CSR

GMC · NHTSA safety record

2015 GMC Terrain

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

297

Complaints

9

Crashes

1

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 GMC Terrain have filed 297 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2015 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is visibility and the wipers, named in 101 of them (34%). The typical failure was reported at 65,000 miles, the median across the 171 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints fell 43% year on year: 8 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 14 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

22V165000 · March 17, 2022

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
The risk
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.

General Motors, LLC · up to 681,509 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

22V137000 · March 8, 2022

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.

General Motors, LLC · up to 740,581 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

15V666000 · October 16, 2015

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

General Motors LLC · up to 395 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (2)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative

EA19005

Closed engineering analysis · opened December 13, 2019 · closed November 28, 2022 · led to recall 22V165000

visibility, visibility and the wipers

On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V-582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V-165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure

RQ18002

Closed recall query · opened November 2, 2018 · closed December 19, 2019

visibility, visibility and the wipers

On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V-582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 297.

VISIBILITY/WIPER 101 34%
ENGINE 80 27%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 10%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 24 8%
POWER TRAIN 21 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 7%
VISIBILITY 20 7%
AIR BAGS 16 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15 5%
STRUCTURE 13 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 8 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 60.

2015 2022 2026
2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 83,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11052790. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 48,000 miles

ON THE MORNING OF 1/12/18 @ 0812 I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION, SO FAR THE BODY SHOP SAYS MOST LIKELY IT IS TOTALED. ONSTAR DID NOT GO OFF, ALSO THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ATTACHED IS PICTURES OF MY CAR ON THE WRECKER RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND B/C OF THE GIANT BLIND SPOT THAT IS NOT ON ANY REVIEWS ETC. FOR THIS VEHICLE I DID NOT SEE THE MINIVAN THAT WAS HEADED WEST BOUND AND I WAS HEADED NORTH BOUND. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ON SE 5TH AND LELIA ST. IN GUYMON OKLAHOMA. ALSO A PICTURE IS ATTACHED OF ONE OF THE INJURIES I SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND ALSO HAD A HEAD INJURY AFTER GOING TO THE ER.

NHTSA complaint 11062789. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 53,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO SECOND VEHICLE CAUSING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. DURING THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL MESSAGE HAD INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA complaint 11331409. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 10,000 miles

IN THE EARLY MORNING OF 9-5-15 MY DAUGHTER BEGAN DRIVING HOME FROM PITTSBURGH TO DE. SHE SWERVED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL ON THE PA TURNPIKE, HIT THE JERSEY WALL ON THE RIGHT, ROLLED OVER COMPLETELY TWICE TO THE LEFT, LANDING UPRIGHT IN THE MEDIAN. LUCKILY THE SEAT BELT SAVED HER AND SHE HAD ONLY MINOR INJURIES. HOWEVER THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN FACT ONSTAR CALLED 911 BECAUSE THEIR MONITORING EQUIPMENT SHOWED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED, BUT THEY DID NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR AIRBAG PROBLEM THOUGH I'VE HEARD THAT THERE SHOULD BE SO I WANTED TO REPORT THIS.

NHTSA complaint 10767506. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding the engine timing chain failure in my 2015 GMC Terrain because I believe it presents a serious safety hazard. Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent symptoms, including engine jerking, shaking, rough operation, abnormal engine noises, and an intermittent check engine light. While driving on the highway, the engine timing chain failed, causing the vehicle to suddenly lose power. I was traveling at highway speed and had to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic. The unexpected loss of power placed me and other motorists at risk of a collision because I could no longer safely maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle was

NHTSA complaint 11751978, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

167,446 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the brake, ABS, and stabili-trak warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with an Electronic Brake Control Module failure. The dealer stated that the manufacturer no longer manufactured parts to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 167,446.

NHTSA complaint 11751551. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash

I hit a deer and it totaled my vehicle and the Airbags did not deploy

NHTSA complaint 11743616. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint 11743259. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

94,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started the following day, the rattling sound from the engine compartment returned. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on several occasions, and it was diagnosed and determined that the engine was low on oil and was consuming 2 quarts of engine oil every 2-3 weeks. The contact stated that the oil level was topped off. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA complaint 11731173. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Oil consumption, causing high pressure furl pump to clog. It also causes catalytic converter to clog. No warning of oil loss. Causing stalling out while driving. Caused the engine to seize. New engine replaced and still same problem s

NHTSA complaint 11730342. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Terrain

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 24 1
2024 48 1
2023 37 2
2022 52 2
2021 34 2
2020 189 2
2019 178 3
2018 216 5
2017 133 1
2016 152 2
2014 296 2
2013 363 3 1
2012 364 4
2011 386 4
2010 290 3

Other 2015 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 144 vehicles, 425 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst