IllustrationABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO APPARENT REASON, ALSO TRACTION FAULT ALSO COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME AFFECTING GAS MILEAGE. THERE IS ALSO A MISFIRE PROBLEM. *TR
2005 GMC Canyon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Canyon years
Owner complaints for the 2005 GMC Canyon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Canyon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
1825–50K
2050–75K
875–100K
13100–150K
6150K+
87 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
11 reportsCHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRUCK BECAME RUFF IDLING AND SHAKING AND POWERING ITSELF OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT TOO STRONG OF AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT WAS FLOWING INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE MANU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT TOO STRONG OF AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT WAS FLOWING INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY ROUGHLY AND HE COULD FEEL HARD VIBRATIONS. HE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH STATED THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND HIS WARRANTY DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER COULD N…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY ROUGHLY AND HE COULD FEEL HARD VIBRATIONS. HE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH STATED THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND HIS WARRANTY DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND MAKE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
RECENTLY PURCHASED USED 2005 GMC CANYON, TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED, THE TRUCK DID NOT RUN ROUGH OR MAKE NOISES. TOOK DIRECTLY BACK TO DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD. REPLACED. FIVE DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED...DIAGNOSTICS DETERMINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN …
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RECENTLY PURCHASED USED 2005 GMC CANYON, TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED, THE TRUCK DID NOT RUN ROUGH OR MAKE NOISES. TOOK DIRECTLY BACK TO DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD. REPLACED. FIVE DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED...DIAGNOSTICS DETERMINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR AND EXHAUST INTAKE WERE ALL RELATED. ALL REPAIRS NOW COMPLETE AND APPEAR TO BE NO OTHER ISSUES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 3 DAYS. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN BEFORE IT WAS RESTARTED IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, TH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN BEFORE IT WAS RESTARTED IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - *NM
EARLIER I COMPLAINED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SOLENOID FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS MISTAKEN IN THAT COMPLAINT, NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT COULD BE AN ACTUATOR, CAM SHAFT PROBLEM OR SOME OTHER RELATED PROBLEM. GETTING THE SAME ERROR CODES AS LAST 2 TIMES IN THE SHOP P014 P017 AND P300. ENGINE IS TILL SPUTTERING AND DYING, …
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EARLIER I COMPLAINED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SOLENOID FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WAS MISTAKEN IN THAT COMPLAINT, NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT COULD BE AN ACTUATOR, CAM SHAFT PROBLEM OR SOME OTHER RELATED PROBLEM. GETTING THE SAME ERROR CODES AS LAST 2 TIMES IN THE SHOP P014 P017 AND P300. ENGINE IS TILL SPUTTERING AND DYING, PUSHING TOO MUCH FUEL. *NM
I HAVE A 2005 GMC CANYON WITH 44K MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT SOLENOID SO FAR, AND TODAY AFTER ONLY 150 MILES AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE SOLENOID I AGAIN HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. GMC STOCKS THIS PART WHICH MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT MEANS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH…
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I HAVE A 2005 GMC CANYON WITH 44K MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS AND CAM SHAFT SOLENOID SO FAR, AND TODAY AFTER ONLY 150 MILES AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE SOLENOID I AGAIN HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. GMC STOCKS THIS PART WHICH MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT MEANS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO CARL EDWARDS CHEVY BUT THEY WERE SO RUDE THAT I LEFT AND TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC TO REPAIR. IT HAS GONE FROM 27 MPG TO 16 MPG AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT IS PUSHING TOO MUCH GAS INTO THE INTAKES AND THAT IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JB
#3 CYLINDER LOST COMPRESSION AND HEAD WARPED. THIS HAPPENED MARCH 13. GM ISSUED A TSB ON MARCH 10 FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM
I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS. THESE ARE THE CODES P0106, P0300 AND P0506 THAT ARE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO KEEP COMING ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN. FIRST TIME THE PARTS REPLACED WERE OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER BACK IN DEC 2005. …
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I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS. THESE ARE THE CODES P0106, P0300 AND P0506 THAT ARE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO KEEP COMING ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN. FIRST TIME THE PARTS REPLACED WERE OXYGEN SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER BACK IN DEC 2005. NOW ITS FEB 2006 AND I NEED TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Official recalls
310V575000 · Child Seat
Nov 18, 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR VISIT GM'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
09V310000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 29, 2009
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
06V139000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Apr 27, 2006
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2RQ09001 · Brake Lamp Switch Malfunction
Opened Feb 25, 2009 · Closed Jul 30, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
Exterior Lighting
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
PE05065 · Brake Lamp Switch Failure
Opened Dec 2, 2005 · Closed May 1, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTER DATED APRIL 26, 2006, GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V139) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-06 CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON AND 2006 MY ISUZU I280/I350 VEHICLES.GM'S RECALL COVERS 404,733 VEHICLES.GM REPORTS THAT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP ILLUMINATION WAS CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT PLATING ON THE STATIONARY CONTACT IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.GM WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WITH THE NEW SWITCH THAT HAS THE INCREASED PLATING ON THE STATIONARY CONTACT.BASED ON GM'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.