owners of this model year report one problem far more than any other: the electric power steering assist cutting out while driving, usually with power steering and StabiliTrak warning messages, and often returning after the truck is shut off and restarted. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist cuts out while driving; Service 4WD message when engaging four-wheel drive; Transmission fuse failure and limp mode.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 GMC Canyon have?

NHTSA recorded 303 consumer complaints for the 2015 GMC Canyon as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 GMC Canyon is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 226 complaints (75% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 38.

Has the 2015 GMC Canyon been recalled?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2015 GMC Canyon do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2015 GMC Canyon 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2015 GMC Canyon get?

The EPA rates the 2015 GMC Canyon (Canyon 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 GMC Canyon reported?

Among the 219 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,680 miles and the middle half falls between 29,000 and 84,746 miles; 44% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.