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2015 GMC Canyon problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
19%
59 of 321 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2015 GMC Canyon. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 19% of relevant complaints.

Better than 88% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2015 GMC Canyon have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 59 of 321 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Canyon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 24%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
59
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
321
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
8
8 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING228 · 71%
POWER TRAIN43 · 13%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)37 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15 · 5%
ENGINE14 · 4%

The years either side

2010
too few complaints
2011
too few complaints
2012
16%
4 of 29
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
19%
59 of 321
2016
24%
64 of 270
2017
54%
34 of 66
2018
76%
35 of 52
2019
too few complaints
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
38%
9 of 26
2023
27%
15 of 62

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12/17/2025
I own a 2015 GMC Canyon that developed repeated and serious fuel-system and engine problems beginning around 56,000 miles. The vehicle experienced fuel contamination (water in the fuel system), multiple fuel injectors failing and sticking open, repeated misfires across several cylinders, and engine stalling/shutdown wh…
STEERING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM05/18/2025
Stabiltrak system stops working randomly all the time. It is seemingly random. It can do it as soon as I crank the truck, but more commonly it happens when I am driving. The ABS also will cause the truck to pull harder in one direction either left or right randomly. I have to put pressure on the steering will in the op…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER10/07/2022
Ignition locking solenoid fails to release when put into park, resulting in the key stuck in the ignition. I'm then unable to leave the vehicle unattended without threat of theft or battery failure. Dealer has not been able to fix the issue. No warnings or failure indications are observed, other than the key being stuc…

Three of 59 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2015 GMC Canyon (8)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly i…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaC…
AIR BAGS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 1, 2014. In the affected…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2015 GMC Canyon

Questions people ask about the 2015 GMC Canyon

Does the 2015 GMC Canyon have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 59 of 321 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Canyon concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 GMC Canyon?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the 2015 GMC Canyon. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which GMC Canyon years are better?

Among the GMC Canyon years we track, the 2012 (16%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (19%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2015 GMC Canyon?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 GMC Canyon shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.