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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2020
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

INSTALLED NEW BRAKE LIGHTS DID YOU BRAKE SWITCH UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE I'LL BRAKE BALLS HAVE BEEN REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11320590

147,000 miles · Feb 5, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING MISFIRE WHEN IDLING; CAR IS SHAKING AND RATTLING THERE'S A SPECIAL COVERAGE LETTER #07123A BUT GMC DOES NOT COVER INTAKE LEAKAGE ISSUE ONCE VEHICLE IS PASSED 7 YRS OR 100K MILES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2007. IF YOU ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THERE …

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING MISFIRE WHEN IDLING; CAR IS SHAKING AND RATTLING THERE'S A SPECIAL COVERAGE LETTER #07123A BUT GMC DOES NOT COVER INTAKE LEAKAGE ISSUE ONCE VEHICLE IS PASSED 7 YRS OR 100K MILES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE 2007. IF YOU ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THERE IS NO WAY TO BE NOTIFIED OR CONTACTED. MY DEALER NEVER MADE ME AWARE OF THE ISSUE AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK. NOW I'M PASSED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AM SUPPOSED TO COVER THE FULL COSTS. THIS IS CUSTOMER FRAUD SINCE ITS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM RELATED TO THE ENGINE - ALL 2004-06 GMC CANYONS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS. THIS NEEDS A RECALL - NOT EXTENDED WARRANTY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496501

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

BRAND NEW TRUCK, HAVE OWNED ALMOST 1 YEAR. HAD TO TAKE TRUCK IN FOR SLOW ACCELERATION PROBLEM AS WELL AS HARD TO CRANK. COULD NOT PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE THEN IT WOULD STOP/PAUSE FOR A SECOND THEN START TO GO AGAIN. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP …

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BRAND NEW TRUCK, HAVE OWNED ALMOST 1 YEAR. HAD TO TAKE TRUCK IN FOR SLOW ACCELERATION PROBLEM AS WELL AS HARD TO CRANK. COULD NOT PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE THEN IT WOULD STOP/PAUSE FOR A SECOND THEN START TO GO AGAIN. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY FOUND ONE OF THE HEADS IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (WHICH AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME I HAD A SLOW MISFIRE ON PISTON #2 AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SPRING AND A COIL) A MONTH LATER I FINALLY GOT MY TRUCK BACK. ONE WEEK LATER I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE SO I TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD MY OIL WAS LOW SO THEY TOPPED IT OFF (DIDN'T WORK BY THE WAY). STILL HAVING HARD TIME CRANKING PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY KEPT MY TRUCK FOR 4 DAYS AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT EXCEPT A LOOSE STARTER BOLT THAT THEY TIGHTENED. TRUCK STILL CRANKING FUNNY BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO FOR ME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158554

31,000 miles · Oct 27, 2005
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

BRAKE LIGHT/CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILURE. SECOND TIME IN 30,000 MILES REPLACE SWITCH EACH TIME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140912

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER GMC CANYON 2005 REVVED TO 5500 RPM AFTER PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPING. *TS THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION WAS THE FIRST TIME THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE REVVED TO 5500. THE SECOND OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE ENGINE REV IN PARK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED T…

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CONSUMER GMC CANYON 2005 REVVED TO 5500 RPM AFTER PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AND STOPPING. *TS THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION WAS THE FIRST TIME THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE REVVED TO 5500. THE SECOND OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE ENGINE REV IN PARK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THREE TIMES AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. ON THE FOURTH START THE VEHICLE WAS OKAY. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10141059

300 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

DT: 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT SIX DAYS WHEN THE VEHICLE KICKED INTO HIGH SPEED AT 50-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CLIFF AND INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER BROKE HIS HAND, AND THE CONSUMER'S WIFE BRUISED HER KIDNEY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY GOT THE CONSUMER A NEW VE…

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DT: 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT SIX DAYS WHEN THE VEHICLE KICKED INTO HIGH SPEED AT 50-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CLIFF AND INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER BROKE HIS HAND, AND THE CONSUMER'S WIFE BRUISED HER KIDNEY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY GOT THE CONSUMER A NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED INTO THE GARAGE AND THE RPMS REVVED TO 5,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT FELT LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD KICKED IN, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. THEN, THE CONSUMER CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THE CONSUMER BACK AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR A DAY AND TOLD THE CONSUMER TO COME AND GET THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY INCIDENT OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN WITH THE FIRST CRASH. *AK *SC

NHTSA ODI #10138382

Official recalls

3

10V575000 · 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

2

RQ09001 · 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.