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2007 GMC Canyon Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 GMC Canyon has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Passlock and ignition switch prevents engine start.” GMC trucks and SUVs use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — the same algorithm as Chevrolet. Because GMC's lineup is exclusively trucks and SUVs, severe-service intervals apply to most owners (towing, hauling, off-roading). The schedule below surfaces the items most relevant to GMC's truck-focused buyer.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 GMC Canyon.

Reported to NHTSA

Passlock and ignition switch prevents engine start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2010-07 → 2021-10

“---ISSUE WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM--- SPORADICALLY, WHEN KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED, THE VEHICLE PASSLOCK ENGAGES AND CUTS OFF FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. YOU MUST WAIT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES FOR SECURITY LIGHT TO QUIT FLASHING AND THEN TRY TO START VEHICLE AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10604390
“VEHICLE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START. SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING. AFTER 10 MINUTES WITH KEY ON AND SECURITY LIGHT OFF AFTER TURNING OFF THEN CRANK ENGINE STARTS. HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 TIMES. NOW, ENGINE SOMETIMES WILL CRANK ITSELF IN THE "ON" POSITION AND WILL NOT START AND SECURITY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10622352
“SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE HAD INCIDENTS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED IT NEW, AND THE MAKER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, BUT IT HAS KEPT THE MOTOR FROM RUNNING AT TIMES, AND ENGINE STARTER WILL ENGAGE WITH SWITCH ONLY IN THE "ON" POSITION,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10609052

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission gear engagement failure

POWER TRAIN

4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-09 → 2018-03

“AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHERE OVERDRIVE AND 3RD GEAR CEASED TO FUNCTION. 2ND, 1ST AND REVERSE REMAINED OPERATIONAL. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED SPRAG CLUTCH. COST TO REPAIR WAS $1,925.56. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10495319
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND UPON APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS HESITATION ACCOMPANIED BY NO POWER. SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10283857
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE THE KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE IGNITION AND GEAR SHIFT AND WAS INFORMED ABOUT OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10344220

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear brake grab and ABS fault

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

5 NHTSA complaints · 2009-03 → 2020-03

“I HAVE A 2007 GMC CANYON PICKUP AND RECENTLY THE REAR BRAKES HAVE EXCESSIVE GRAB, AGGRESSIVE DRAG, AND THE REAR DRUMS LOCK UP CAUTIONING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SET FOR A WHILE, DURING THE FIRST FEW STOPS OR BEFORE YOU GET HEAT BUILT UP IN THE BRAKES, IT FEELS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10285436
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON BRAKE APPLICATION, HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10261504
“ABS FAULT I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES WHEEL HUBS AND SENSERS 2 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS STILL ABS FAULT 98,000 MILES ON TRUCK THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11316316

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake and turn signal lamp failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

4 NHTSA complaints · 2011-06 → 2020-01

“LEFT REAR BRAKE LAMP IS INOPERATIVE PERIODICALLY. I'VE REPLACED THE BULB 3 TIMES IN THE PAST BUT THIS TIME THE LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK. THE LAST BULB WAS PARTIALLY MELTED AT CONTACTS. NOT COVERED BY RECALL - I AM PAYING FOR SOCKET REPLACEMENT. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A CHRONIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10513358
“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I PURCHASED MY 2007 GMC CANYON IN FEBRUARY 2007 WITH TRAILER HARNESS AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT AT FRESARD GMC. I ACTUALLY ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ALL MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. I CALLED GMC TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT DUE TO INTERNET RESEARCH ON RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10436636
“I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSE. IT WAS GOOD. A WEEK LATER, MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10409670

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

HVAC blower wiring harness overheating and melting

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2010-09 → 2019-06

“ON APRIL 17 2010 I SMELLED BURNING WIRES UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN THE BLOWER FAN STOP WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 4/21/10 FOR REPAIR. GMAC CANYON 2007 TRUCK. ON DECEMBER 29, 2012 THE SAME ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER DASH BOARD AND SMOKE TOO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10490850
“WIRE HARNESS DEFECT A/C BLOWER CONNECTOR BURN UP AND MELTED UNDER THE DASH. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE UNDER THE DASH CAUSE A CRASH OR EVEN DEATH TO THE DRIVER. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE LAMPS INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUS ILLUMINATION. IF THIS RECALL IS A WIRE HARNESS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10462821
“THE AIR CONDITION BLOWER MOTOR SUDDENLY FAILED. UP INSPECTION AND TROUBLESHOOTING IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUG CONNECTING TO THE MOTOR HAD MELTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11220800

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light and restraint system wiring faults

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-07 → 2021-02

“I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR I WAS REAR ENDED WHICH PUSHED MY TRUCK INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SO HARD IT MADE MY TRUCK AIRBORNE AND ROLLED 6 TIMES THRU A CITY INTERSECTION. THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK WAS CRUSHED ALMOST TO NOTHING OUT OF THE 4 VEHICLES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11397427
“VEHICLE IS A SMALL PICK UP EXTENDED CAB WITH HALF DOORS THAT HAVE REAR SIDE HINGES. AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT WAS SET. UPON REPAIR DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WIRES THAT TRAVEL BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE LEFT SIDE HALF DOOR -BEHIND THE DRIVERS DOOR WERE BROKEN FROM THE DOOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10721605
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC CANYON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE PATCHED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10615298

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall with loss of power steering and braking

STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2013-02 → 2019-11

“WHEN YOU START YOUR TRUCK UP LET IT WARM UP YOU START DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES AND THE RPM START GOING UP AND DOWN UP AND DOWN WITH VEHICLE DYING SPORADICALLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11280526
“THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES ENGINE STUTTER AT LOW IDLE (>1000RPMS) VARYING FROM 1000 RPMS TO 200 RPMS WITH FELT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW RPMS. AT LOWER RPMS, TYPICALLY AT STOPS OR LOW IDLE TURNS, THE TRUCK WILL STALL WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL (TAPPING THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10499792
“LOSS OF POWER STEERING, SLOW BREAKING AND UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. PROBLEM FIXES TEMPORARILY WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11156838

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when OLS reaches 0% or every 12 months. dexos1-approved synthetic required on Sierra 1500 5.3L/6.2L; dexos2 specified on Duramax diesel.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Sierra and Yukon owners running 4x4 should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Towing accelerates pad wear by 30-50%; check more often if towing regularly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

DOT 3 brake fluid: test annually, replace when moisture exceeds 3% or fluid is darker than copper.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

Long-life cellulose filter rated 45,000 miles. Trucks driven on unpaved roads or construction sites should inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (towing 5,000+ lbs regularly, heavy stop-and-go): every 45,000 miles. Normal: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI for 6L80/6L90, Mobil 1 LV ATF HP for 10L80/10L1000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

On 4WD models, replace every 45,000 miles. Use GM Auto-Trak II for active 4WD; GM 9986115 for selectable 4WD.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Differential Fluid (front + rear)

Every 50,000 mi

Replace front and rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. G80 limited-slip rear axles require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on the L83/L84 5.3L and L86/L87 6.2L V8 are rated 100,000 miles. AFM/DFM cylinder deactivation can cause uneven plug wear — check at 75,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000. Duramax diesel uses ELC (red) — different chemistry, do not mix.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Sierra HD and Yukon XL owners in dusty work environments should replace at 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

35 crashes 1990–2024

How the 35 occupant deaths break down

30

driver deaths

5

passenger deaths

35

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

1

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 GMC Canyon reflects GMC's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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