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2015 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 GMC Terrain do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

171 reports with mileage · 126 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

101 reports
Clear category filter
51,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE WARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #11152416

50,100 miles · Nov 17, 2018
Visibility/wiper

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. IT WAS DURING A BAD SNOWSTORM AT THE TIME. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL IN CANADA FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT IN USA. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.

NHTSA ODI #11152155

66,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED MOVING AND BECAME STUCK AT THE TWELVE O'CLOCK POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF ME. UPON INSPECTION, THE PLASTIC LINKAGE/BUSHING IN THE WIPER ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI #11150079

55,000 miles · Nov 6, 2018
Visibility/wiper

WIPER TRANSMISSION ARM FAIL OUT OF BUSHING CAUSING WIPERS NOT TO WORK. I BOUGHT PART AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. WOULD LOVE TO BE REIMBURSED. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS RECALL ON 2013 AND NOT 2015.

NHTSA ODI #11149776

90,000 miles · Sep 13, 2018
Visibility/wiper

WHILE DRIVING IN A SUDDEN RAINSTORM IN IOWA IN JUNE THE WIPERS ON MY 2015 GMC TERRAIN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING US TO CRASH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BUSHINGS GOING OUT ON THE WIPER ASSEMBLY AND THERE IS EVEN A RECALL IN CANADA. WHY NOT THE US! A COUPLE OF MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED ME THAT IT IS P…

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WHILE DRIVING IN A SUDDEN RAINSTORM IN IOWA IN JUNE THE WIPERS ON MY 2015 GMC TERRAIN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING US TO CRASH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BUSHINGS GOING OUT ON THE WIPER ASSEMBLY AND THERE IS EVEN A RECALL IN CANADA. WHY NOT THE US! A COUPLE OF MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED ME THAT IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT HASN'T CAUSED A PROVEN FATALITY IN THE US, WELL, WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO DRIVE AROUND A 90 DEGREE TURN AT AROUND 50 MPH WITH A SUDDEN DROP OFF THAT GOES ABOUT 50 FEET DOWN NEXT TO THE ROAD. THE ONLY REASON WE DIDN'T WRECK IS BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROAD MY ENTIRE LIFE (SINCE 14) FOR ABOUT 26 YEARS. ANYONE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROAD WOULD HAVE PROBABLY DROPPED OFF THE EDGE OR HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS FIXED BY MECHANICS 3X SINCE, I THINK IT IS HOPEFULLY FINALLY REPAIRED. BOTH MECHANICS ADVISED THE ENGINEERS REALLY MESSED UP AND THEY HAVE SEEN LOTS OF THESE FROM 2010 GMCS/CHEVYS AND NEWER. GM NEEDS TO TAKE A NICE LONG LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THESE AND DO FOR THE US WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN CANADA. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN CANADA ACCORDING THE STICKER ON THE DOOR, AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IF I LIVED THERE THIS WOULD BE RECALLED. THIS ISSUE GREATLY IMPAIRS ONES ABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AND PEOPLE COULD LOSE LIVES OVER THIS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND THE PERSON DID NOT LIVE TO TELL YOU THEIR STORY.

NHTSA ODI #11129319

64,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #11122767

59,000 miles · Apr 28, 2018
Visibility/wiper

A BUSHING BROKE ON THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST SINCE IT WAS GOING TO BE RAINY FOR A FEW DAYS. I HAVE SEEN THE 2013 TERRAINS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. APPARENTLY GM DID NOT GET IT RIGHT SINCE IT HAPPENED ON MY 2015. SHOULD YOU NEED MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS WITH MY EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALER AS WELL AS GM DIRECTLY, PL…

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A BUSHING BROKE ON THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST SINCE IT WAS GOING TO BE RAINY FOR A FEW DAYS. I HAVE SEEN THE 2013 TERRAINS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. APPARENTLY GM DID NOT GET IT RIGHT SINCE IT HAPPENED ON MY 2015. SHOULD YOU NEED MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS WITH MY EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALER AS WELL AS GM DIRECTLY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

NHTSA ODI #11090757

59,000 miles · Apr 15, 2018
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR, BUT THE BLADES WERE NOT MOVING. I TURNED AROUND AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BUSHING BROKE. IT IS A PLASTIC PART. I CANNOT BELIEVE A PLASTIC PART IS WHAT IS HOLDING THE L…

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I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. I COULD HEAR THE MOTOR, BUT THE BLADES WERE NOT MOVING. I TURNED AROUND AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT FAR FROM HOME TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE WIPER ARM LINKAGE BUSHING BROKE. IT IS A PLASTIC PART. I CANNOT BELIEVE A PLASTIC PART IS WHAT IS HOLDING THE LINKAGE TOGETHER. THIS IS DEFINITELY A POOR ASSEMBLY ON THE PART OF GM AND SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING OF FAILURE. WITH TODAY BEING A SUNDAY I UNABLE TO LOCATE REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, ITS GOING TO RAIN ALL DAY.

