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ProblemsByVin Index / 2015-GMC-TERRAIN / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2015 GMC Terrain owner complaints

295 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 2 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

visibility 5 complaints shown

103 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
12/31/2018 64,730 mi ODI #11164295.0

2015 GMC terrain windshield wipers became inoperative on december 31, 2018 while driving on a city street during heavy rain. Wipers were set on regular speed when they failed. Upon inspection the wiper arms feel totally disconnected from the wiper motor. *dt*jb

12/19/2020 150,000 mi ODI #11384183.0

Wiper have quit working. It appears to be a linkage issue. Noticed when it started raining as we were driving home. We were fairly close to home and made it home without incident. It appears that this is known issue with the terrain

12/17/2019 34,000 mi ODI #11289558.0

While driving down I-20w going 65 MPH, in a thunderstorm and heavy rain, my windshield wipers just stop. They would not come back on, they were literally just frozen across my windshield. I had to pull off the road on a very busy interstate during morning rush hour and avoid cars which I could barely see. This was extremely terrifying and made me so very anxious. I almost wrecked twice simply because I could not see. This is so dangerous!!!!!!! And I see that there are many others who have experienced the same thing. There is a recall in canada for the 2015 GMC terrain for this exact problem, but not in the usa ..... W h y ????? GMC must do something now before people are injured or killed!!

12/10/2019 88,000 mi ODI #11288140.0

My husband was driving home on the freeway at approximately 55 MPH from downtown houston in pouring rain. At the 610/225 junction the front wipers stopped working. He checked the fuse and then checked the wiper motor, which he could hear working. Upon researching he found that there is a known issue with the plastic bushings breaking on the windshield wiper transmission. Unfortunately you can't replace just the bushings, the whole assembly has to be replaced.the part is $86.00 + tax if you are able to do it yourself, otherwise it will be over $300.00 at the dealer.we feel very blessed that it was my husband driving and not our daughter as this would probably be a very different post. I am curious as to how many of the vehicle wrecks in bad weather involving gm vehicles where someone was

12/03/2018 72,913 mi ODI #11155817.0

Windshield wipers stopped working in rain storm while traveling in parking lot.

powertrain 4 complaints shown

21 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/31/2023 ODI #11562794.0

The blower fan for heat In my vehicle was replaced in October 2022, recently the Defroster will not engage and it is vital to winter driving. The mechanism that switches between which vent to blow out air was replaced and the Defroster will still not engage, rather it comes out of the heat and face vents. Shortly after the Defroster stopped engaging, the rpms will start fluctuating from 2 suddenly up to 6-8 without warning or acceleration then go back down and back up as if it's chugging along. Even when applying the brakes, this will continue to happen and there's concern for Rear-ending or crashing when this happens. When driving home 2 nights ago the county police pulled my vehicle over due to burnt out headlight, which was replaced less than 6 months ago. Took the car in to get bulb r

12/17/2018 ODI #11161957.0

The engine light came on after an 3 days after oil change and begin to cut off when I would accelerate. I took it to carmax and they said it was a faulty sensor which was covered by the powertrain warranty. Carmax suggested I take the car to a GMC dealer for repair. I took the car to the GMC dealer, they repaired it and 1 1/2 weeks later the engine light came on and the car was cutting off again. I went to the GMC dealer a second time and they said, "they could not duplicate my concerns, there was no problem with the car, the engine light is not on and the car was driven for 10 minutes without any issues". After driving the car for 5 days, the engine light is on again and the car is stalling. I have to accelerate over 10 - 20 miles for the car to stay on. I know that something is wrong, I

12/14/2020 97,811 mi ODI #11383275.0

Vehicle randomly says service stabilitrack and traction control. Service engine light, traction control light come on. RPM guage, speedometer, digital speedometer, temp gauge all will bounce and go to 0. Vehicle struggles to accelerate while this is happening. When it kicks back in vehicle jolts. I cannot replicate it, does this randomly. Has been to the dealer multiple times and they cannot replicate the problem or diagnose it. Always happens while driving

11/30/2016 24,461 mi ODI #10928785.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 GMC terrain. The contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the water pump, timing belt, gasket kit, and chain links for the timing belt failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After being serviced, the vehicle later began to lunge forward and the gears attempted to shift. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,461.

engine 4 complaints shown

61 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/25/2022 ODI #11498787.0

Stopped at Kwik Trip to get coffee before work one morning. Restarted Terrain and while leaving the SUV lost power and went into limp mode in heavy traffic. Car was towed to repair facility. Diagnosed as timing chain and guides failed resulting in major engine damage. Bill was $4302.85. Vehicle had 87397 miles on it.

12/22/2021 113,000 mi ODI #11444669.0

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while reversing out of her driveway, the vehicle started making abnormal knocking sounds. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the battery was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

12/11/2019 109,008 mi ODI #11288367.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 GMC terrain. While the contact was checking the vehicle's oil level in his driveway, the oil pressure shot up from the engine without warning. The contact took the vehicle to lynch gm superstore (2300 browns lake dr, burlington, wi 53105, (262) 763-7500) in may of 2019 where it was diagnosed that the engine gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure was currently recurring. The dealer was not contacted again. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 109,008.

11/29/2022 ODI #11495369.0

Engine died in the middle of the freeway when driving, creating hazardous condition. It was later found out there was no oil. Oil was changed less than 2000 miles prior by GM dealer, there was no leak on the garage floor and there was no warning that oil was low and the exhaust did not look any different. There was no way to tell the engine was burning oil. The engine had barely 110k miles.

body 2 complaints shown

9 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,500 · see body cluster analysis →
12/17/2019 60,000 mi Crash ODI #11289738.0

While pulling into a parking spot very slow the vehicle accelerated and damaged car in front there are traction marks showing the sudden acceleration. The car would not stop until the ignition was turned off. Because the cars in front were hit I placed the car in park after the ignition was turned off.

12/06/2019 40,000 mi ODI #11287447.0

There is water leaking (possibly from the air conditioner) onto the floorboard of the front passenger side. This has caused mold to form and grow in the carpeting. It is constant and is getting worse.

lighting 2 complaints shown

19 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
11/30/2017 25,000 mi ODI #11051457.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 GMC terrain. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds at night, half of the windshield was black when the low beam headlights were engaged. The contact could only see 30 feet ahead when the headlights were engaged. Jeff drennen Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac in zanesville, ohio was made aware of the failure and adjusted the headlights, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 25,000. .*bf updated 8/16/18*jb

11/30/2015 ODI #10807493.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 GMC terrain. While driving 40 MPH, the low beam headlights failed to fully illuminate. The failure occurred during night driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the headlights could not be adjusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50.

cruise control 1 complaint shown

12/29/2018 ODI #11164022.0

The car keeps stalling when trying to accelerate in reverse or drive and the check engine light is on. This is problem as I am reading up on this so I believe there is some kind of recall that needs to happen. This is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

airbags 1 complaint shown

15 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/06/2017 83,000 mi Crash ODI #11052790.0

Tl* the contact owned a 2015 GMC terrain. While driving 55 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle that had abruptly stopped. The air bags did not deploy. In addition, the safety feature to stop the vehicle from a collision failed to engage. A police report was filed. The contact suffered back pain and was scheduled to receive medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and deemed destroyed. John miles Chevrolet Buick GMC in conyers, georgia was made aware of the crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided the contact with case number: 83433332913. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

electrical 1 complaint shown

25 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/01/2019 ODI #11283185.0

My screen went totally black, I have no radio no back up cameras. Took it to dealer and they thought it was screen. The replaced the screen and the radio still want come on nor the back up camera. The dealership said it is the radio and they are going to charge me $2000.00 to fix it. My car is a 2015 GMC terrain denali with 43,000 miles on it. It has to be a factory defect for it to happen. My car has never had to have anything done to it except oil changes. Please help me I can't afford this kind of money. When I started it one morning that's when the screen was black with no radio or back up cameras.

Showing 300 of 295 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/GMC/Terrain#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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