GMC · Canyon · 2005
3
Recalls
113
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 GMC Canyon has 3 recalls and 113 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (14 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Frame rail rust holes, brackets wielded to frame supports for leaf springs wields rusted completely through frame making vehicle unsafe due to the potential leaf springs supports to frame of vehicle breaking away from frame dropping rear of vehicle onto rear axles and tires. Frame of vehicle has a lot of rusting and holes due to the excessive rusting.
The frames on many of these trucks are unsafe to be on the road due to rusted leaf spring mounts and frame rails that are rotting away and unable to lift on a hoist. Luckily I came across a video warning me to watch out for a rusted frame or else I could have lost control while driving. Yes, I work at a gm dealership and see this issue often, they are very similar to the Toyota trucks that had rusted frames replaced under recall. No it has not been inspected but they're is no way that it would pass an annual inspection, therefore the truck is rendered useless. There were no warnings that the frame was almost rotted in half. Very dangerous situation.
NEARLY TOTAL FRAME FAILURE DUE TO POOR STEEL AND EXTREME RUST AND CORROSION OF ENTIRE FRAME. WITH THIS MODEL YEAR OF GMC AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS OF FRAME FAILURES. MY PARTICULAR TRUCK IS SO BADLY RUSTED THAT THE CAB AND BODY COULD POSSIBLY SEPARATE DUE TO FRAME FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH DURING THE WINTERS AND HAS BEEN GARAGED MOST OF ITS LIFE. THESE FRAMES SHOULDN'T BE THIS BAD ON A 15 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR
ON 6/17/20 AS I WAS TRAVELING UNDER THE ALABASTER, ALABAMA OVER PASS ON HIGHWAY 65 NORTH AN ORANGE CONSTRUCTION BARREL WAS BLOWN INTO THE ROAD BY A TRUCK A HEAD OF ME. I SWERVED IN THE ATTEMPT TO MISS IT. THE BARREL CLIPPED THE PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER AND TORE OUT MY FOG LAMP. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WOULD LIKE MY FOG LAMP REPLACED AND BARRELS NOT IN USE PICKED UP OFF OF THE HIGHWAYS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AT THE RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT, THE FRAME STARTED TO COLLAPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 13,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE WHOLE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE WENT THRU THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. AFTER LOOKING AT HOW TO REPLACE THIS NOTICED PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE THING IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO MAKE IT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE TRUCK FOR SAFETY REASONS
OWNED THE VEHICLE FROM NEW, FRAME STARTED RUSTING AT EVERY WELDMENT FROM DAY ONE. TRIED TO TREAT THE FRAME YEARLY WITH DOOR GREASE TO STOP CORROSION. NO SUCCESS, NOW FRAME IS ROTTED AND IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE.
FRAME CRACKED IN FRONT OF REAR SPRING SHACKLES ON BOTH SIDES. HEARD NOISE BED RUBBING AGAINST CAB. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE NOISE. FOUND BROKEN FRAME WHEN I GOT HOME.
BODY FRAME HAS ROT HOLES THROUGHOUT UNDERCARRIAGE. NEW FRAME NEEDED. WHILE DRIVING, I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE OFF N WAS LYING ON THE AXEL. AAA WAS CALLED AND IMMEDIATELY TOWED THE TRUCH 1 MILE TO OUR MECHANIC. AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW DRIVESHAFT WAS NEEDED AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC SPOTTED NUMEROUS PITTING RUSTED HOLES THROUGHOUT THE FRAME. DETERMINED THAT SAID TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC CANYON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR NEW TIRES, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
THE LEFT REAR FRAME RAIL JUST IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR FRONT SPRING SHACKLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE HOLES THROUGH THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FRAME RAIL. THE SIDES OF THE SAME AREA HAVE BECOME VERY THIN COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL THICKNESS OF THE FRAME RAIL. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE RUST THROUGH AT THE SPRING SHACKLE IT WAS RECOMMENDED A FRAME REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETED. THE TRUCK WAS DISPOSED OF AND TAKEN OFF ROAD. THE REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE IS IN GOOD CONDITION. MILEAGE 75,124 MILES. THE FRAME RAIL IS FORMED INTO A BOX FRAME WITH THE SEAM LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAIL. THE RUST APPEARS TO BE WORST ON THE SEAM. THE SEAM IS A LAP SEAM AND APPEARS TO TRAP WATER IN THE LAP SEAM. THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL IS THIN HOWEVER IS NOT RUSTED THROUGH AT THIS TIME.
THE BRAKE LINES AND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT. THERE ARE BIG WHOLES IN THE FRAME. THE GARAGE WOULDN'T EVEN PUT IT ON THE LIFT, BECAUSE IT WAS SO BAD. HAVE REPLACED BREAKS AND STILL THE TRUCK HAS BREAK ISSUES
MY 2005 GMC CANYON CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE PASSLOCK II SYSTEM. NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, KEYS, OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE PASSLOCK PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY TRUCK BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THE COMPUTER THINKS IT IS TRYING TO BE STOLEN. THE LAST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURED, MY TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO START, THE TRUCK CRANKED BUT DID NOT START AND THE PASSLOCK LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO SIT AND WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE I HAD JUST BEEN BITTEN BY A DOG.
I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE THE FUEL SYSTEM LOOKED AT AFTER I STARTED SMELLING FUEL. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLS ME THAT EVENING AND REQUEST I LOOK AT THE TRUCK WHILE IT IS ON THE LIFT SO I CAN SEE THE FRAME FOR MYSELF AS THE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD BE THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS ONCE I SAW THE FRAME. THE REAR OF THE FRAME FROM THE REAR SPRING HANGER BACK IS ROTTED AWAY ON A 12-YEAR-OLD TRUCK THAT HAS NO BODY RUST AND SOME RUST ON THE OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME AS TO BE EXPECTED FOR THE AGE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE SPRING HANGER DETACHED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO THE LACK OF STRUCTURAL SUPPORT AND PICTURES OF THE BAD FRAME SECTION AND THE REST OF THE FRAME ALONG WITH A PICTURE OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE IT WAS NEW AND TAKEN CARE OF IT AND AM TROUBLED THAT A STRUCTURAL ITEM SUCH AS A FRAME ONLY IN ONE SECTION, THE SAME SECTION, ON BOTH SIDES IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE FRAME. I KNOW I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT RECEIVES SNOW AND THE ROADS ARE SALTED BUT CLEANED MY TRUCK FREQUENTLY TO WASH THE SALT OFF OF IT BUT A TRUCK WITH 112,500 MILES THAT IS 12 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE A STRUCTURAL FAILURE WHILE ALL OTHER PARTS INCLUDING THIN SHEET METAL ARE STILL IN GREAT SHAPE AND HAVE NOT BEEN PAINTED. THE ONLY REPAINTED ITEMS ON THE TRUCK ARE THE HOOD (AFTERMARKET) AND TAILGATE. SO WHY DOES THIS TRUCK HAVE A ROTTED STRUCTURAL COMPONENT?
2005 CREW CAB GMC CANYON Z85 SLE - LOCALIZED FRAME DETERIORATION DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH THE BOX FRAME. NO OTHER AREAS ON FRAME DISPLAY MORE THAN SURFACE RUST. PRESENT FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR TO ABOVE THE FRAME ELEVATION CHANGE, INCLUDING THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE REAR LEAF SPRING. HOLES AND SEAMS COMPLETELY OPEN IN AFFECTED AREAS. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY COMPROMISED AT JOINT OF CAB TO THE BED OF TRUCK. VEHICLE IS STILL FUNCTIONAL BUT DAMAGE TO THIS AREA DOES NOT ALLOW FOR TRUCK TO BE USED AS INTENDED. ANY SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT IN BED MAY CAUSE FRAME TO COLLAPSE. NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT. NO FAILURE TO OPERATE AT THIS TIME.
MY TRUCK IS EXHIBITING AN ISSUE IN WHICH THE GM PASSLOCK SYSTEM DISABLES THE FUEL AND ENGINE BECAUSE OF SOME MALFUNCTION. THIS SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO DISABLE THE FUEL SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE IF IT DETECTS THAT THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH OR IN IMPROPER KEY HAS BEEN USED TO TRY AND START THE VEHICLE. MY ISSUE IS THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I TRY TO START MY TRUCK WITH THE FACTORY KEY, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO START MY TRUCK. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES IN ORDER FOR THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM LIGHT TO TURN OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. SOMETIMES MY TRUCK WILL START AFTER THIS 10 MINUTE LOCKOUT PERIOD. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHERE MY TRUCK WILL FAIL TO START AFTER THE FIRST LOCKOUT PERIOD AND I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. ONCE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM ALLOWS ME TO START THE ENGINE, MY TRUCK RUNS FINE WITH NO ISSUES. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. IN ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION, I WOULD HOPE TO DEPEND ON MY TRUCK STARTING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING PASSLOCK SYSTEM PREVENTS ME FROM STARTING MY TRUCK. MY GREATEST ISSUE WITH THIS SITUATION IS THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS AFFECTED BY THIS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH OF "GMC CANYON PASSLOCK" WILL SHOW PAGES UPON PAGES OF FORUMS OF OTHER TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I LIVE IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WITH A HIGH RISK OF FOREST FIRES. I KNOW FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES IN THE PAST. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MALFUNCTION OF MY TRUCK COULD GREATLY IMPACT MY ABILITY TO EVACUATE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
AIR BAG COMES ON DISPLAY AND STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE
I GOT A SAFETY BULLETIN FROM GMC #14609 STATING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT,. IT CAN GO ON DUE TO WIRES IN THE REAR DOOR BREAKING, THE AIR BAG CAN GO OFF ALSO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS, I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT OR REIMBURSE ME IF I PAID IN THE PAST TO HAVE IT FIXED. WELL THEY SAID I WAS OFF OF WARRANTY 1-15 . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT FOR FREE. WHY DID THEY SEND ME THIS BULLETIN WITH MY VIN NUMBER ATTACHED? I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS GMC TRUCK, YOU NAME IT IT HAS HAD A PROBLEM. MOSTLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. THE AIR BAG ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED BY GMC FREE OF CHARGE WHICH THEY STATE IN THE LETTER, THERE TELLING ME I AM A FEW MONTHS PAST THE 10 YEAR DEAD LINE. THAT IS A DISGRACE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY GMC IF IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM LIKE ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS I AM HAVING. THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS AND THE AIR BAG CAN GO OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I AM HOLDING THEM LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS THEY ARE NOT HELPING ME WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS, TOM
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 GMC Canyon has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 113 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 GMC Canyon.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 GMC Canyon.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 GMC Canyon are electrical system (14 reports), engine and engine cooling (10 reports), structure (9 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2005 GMC Canyon. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.