This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
This is the second time in 3 months that my windshield wipers have completely stopped working while driving in a torrential downpour. I am not sure why the 2016 Terrains have not been recalled in the us, only in Canada! this is absolutely absurd! what is it going to take, someone senselessly dying in order for GMC to repair/replace their defective parts or for the NHTSA to mandate a recall"????"
On January 25, 2021, my 16-year-old daughter was driving my Terrain down the main road in our town, it was dark and it was starting to rain. She turned on the windshield wipers and after making one pass they stopped in the upright position. This scared her to death, she was able to pull over and call me and wait till the rain stopped but had either one of us been driving on the highway at 70mph this could have ended differently. This is very dangerous and needs to be addressed.
Update: Plastic wiper joints replaced 3 times, quit after 3 days. Complete wiper assembly replaced, quit again. The assembly was the "new" version, completely different than original, still stopped mid use. GMC needs to recall this part immediately.
While traveling home from out of town during a downpour, the wipers just stopped. After waiting out the storm, my husband was able to locate the wiper assembly and found that the arm(held on by a small, plastic piece) had popped off on one side. He was able to reattach it, and it was fine for a few days until again, while traveling during a rainstorm, they stopped again. I was driving both times and at a high rate of speed. I was unable to see anything in front of me and had to stop in traffic(we were on a country road with no shoulder). We were told by a local dealer that the parts should be replaced, but that the assembly hadn't changed and it would keep happening. We also found numerous complaints online.
- Lancaster, KY, USA
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I was driving down the highway (with my children) during a torrential downpour, when my wipers suddenly stopped working. I had extreme difficulty seeing to be able to maneuver my car to a safe place without wrecking. It was very scary for all of us.(not to mention tornado sirens going off at this time.) since then I have replaced the fuse and the relay and they still do not work, so I think it may be the motor. This car isn't old enough to have problems like this. This with the other problems I have had since purchasing the Terrain make me wish I would not have bought it. Now we are stuck not being able to drive it when it rains until I can save up the money to fix it. Thanks a lot GM.
2016 GMC Terrain. Consumer writes in regards to defective link ball socket in wiper transmission. The consumer requested to have the vehicle assessed for the known failure without being charged a diagnostic fee.
The wipers stopped working during severe inclement weather; almost causing a wreck due to the inability to see through the windshield. The vehicle was in motion on a highway.
The ball joints in the windshield wiper module corroded over time and fell out of the socket. This caused both of the wipers to stop operating while use in rain conditions. The windshield wipers continue to be inoperable.
Vehicle windshield fluid pump stopped working at about 49K miles. The wipers still worked, but when triggering the fully-filled windshield fluid, nothing sprayed onto windshield and could not hear the motor kicking on. This would happen when the car was in both stationary and in motion. There was evidence of a possible leak where the motor is located. Open investigation under NHTSA action number: EA19005.
While driving windshield suddenly fogs up with or without defrost/defog on. When it's dark out its very dangerous! tried every combination to resolve issue with no luck. Seems the air conditioner is blowing cold air on the windshield even with the temperature turned up. Twice ran off road onto shoulder because of this issue! luckily didn't hit anything or anyone!... it happens every morning on my way to work. It's been happening since I bought the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. While driving approximately 30 mph in inclement weather, the windshield wipers became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the windshield wiper motor failed and needed to be replaced. The repair was still pending. Serra Buick GMC Cadillac (located at 12300 30 mile rd, Washington, mi 48095, (586) 331-2540) and the manufacturer were contacted via phone. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
On Thursday, 18 July 2019, I was driving my 2016 GMC Terrain along Pennsylvania state route 420 in springfield township, Delaware county. Road surface conditions were very wet with pooling of water. It was raining heavily and forward visibility was down to about 75 feet. One second the front windshield wipers were working and the next second, both ceased to function in mid-wipe position at full speed. I was able to get the vehicle off the roadway and into a bank parking lot. I did notice that, even though the wipers were not working, it sounded as if the wiper motor was still running. That noise stopped as well after about a minute. I checked the fuse and it appeared to be ok but I did replace it yet the wipers still would not activate.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. While driving 55 mph in the rain, the front wiper blades failed to stay on the windshield. The contact was able to stop safely to the side of the road and replace the wiper blades. The contact salso stated that she heard an abnormal noise and the windshield wipers failed to function. The contact waited until the rain settled to safely drive home. The contact called ross downing Buick GMC (located at 1301 S morrison blvd, hammond, la 70403, (985) 269-0701) and notified them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was invalid.
When driving 65mph in an intense rainstorm, windshield wipers suddenly stopped in the up position, almost causing an accident. I had to quickly turn on my 4 ways and try to find the side of the road to pull over (without being able to see out of my windshield) on a very busy roadway. This is while 7 months pregnant with another baby in the car. The motor runs but the wipers are completely dead so I know it isn't a fuse. This could have been very serious!
Friday, May 10, 2019 the vehicle was in motion on a highway, traveling through a major thunderstorm when the windshield wipers stopped working. The vehicle needed to be towed and the windshield wiper motor had to be replaced. The cost related to this defective part was $1156.98. I understand this part is currently under investigation by the NHTSA and that there is a recall for this problem in this year and model vehicle in Canada. I'm contacting the NHTSA so that my vehicle may be added to your data concerning the 2016 Terrain and the wiper motor and hope that there will be a recall here in the United States.
While driving on a Illinois interstate highway during heavy rain the wipers suddenly stopped in the extended positiion partically blocking my view of the highway. I pulled over and could only return the wiper blades to the home position and they would not work at this point. Took to my dealer and it was found that the wiper transmission had failed. GMC has issued a recall on earlier model years of the same make and model vehicle. Dealer confirmed that the failure was same as being reported on recalled vehicles. However, the 2016 model year of the GMC Terrain is not part of the recall at this time. From research I have done, the wiper transmission on my vehicle is the same design as the vehicles involved in the recall. Although an accident was not a part of this failure, it could have been as I was driving on a busy interstate highway at the time and it was raining hard. Copy of dealer invoice for work performed is attached which shows that this was a wiper transmission failure. I understand that their have been complaints of other failures for the 2016 models and wanted to add my failure to the list.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Louisville, KY, USA