This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 GMC Terrain lighting problems
severe Owners of the 2014 GMC Terrain have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain | 4 |
| 2011 Terrain | 7 |
| 2012 Terrain | 7 |
| 2013 Terrain | 8 |
| 2014 Terrain (this page) | 17 |
| 2015 Terrain | 19 |
| 2016 Terrain | 9 |
| 2017 Terrain | 7 |
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What stands out
Among the 8 model years of GMC Terrain in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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 lighting 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 Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Code P2097 or P2099. Technician will need to perform an injector balance or Active Fuel Injector Tester prior to going further. Technician will also need to check for a small leak in the exhaust if published Service Information diagnostics does not lead to a resolution.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Low-beam headlights on the 2014 Terrain create a dark blackout or shadow—sometimes across the upper windshield, sometimes in the middle—that severely restricts visibility at night. Owners describe being unable to see the road safely and forced to use high beams to drive. The problem appears across the mileage range and all driving speeds. Dealers have tried raising the beam aim to legal limits with negligible improvement; one shop installed brighter aftermarket bulbs without success.
GM issued recall N222363740 (Campaign 22V137000 for exterior lighting, and related 22V165000 for visibility), but the remedy involved applying an adhesive sticker to the headlight lens. Owners report this made vision worse and the sticker fell off at car wash. One owner's vehicle was "repaired" under the campaign but the defect came back immediately; manufacturer declined further help.
A separate headlight electrical connector melted and caused fire damage in one case. One owner had a passenger-side headlight fail outright. Windshield wiper failures also appear in the same complaint cluster, with parts for both recalls marked unavailable for months or longer. Multiple owners waited over a year for recall service that either never materialized or didn't fix the root problem.
Same GMC Terrain lighting reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Inadequate low-beam headlight output
Low-beam headlights fail to project sufficient distance or width, or create a dark shadow/blackout in the upper or middle windshield area, severely restricting night visibility. Multiple owners report being unable to see the road safely and relying on high beams as a workaround.
When: 25,000–133,000 miles; one reported at 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low beams don't project far or wide enough; Upper half of windshield blacked out with low beams on; Dark shadow in middle of windshield; Restricted vision at all speeds; Unsafe night driving; driver resorts to high beams
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted to raise/adjust low-beam aim to maximum allowable by state law with minimal improvement. Brighter aftermarket bulbs installed in one case but did not remedy the issue. Recall N222363740 solution was an applique/sticker applied to headlight exterior, which owners report made vision worse and fell off at car wash.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) and 22V165000 (Visibility). Recall repair parts unavailable for extended periods. Manufacturer stated nothing could be done to correct the restricted vision. One vehicle repaired under campaign 22V137000 but failure recurred; manufacturer provided no further assistance. No compensation or alternative remedy offered.
Headlight connector melt and fire damage
Headlight electrical connector melted, causing fire damage to headlight assembly and wiring. Owner smelled burning wires while driving.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke and burning wire smell while driving; Melted connector plug on headlight
Repairs/costs cited: Both headlights replaced, new bulbs installed, new wire harness plug installed.
Passenger-side headlight failure
Passenger-side headlight stops functioning. One owner notes the vehicle cannot be diagnosed or repaired due to parts unavailability.
When: 133,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side headlight inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; parts not available for recall repair (Campaign 22V165000 and 22V137000).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 22V165000 (Visibility) and 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) recalled but parts unavailable.
Dim or inoperable headlights with windshield wiper failure
Headlights become dim or inoperable, concurrent with windshield wiper motor failure. One owner reported failure during rain with dim headlights and non-functional wipers.
When: 73,101 miles (one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Dim headlights; Inoperable headlights; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Wiper motor and motor assembly replaced at independent mechanic. Headlight issue not diagnosed or repaired. Dealer was not contacted or did not repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) and 22V165000 (Visibility) notified. Manufacturer provided no further assistance. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I took the car in for a recall regarding the headlights. The recall number is N222363740. The dealer placed a sticker. On the headlights, which now makes it hard to see at night this is my wife’s commuter car to work at the hospital. We live in a very rural area where the 2 lane roads are remote and very dark.my wife works from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm but with her commute she leaves at 5;30 am and…
The contact owned a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V165000 (Visibility) and 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Had lighting trouble with your 2014 GMC Terrain?
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 lighting problem on the 2014 GMC Terrain?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 62,463 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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/2014/GMC/Terrain.
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.