This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 GMC Canyon electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 GMC Canyon have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Canyon | 15 |
| 2009 Canyon | 7 |
| 2011 Canyon | 3 |
| 2012 Canyon (this page) | 9 |
| 2015 Canyon | 12 |
| 2016 Canyon | 18 |
When does it fail?
Of the 9 electrical complaints filed for the 2012 GMC Canyon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
Truck will not start intermittently. Completely inoperable for several minutes, then will start up with absolutely nothing differently done to it. Left me and my kids stranded several times. Appears to be a passlock anti theft problem. Many, many complaints online with the exact same problem. This is unsafe for children to be subjected to!!! If anything happens to my children while stranded this…
The weight on the keyring and road conditions or a jarring event causes the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. The vehicle will not stay in the run position and there are no other mechanical/electrical problems with the vehicle. This began about a year ago and has progressively got worse. This is similar to the recall of GMC's Cadillac cts.
There is a problem whit the passlock system . Often 3 times in the past 3 days the truck will not start. The security lock dash light flashes and the security system will not allow the tuck to start . After exactly 10 min the security system times-out and resets allowing the truck to start . This is a problem on many Chevy and GMC vehicles and has been ongoing since 1998..often I am in…
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.
1/29/2015 no crank..displayed message "service stab sys traction fault" had it towed to dealer and they replaced ECU repair cost was going to be more than$500.00 until I contacted gm customer service it was then reduced to $100.00. Mileage was 33478. This was three months ago. And the no crank problem continued however turned key back to off for a few seconds then vehicle would.. Today had this…
My mother has been left stranded in parking lots or drive ways many times. The engine won't start, and the security light is flashing, wait ten minutes then it will finally start. The flashing light will eventually go off then she will try to start the engine. She can now get to her destination or should be able to make it home. This is only a temporary fix and gm needs to fix this.
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…
Brake lights and cruise control fail to function vehicle was return to the dealer for service and the fuse box was replaced 2 years and 40,000 miles same issue and after many return visits to the dealer fuse box was replaced again. *tr
Had electrical trouble with your 2012 GMC Canyon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2012 GMC Canyon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 53,230 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/GMC/Canyon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.