general problems of the 2008 GMC Canyon

Been having an issue with the brake light switch at the brake pedal sticking and our brake lights staying on. We notice it mostly after we have parked the truck and turn it off. The brake lights will stay illuminated, not always right away. The brake lights staying illuminated have caused our vehicle to have a dead battery many times. This issue with the brake light switch causing the lights to stay on has actually caused us to have to buy 2 brand new batteries in just over a 12 month period. This issue has killed our battery and left us stranded for hours while waiting for someone to come help us jump the battery. There is a recall out for this brake light switch issue, but this specific year is not included in the recall. Even tho this truck is having the exact same issue the the recall is for. We have been dealing with this issue for over a year now.

"cruise control" went out and I cannot find out where the problem is. The fuses are excellent. While I was driving I had the cruise control on, then all of a sudden for no reason the green illumination on the dash that let's me know it's on, was off. I tried to engage the cruise control again but that did not work. The green illumination on the dash does not come on anymore even as I attempt to engage the cruise control. I was on the highway at the time this happened.

"engine light" illuminates while driving. During the first 20 minutes of driving this light appears and stays on. Then 15 minutes later as I continue to drive with no stopping or turning off the engine, the light goes off.

"brake pads/shoes" I had to replace the brake pads and shoes due to the binding, sequeling noise they were making. As a result I had to replace the rotors due to the damage. When I first start the truck and slowly leave my driveway, I could feel the binding and hear the sequeling. After driving 20 minutes this all goes away. Repairs $500. 00 which it drives 100 percent better!.

1. "theft deterrent" illuminates and truck will not start. Have to wait 10 minutes with key in the "acc" position and then it starts. Happens often at least 2 times a week. Also, while I am driving the "theft deterrent" illuminates at least 4 times a week while highway driving but luckily the truck does not stall or stop.

"rear brake lights" lights were not working when I applied pressure to the brake pedal. I was going to work and a driver next to me informed me that both my brake lights are not working as I was at a red light. I was driving on a city street. The result was I replaced both rear brake bulbs after spending 2 hours of identifying the problem thinking it was more complicated. I always check all my lights each month making sure I am in compliance!.

"tire pressure monitor"(tpm). The tpm is always illuminating on my dash. I check my tires plus the spare every month and nothing seems to be wrong with the inflation. I still have the factory rims, with the same tire size according to manufacturer but newer with no upgrades. No damage to rims or tires ever.

At the time of original discovery of a problem the vehicles cruise control would work intermittently. Months after the original discovery, a friend stated I had no brake lights. I checked the fuses and bulbs both were satisfactory. I conducted a check of the break light switch with a volt meter and the switch is bad. There is no indication to the operator that the brake lights are not functioning. Further research indicates there is a known problem in this make of vehicle. I have conducted a VIN search of my vehicle and it is not covered in current or past recalls of this known issue. I believe the scope of the recall is not inclusive of all affected vehicles. I would also like to know if this issue translates to vehicles that come factory equipped with towing packages, in that if an operator is towing and using the factory installed towing connectors would the lighting of the towed vehicle be affected as well.

About 3-4 days per week the truck will not start. We have to take the key out of the ignition and let the truck sit for around 10 min. And then the truck will start, or if it does start the components on the dash and the radio does not work and we have to wiggle the switch to get it to work.

The initial problem is that the vehicle ignition engages on its own while parked without the key being in the ignition. I would notice the radio playing on occasion. When I opened the door the bells sound like the key is in the ignition but it is not. On other occasions the battery would just be drained dead. I took it in to several different GMC dealer several times and each time I was told since they could not duplicate the problem there was nothing they could do. Soon after, and this has occurred on several occasions, the cruise control would disengage while driving down the highway. On several other occasions the security light lights in the dashboard. Note: this vehicle does not have a security system. The light would clear when I stopped the truck and restarted it. For several years since I have been going through taillight bulbs at a rate of about one per month. Finally a GMC dealer discovered that the plug for the light bulb had melted / burned. All these incidents seem related to the ignition / electrical system and seem too similar to all the other issues recalled to not have been included in previous recalls.