2024 GMC Canyon

I am reporting a driver distraction safety issue involving the infotainment system in my 2024 GMC Canyon. The vehicle displays a mandatory “Focus your attention on driving” warning every time the vehicle is started, requiring user acknowledgment. When using the built-in Google Maps navigation without subscribing to GM’s paid Connected Services plan (while tethering to a personal cellphone hotspot instead), the system displays a modal warning stating that a connected services subscription is required. This warning appears whenever cellular connectivity is briefly interrupted, even for a few seconds (such as when driving through a known cellular dead spot). The warning overlays the navigation screen and requires the driver to manually press a “Dismiss” button to continue, even while the vehicle is in motion, requiring the driver to take their eyes off the road to focus on pressing the dismiss button. This behavior creates a safety contradiction: The system warns drivers to focus on driving, then forces manual interaction with the touchscreen during active driving. The interruption is triggered by transient network conditions, not driver action. The behavior does not occur if the driver pays for GM’s subscription service, indicating it is a business-rule enforcement rather than a technical or safety requirement. The repeated appearance of this warning during normal driving conditions constitutes an unnecessary and avoidable distraction. It diverts attention from the road and navigation, increasing risk rather than reducing it. I believe this design violates established human-factors safety principles by introducing nonessential driver interaction during vehicle operation and should be reviewed as a potential safety defect related to driver distraction. We just got home from a trip to West Texas and had to press the dismiss button no less than 100 times while driving through areas with marginal/intermittent cell service. It's a huge driver distraction.

The Driver Information Center located directly in front of the driver that contains the speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure...etc., has a very distracting background. The background is a geometric patterns of triangles giving a sense of depth. This is very distracting especially at night. Quick looks to see speed, engine temperature or other critical vehicle information is complicated by this unnecessary aesthetic background. I reported this problem and it can be located here: [XXX] I've been advised to mail via USPS my concern to The Office of Defect Investigation Team which I will do today. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle does not have a manual switch for the headlight control. The only way to control the headlights is through the digital control interface on the infotainment console panel. The headlight controller button is so small that a person has to take their eyes off the road for a long time making it a very unsafe condition. If a deer was in your lane you could not turn your lights on and off quick enough to maybe un shine the deer so in would move while honking your horn. It is just totally unsafe as a hole when you’re not looking down the road while driving. If you had the switch you can always feel around for it much safer than taking your eys off the road while driving.

Heat shield over drive train not installed properly. While driving since purchased I’d hear a metal reverberation / clunking sound that seemed to be under the truck. I even had it in for oil change service w/ dealer and no mention of finding anything. On Sat 3/15/2025 I took it back to dealer with the heat shield that was torn from the undercarriage over the drive train, the service person said it did not to appear to have been fastened at the factory before delivery to dealer/me. They were going to re-install it, however it was damaged; and I told them that was not acceptable to put a broken part back on the truck. I still don’t know what other damage has occurred to the vehicle due to the rubbing/clanking around while driving the 12,000 miles I have on it. They told me it was safe to drive and just come back when they get the part in. I have photos and videos; the dealer took the damaged heat shield from me and I don’t know what they did with it. Risk level to other drivers is the heat shield could have flown off truck while driving; to me inside the vehicle could have obstructed drive train and caused damage/accident, and other damage I’m still not aware of. Yes, dealer advised: Harnish GMC Puyallup, WA 253-840-6300 No fix yet. No warnings in vehicle or on any electronic displays. I noticed the sound right away on purchase but couldn’t identify it until it “got so bad” I went under the truck to look, and found it separated and dragging on the drive train.

While driving on the highway, the sunroof of the truck shattered. There were no other vehicles nearby at this time. No one was hurt and nothing hit the vehicle to cause the sunroof to shatter. The vehicle was brought to the dealer for inspection/repair. This incident occurred on 3/4/2025. There was no rain or snow occurring at the time and temp outdoors was around 40 degrees. In addition to this incident, a piece of trim came loose on the vehicle that was repaired. No injuries resulted in this as it was noticed before it came off and hit anything going down the road at a higher speed.

Vehicle whole system was non existent. No interior lighting, no door chime when opened, no response. Mechanic took a look and found alternator not good. It’s not charging the battery and advised me to tow it to warranty repair shop. Advised me if I were driving and vehicle died I would not have power or control of vehicle and cause serious injury or death. Lucky I was parked at home and attempted to start vehicle to leave home. No repairs done yet, vehicle is still at home waiting for an appointment.

Headlights flicker constantly. While being extremely distracting and unsafe while driving, it also causes other driver to think I’m flashing them. This leads them to flashing their high beams at me when oncoming and pulling over to let me pass when in front of me. Also, after I complete a right turn, my left signal flashes 3-4 times. I brought it to the dealership and they said they suspect a “software glitch” but that GM hasn’t determined a cause or solution yet. It appears to affect models built in May/June 2024 and on. I was also told that the display screen in the truck can be/may become affected, which is the only way to control the lights in the vehicle. They could not provide me with a loaner or replacement and said to keep driving the vehicle as-is until GM can come up with a fix, despite repeatedly agreeing with how unsafe it is. I have filed a report with GM as well. I was told to “make noise and maybe they’d get it fixed sooner.”