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…
2015 GMC Terrain electrical problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2015 GMC Terrain electrical issues cluster shows widespread infotainment, engine management, and safety-system failures that dealerships struggle to diagnose or repair. Owners report hazardous situations including uncontrolled lift gates, false collision alerts, sudden stalling on highways, and non-functioning headlights—plus excessive oil consumption leading to timing chain failure as early as 70,000 miles.
Owners describe a 2015 GMC Terrain with systemic electrical and mechanical faults spanning multiple systems. The infotainment system—radio, backup camera, touchscreen—repeatedly fails, sometimes requiring dealership reset via battery disconnect or button presses on the mirror; one owner faced a $2,000 radio replacement bill. Multiple owners report the vehicle stalling without warning while driving, especially on interstates and at intersections, with fault codes that clear before repair shops can analyze them. A critical safety issue: the powered lift gate closes forcefully without warning, creating crush hazards; another owner's gate won't open at all. Collision alert systems activate randomly on highways with no vehicles present, triggering unwanted braking. Several owners document severe oil consumption—some experiencing engine failures as early as 70,000 miles due to timing chain slippage, despite regular maintenance. Power steering has failed, windshield wipers stopped mid-rain, low-beam headlights won't illuminate fully, and gauges have gone dark. The StabiliTrak system triggered speed limits to 50 mph on highways. Battery drain is a recurring complaint, sometimes requiring multiple jump-starts daily. Dealership diagnostics frequently yield no codes, false diagnoses, or inability to reproduce problems. GMC has acknowledged some issues (like OnStar involvement in radio failures) but offers no permanent fixes or recall actions.
Same GMC Terrain electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Power Lift Gate Malfunction
Lift gate closes forcefully without warning or control, creating crush hazard. One narrative reports lift gate won't open at all using key fob, button inside vehicle, or button on gate after strut replacement.
When: During routine use
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden uncontrolled closing; Won't open via key fob; Won't open via interior button; Won't open via gate button; Won't stay in up position
Repairs/costs cited: Lift gate support strut replacement attempted; issue persisted
Radio and Infotainment System Failures
Radio stops functioning; dashboard lights stay on. Bluetooth disconnects. Touch screen goes black. Multiple instances of repeated failures requiring dealership resets, battery disconnects, or OnStar-related troubleshooting. One owner reports $2000 radio replacement cost.
When: Intermittent; one case August-September 2021, recurring multiple times within days
Symptoms owners cite: Radio stops functioning; No volume control; Cannot change stations via steering wheel or touch; Bluetooth won't work; Dash lights won't turn off; Black screen on display; Backup camera fails; Radio turns on and off intermittently; Entire infotainment system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unplugs and resets battery (temporary fix); replaced touch screen $2000 radio replacement; parts on backorder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GMC acknowledged OnStar component involvement; advised pressing white button on rearview mirror; stated no permanent fix available; offered loaner car with no ETA
Excessive Oil Consumption and Timing Chain Failure
Engine consumes oil excessively; timing control solenoid codes; dipstick shows no oil despite regular oil changes. Timing chain slips and breaks, destroying engine. Three separate engine failures reported on one vehicle.
When: As early as 70,000-82,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light comes on; No oil on dipstick; Engine smoking; Timing chain slips; Engine power lost suddenly while driving; Heavy oil consumption
Codes mentioned: Timing Control Solenoid
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replaced three separate times; entire timing chain assembly replacement recommended; parts ordered
Collision Alert False Activations
Collision alert system randomly activates and decelerates vehicle when no vehicles are present. Gets worse and more frequent over time. Feels like vehicle shifts to neutral and engages brakes.
When: Recurring for couple of years, worsening frequency
Symptoms owners cite: Random collision alert activation; Unwanted deceleration; Feels like shift to neutral; Brake engagement without driver action; Nearly causes rear-end collision on interstate
Mileage Sensor Failure
Mileage display goes out. No way to tell vehicle mileage. Dealership confirms common issue with Terrains but not covered under warranty.
Symptoms owners cite: Mileage cannot be displayed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership estimates hundreds of dollars to repair; owner declined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership confirmed common issue; stated not covered by warranty as it occurs after warranty expiration
Stalling and Loss of Power While Driving
Vehicle stalls without warning while driving at low speeds and on interstates. Engine won't accelerate below 20 mph. Gauges go crazy. Check engine light comes on. Vehicle shuts off during acceleration in traffic. Requires restart to reset system. Multiple shop visits unable to retrieve retrievable fault codes; codes clear before diagnosis.
When: Started March 2017, progressively worsening; repeated incidents in shop 10-15 times in 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling without warning; Jerking; Gauges going crazy; Check engine light; Sputtering below 20 mph; Won't accelerate; Won't start after stall; Recurring stalling on interstate and busy intersections
Codes mentioned: 7 error codes (all cleared before analysis)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple shop visits (10-15 times in 2 years); no permanent fix achieved; stranded out of town requiring rental car
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GMC filed complaint but slow to handle; difficulty reaching supervisors
Power Steering Failure
Power steering assist fails while driving at various speeds. Power steering warning message displayed. Mechanic states power steering received too much electricity, causing both power steering and wheels to lock up.
When: At approximately 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist failure; Power steering warning message displayed; Wheels lock up
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic identified excessive electrical current to power steering
Windshield Wiper Failure
Windshield wipers stop working suddenly during dark, heavy rain. Creates significant safety hazard requiring owner to pull over multiple times to manually wipe windshield.
When: November 3, 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield wipers stop working
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed issue; still not functioning next day
Multiple Gauge and Electrical System Dropout
Radio, speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, and turn signals all quit working simultaneously. Tool symbol appears on options screen. Issue self-corrected after vehicle parked for several hours.
When: During highway drive after seat heater turned on
Symptoms owners cite: Radio stops working; Speedometer stops working; Tachometer stops working; Fuel gauge stops working; Temperature gauge stops working; Turn signals stop working; Tool symbol appears; Radio comes on intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Code scanner showed no codes; battery checked (new) and cables checked for loose connections and corrosion; issue self-corrected
StabiliTrak Light and Speed Limiter
StabiliTrak light comes on. Vehicle jerks and limits speed to 50 mph even when highway speed limit is higher. Recurs after dealership diagnostic reset. Creates highway accident hazard.
When: Started around April 2023
Symptoms owners cite: StabiliTrak light comes on; Vehicle jerks; Speed limited to 50 mph; Cannot exceed 50 mph on highway
Repairs/costs cited: Independent garage reset; GMC dealership unable to find problem after $600 spent
Low Beam Headlight Failures
Low beam headlights fail to fully illuminate while driving at normal speeds. Occurs without warning. Multiple instances reported. Dealer unable to diagnose or repair.
When: Early in vehicle life (8,500 miles reported); also at 300 miles and 126,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights don't fully illuminate; Headlights lose power
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose or repair; one case dealer unable to duplicate failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failures
Engine Spontaneous Start and Stall
Vehicle starts on its own and won't turn off until key placed in ignition. Self-starts while parked in garage.
When: At approximately 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle starts without key insertion; Won't turn off; Self-starts while parked
Battery Drain and Charging Issues
Battery drains when vehicle parked for more than 2 days. Vehicle won't start without boost; requires boost 2-3 times per day. Battery is new; alternator confirmed good.
Symptoms owners cite: Battery drains rapidly when parked; Won't start without boost; Requires boost 2-3 times daily
Repairs/costs cited: New battery installed; alternator tested and confirmed good
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 electrical problem on the 2015 GMC Terrain?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 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?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 45,000 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 48,474. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 65,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2015/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.