NHTSA ODI #11085107

44,000 miles · Jul 8, 2017
Visibility/wiper

DURING A SNOW STORM IN MARCH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING! LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY SINCE I WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. I WENT TO UNION PARK AND GOT THE ISSUE FIXED FOR $110.00. I HAD TO PAY FOR IT SINCE UNION PARK TOLD ME I HAD 38,000 MILES ON MY LEASE AND THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT AT 36,…

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DURING A SNOW STORM IN MARCH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING! LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY SINCE I WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. I WENT TO UNION PARK AND GOT THE ISSUE FIXED FOR $110.00. I HAD TO PAY FOR IT SINCE UNION PARK TOLD ME I HAD 38,000 MILES ON MY LEASE AND THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT AT 36,000. THEN DURING A RAIN STORM IN LATE JUNE MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN ON THE BLUE ROUTE. I PULLED OVER UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT TOUCH IT BECAUSE THIS PART WAS RECALLED BY GMC. THE SUBJECT OF THE ALLDATA REPAIR SITE STATES '#15789- WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE (OCT 26, 2015)' IN AUGUST OF 2016 GMC RECALLED 368,000 GMC TERRAIN AND CHEVY EQUINOX SOLD IN 2013 DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE DEFECT IN THE 2013 MODELS WERE NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL LATE 2015, AND I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2015, LEADING ME TO SUGGEST THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED IN MY MODEL. THE ALLDATA REPAIR REPORT GIVEN TO ME BY SEARS AUTO STATS THAT A SIMILAR RECALL WAS MADE ON OCT 26 OF 2015. I TOOK THIS INFORMATION TO UNION PARK SERVICE CENTER AND THE ASSISTANT SERVICE DIRECTOR JAMES ASKREN REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE DATA REPORT FROM SEARS AND STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I TOLD HIM TO JUST CHARGE ME AND WE WILL HAVE THE COURTS DECIDE WHO IS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS HE REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR, LEAVING ME WITH A CAR THAT HAS NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS UNTIL HIS CALLED ME ON MONDAY. NO OTHER REPAIR CENTER WILL LOOK AT MY CAR SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, AND GMC WON'T TOUCH MY CAR BECAUSE I THREATENED LEGAL ACTION. I AM FORCED TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO AND FROM WORK WHILE GMC REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11003814

350 miles · May 17, 2016
Visibility/wiper

IF WE USE ANY CLIMATE CONTROL SETTING BEFORE USING THE DEFROSTER, THEN TRY TO USE THE DEFROSTER, IT WILL ONLY BLOW COOL AIR. IF WE CHANGE THE SETTING TO VENT, HEAT OR A/C, WARM AIR WILL BLOW, BUT SWITCH IT BACK TO DEFROST AND ONLY COOL AIR BLOWS FROM IT. WE COULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF FOG IN A WARM RAIN WITHOUT TURNING T…

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IF WE USE ANY CLIMATE CONTROL SETTING BEFORE USING THE DEFROSTER, THEN TRY TO USE THE DEFROSTER, IT WILL ONLY BLOW COOL AIR. IF WE CHANGE THE SETTING TO VENT, HEAT OR A/C, WARM AIR WILL BLOW, BUT SWITCH IT BACK TO DEFROST AND ONLY COOL AIR BLOWS FROM IT. WE COULD NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF FOG IN A WARM RAIN WITHOUT TURNING THE DEFROSTER ALL THE WAY TO HOT (95 DEGREES). AS THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, IT WAS UNBEARABLY HOT IN THE CAR TRYING TO DRIVE. TOOK THE CAR TO 2 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS MULTIPLE TIMES, NO CODE SHOWS, SO NO FIX FOR THIS. WE ARE SENT BACK HOME WITH CAR AS IT IS. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED JUST AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN JULY 2015, AND CONTINUES TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #10865346

Official recalls

3

22V165000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Mar 17, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

22V137000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 8, 2022

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 16, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA19005 · Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative

Opened Dec 13, 2019 · Closed Nov 28, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility/wiper; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

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.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Visibility

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.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

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.

Visibility/wiper

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.

RQ18002 · Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure

Opened Nov 2, 2018 · Closed Dec 19, 2019

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility/wiper; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

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.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Visibility

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.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

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.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

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.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

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.

Visibility/wiper

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.