2015 GMC Terrain Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year are dominated by windshield wiper failures, which owners often describe as happening suddenly at highway speed in rain or snow. A second, recurring theme is engine oil loss — owners report low or empty oil between changes, and some describe engine noise, stalling or engine replacement. Scattered reports cover warning lights and sensors, headlight glare and intermittent high beams, and several recall notices that owners say could not be completed while parts were unavailable.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop working mid-drive

   • 106 complaints (35%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2022

   Owners describe driving in rain, snow or slush when one or both front wipers suddenly stop, often while on the high setting or at highway speed. Many say the wiper motor can still be heard running while the arms do not move, and some found the linkage disconnected; others were told by a shop that the wiper motor or linkage needed replacement. Numerous complaints mention recall 22V165000 and report that the dealer could not perform the repair because parts were not available, sometimes offering a temporary fix. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles, almost always during rain or snow at speed.

   Recall 22V165000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V165000 was completed and whether the wiper motor or linkage has been replaced. Before buying, test both wiper speeds and check that the arms move smoothly with no lost motion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my 2015 Gmc Terrain on the highway at a speed of around 65mph during a heavy rainstorm. All of a sudden, my wipers became frozen and stopped moving back and forth. Because the wipers were not moving anymore, rain water accumulated very quickly and I lost visibility. I had to move over multiple lanes with almost zero visibility to get to the shoulder and out of traffic. I was extremely lucky I was not in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342446, filed 2020-07, 84,000 miles

   “I was driving down the highway doing about 65 when I ran into a bad thunderstorm when the windshield wiper suddenly stop working they was on high speed, which was very dangerous because it was the driver side wiper. I had to pull off the highway until the rain stop!”

   NHTSA complaint #11350015, filed 2020-08, 117,245 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine oil loss and low oil between changes

   • 83 complaints (28%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the oil level dropping well before the next scheduled change, in some cases adding oil every few days or several quarts over a few weeks. Complaints describe the oil pressure or check oil light coming on, engine rattling or ticking, shaking at stops, and in several cases a shop concluding the engine needed replacement. Some say the dealer could not identify where the oil was going; a few mention leaks at the timing chain cover or oil in the coolant. Usually reported from about 90,000 miles upward, with a few much earlier; some mention cold weather.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, ask for oil change records and whether oil consumption was ever measured, and look for leaks around the timing cover and under the engine.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a brand new motor put in my car at 73547 miles and now at 124079 I am having the same issues. They told me that they won't pay for it because the 100,000 warranty is up. The new parts that I put in my car will have a warranty, but the new motor that I put in my car went under the old power train warranty. Check engine light came on while driving to dealership to get an oil change and I had it towed right away to fm dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389844, filed 2021-01, 124,079 miles

   “At roughly 106500 miles our Terrain started 'jumping' when stopped at a stop sign. We brought it in and our oils was low even though we are regular in oil changes and check it regularly. After a fresh oil change the dealer said they couldn't tell where it was coming from and to come back in 500 miles to check it again. At 107000 miles we brought it back in as asked. The oil was slightly low but they said they would call after talking to the mechanic to let us know if we should have concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11414635, filed 2021-04, 107,200 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling, hesitation or reduced power

   • 58 complaints (19%)
   • median 58,700 mi at 4.7 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,359 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe jerking or sputtering when coming to a stop, the engine shutting off at idle, and messages such as reduced engine power appearing with the check engine light. Some mention rough running with a carbon-fouled ignition coil, and others a leaking high-pressure fuel pump allowing fuel into the oil, or a faulty camshaft phaser. Repairs range from a diagnostic and ignition work to engine replacement in the more severe accounts. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 170,000 miles, often noticed at stops or low speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, come to several complete stops and note any stumble or idle drop; ask whether the check engine light has been on and whether fuel pump or ignition work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a serious problem with my car the dealership to me my coil ignition has a crack in it and the is a lot carbon build up. I just bought the car in april of 2019 & I was told by car-fax the car had a 165 point inpection done on it”

   NHTSA complaint #11307631, filed 2020-02, 73,000 miles

   “I have been having problems with my car sense I have owned it . From day one it started with my wheels rubbing and scrubbing when in motion .I called dealership had repairs done on it for the first 7 months .I reported the problem back then to you all. Then after 3 yrs I started to feel some hesitation when sitting or taking off .then the forth year my power steering light comes on had that fixed now my engine light keeps coming on car still having some hesitation on and off . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11343430, filed 2020-08, 38,400 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight glare and high beams acting on their own

   • 21 complaints (7%)
   • median 42,500 mi at 2.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2023

   Owners describe excessive glare from the headlights that makes road signs hard to read, and in other cases high beams operating on their own so that oncoming drivers flash back. Some report the headlights going out at night while driving. Complaints link the glare and unwanted high beam behavior to recall 22V137000, and one owner says the dealer could not duplicate the problem. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to about 100,000, often noticed at night.

   Recall 22V137000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V137000 was completed, then check headlight aim and function at night or against a wall, watching for the high beams coming on without input.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an unknown speed, the windshield wiper failed to operate as needed without warning. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V165000 (Visibility) and 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer had not been notified of the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11463309, filed 2022-05, 60,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormal glare causing a visibility hazard. The contact stated that she was unable to read the road signs due to the glare. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11467963, filed 2022-06, 68,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and sensor faults

   • 10 complaints (3%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2024

   Owners report the service air bag message or air bag warning light coming on intermittently, sometimes right after purchase, and dealers diagnosing a faulty passenger-side air bag sensor. One owner describes front air bags not deploying in a crash despite a dashboard message; another reports the light appearing while the vehicle was started, with the dealer declining to run air bag diagnostics. Several complaints mention recall notices for other systems going unserviced in the same visit. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 125,000 miles, often appearing at startup.

   Recall 15V666000

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check; if the message recurs, ask for the stored air bag codes and whether the passenger sensor was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 2015 Terrain june 30 2020. Ever since I bought it I keep getting a warning on my dash board for service airbags.. It will come on as soon as I turn the car on.. It doesn't happen every time but at least once a week if not more. I took a picture of the warning and called the car,dealership wwhere I bought it told me to contact GM that this was a safety issue with the airbag alert coming on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351708, filed 2020-08, 101,500 miles

   “The seat belt alarm was going off in the front passenger so brought to dealership and was told the airbag sensor went bad and needed to be replaced. Quoted $900 to repair and not covered under warranty. If the seat belt was bad, that would be covered but not the airbag? I feel this is a safety recall and should be covered. If the airbag did not deploy in an accident, that would be a lawsuit.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360621, filed 2020-09, 55,000 miles

Buying note. Check that both open recalls — the wiper motor (22V165000) and headlight (22V137000) — have been completed, since owners often report long waits for parts. Also verify the oil level and oil change history carefully, as oil loss is the most common engine-related report on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.