CSR

GMC · NHTSA safety record

2012 GMC Canyon

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

23

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 GMC Canyon have filed 23 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2012 and September 2025. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 9 of them (39%). The typical failure was reported at 45,000 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

12V594000 · December 19, 2012

The defect
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.
The risk
If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

General Motors LLC · up to 118,800 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

11V552000 · November 17, 2011

The defect
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 19, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS THAT DO NOT FIT SNUGLY WITH THE CONNECTOR PINS, CAUSING THE CONNECTION TO BE INTERMITTENT.
The risk
THE LOOSE CONNECTIONS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO NOT RECEIVE A VISUAL OR AUDIBLE WARNING THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The remedy
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 5,593 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 23.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 39%
AIR BAGS 2 9%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 9%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 9%
STEERING 2 9%
SUSPENSION 2 9%
ENGINE 1 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 4%
POWER TRAIN 1 4%
SEAT BELTS 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 4.

2012 2018 2025
2012 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · fire · crash · 14,000 miles

IN FRESNO, CA AT 5:30 P.M., I WAS HEADING EAST ON SHAW AVE., A THREE LANE STREET, NEAR BRAWLEY AVE. A VAN, WAITING FOR CROSS TRAFFIC AT THE CENTER ISLAND, SUDDENLY JOLTED INTO THREE LANES OF HEAVY CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC. THE CAR DRIVER IN THE FIRST LANE SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND STOPPED SAFELY. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND UNABLE TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT, SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND CRASHED BROADSIDE, TOTALING BOTH VEHICLES. MY AIRBAG EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. I SUSTAINED A HEAD AND ANKLE WOUND ABOVE MY LEFT EYE AND ABRASIONS AND BURNS ON BOTH HANDS AND ARMS. MY RIGHT SHOULDER SUSTAINED MUSCLE TEARS FROM THE EXPLOSIVE BAG. THE DRIVER IN LANE ONE, A WITNESS, REPORTED THE VAN'S UNSAFE LEFT TURN, TO THE

NHTSA complaint 10722293, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Seatbelt light for the front driver continues to turn on even when buckled in and will ding to notify that it’s not buckled despite it buckled in. This is a safety issue as the airbag light also remains on because of it.

NHTSA complaint 11688614. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

139,908 miles

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Canyon. The contact noticed that there was wiring appearing from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear sub frame was rusted and cracked. Additionally, the parking brake cable was hanging from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive. The dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,908. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint 11587487. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On all chevy / canyon models 05 thru 12 there is an issue called "passlock" which prevents the vehicle from starting, it will leave you stranded. The failure is the ignition housing with the passlock sensor, not the actual key / tumbler, the part has to be replaced. The problem / failure is so common that you can "google" 2005 thru 2012 chevy colorado gmc canyon passlock issue" and find the root and a how to fix / repair guides. I spent almost $600 at the GMC dealer, they found no error or trouble codes in either on board computer, I showed the service advisor the issue, online diagnosis and suggested the repair. This is so dam common it should be a defective part recall and all repairs and

NHTSA complaint 11575200, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Within past year, 2022 to present vehicle will on average 4-5 times a month fail to start. Key in ignition, to accessory mode than fail to turn over. All indicator lamps on dash display. Door chime sounds. Nothing to indicate a problem. Had GMC dealership troubleshoot. They found no codes and vehicle would start fine for them (of course). New battery had been installed, starter was tested, fuel injectors cleaned. MY online research has found a similar problem with multiple year GMC vehicles beginning in 2009 thru 2014. Ignition lock cylinder issue due to pass lock sensor. Passlock sensor malfunctions thus requiring a 10 minute wait prior to restarting vehicle. A vehicle requiring 10 minute

NHTSA complaint 11503124, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
The Passcode Anti-theft system randomly triggers when attempting to start the vehicle. When it triggers, the vehicle cannot be started for at least 10 minutes. I have had this system trigger multiple times at home, at the grocery store, and at a gas station. I am afraid that the device will eventually leave me stranded, so I am having the device replace for the cost of over $700.

NHTSA complaint 11477739. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES: I purchased vehicle September 25, 2012. This problem has occurred since I purchased the vehicle. It does not happen all the time. The problem is the brakes lockup and the steering wheel shudders and the vehicle pulls to the right. The vehicle makes a griding noise. It will NOT stop immediately when you put on the brakes. The brake pedal jumps up and down and makes a grinding noise. The vehicle pulls to the right and jumps up and down. In answer to the next question: This problem has happened since I purchased the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11453163. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Canyon

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 8 2
2024 205 3
2023 58 3
2022 24 1
2021 11 2
2018 52 1
2017 65 1
2016 267 4
2015 301 8
2011 12 5
2010 8 2

Other 2012 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 144 vehicles, 425 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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