The 2015 GMC Terrain has a good reliability record as a compact crossover SUV in its seven years on the market. Still, it hasn’t been without some problems. The most common failures include engine stall, excessive oil consumption, and malfunctioning windshield wipers.
Key Points
- Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2015 GMC Terrain has three recalls regarding failing windshield wipers, glaring headlight reflection, and side airbags prone to rupture.
- Excessive oil consumption, engine stalling, and malfunctioning wipers stand out as the most common of the 211 complaints on file.
- The 2015 Terrain has two investigations, with one still open. Both investigations are for the failing windshield wipers, where the ball joint can become detached after extended wear.
- Along with complaints registered with the NHTSA, many owners have turned to enthusiast forums to complain about the Terrain’s electrical system for things like malfunctioning infotainment consoles and connectivity issues.
- With over 200 owner complaints, 2015 wasn’t the first-generation Terrain’s worst year, but by 2016 the number of complaints was down to a third of those previously reported.
General Motors Has Recalled the 2015 Terrain Three Times, Including One for Rupturing Side Airbags, Excessively Bright Headlights, and Failing Windshield Wipers
According to the NHTSA, GM has recalled the 2015 Terrain three times.
The first recall covered a side impact airbag module in 395 vehicles of several models from GM’s 2015 lineup. The affected vehicles have front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags whose inflator may rupture upon deployment in a crash.
Another recall on the 2015 GMC Terrain vehicle is due to glare directed at other drives caused by headlight reflection. This problem may occur because headlight housings may illuminate areas above the car and outside the driver’s view with excessively bright light, thus increasing crash risk.
The third recall involved inoperative windshield wipers affecting certain 2014-2015 GMC Terrain vehicles. This failure occurs when the ball joints in the windshield wiper module corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail, creating potentially dangerous driving conditions.
Engine Stalling and Consuming Oil in Excess are Leading Causes of Owner Complaints
A recurring problem detailed in the NHTSA records by 2015 Terrain owners is excessive oil consumption. As a result, drivers notice symptoms such as low oil pressure, oil leaks, engine noises, and the check light coming on in some cases.
Other owners say they started noticing a burning smell and the car bucking and jerking to later find a puddle of oil leaking underneath the vehicle. There was no engine light nor any notification that something was wrong in some cases.
The engine stalling also frequently pops ups on different websites as a common Terrain problem. For instance, some 2015 Terrain drivers have headed over to Car Complaints to report their engine stalls while driving, which created dangerous situations. At Car Problem Zoo, visibility issues are by far the leading cause of complaints with one owner saying “The windshield wiper motor arm disconnects from the wiper arm making the windshield wipers inoperable. It has happened to my car several times.”
Less common, but not necessarily rare, are complaints about the 2015 Terrain’s transmission. Some drivers describe car hesitation and difficulty with shifting, while others describe jerking and shuddering as early as 30,000 miles.
Two Investigations Cover the Terrain’s Inoperative Windshield Wipers
In 2018, the NHTSA opened an investigation to address windshield wiper failure. The failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints.
This condition leads to excessive wear and the eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with a loss of windshield wiper function. In December 2019, the NHTSA opened a second investigation for the same problem. This investigation is currently ongoing.
Terrain Enthusiast Forums Report Electrical Problems Such as Malfunctioning Radio and Glitchy Infotainment
One of the categories with the most complaints from owners of the 2015 Terrain is the electrical system, with components such as the infotainment system, radio, and Bluetooth being the leading causes of concern.
On Terrain Forum, you can find reports of the infotainment going black or resetting itself. One of the main inconveniences of glitchy infotainment is that other components like radio, GPS, Bluetooth, and backup camera will not work until the infotainment is fixed or replaced.
Other issues reported on this forum include the battery going dead, the microphone not working after boosting the vehicle, and several complaints about the StabiliTrak system.
For instance, this owner describes how the StabiliTrak system service message came on, followed by a loss of power and an inability to start the vehicle back up.
2015 Wasn’t the First-generation Terrain’s Worst Year, but by 2016, the Number of Complaints Was Down to a Third
In the case you have decided the 2015 Terrain is the car for you, we recommend looking for the 2016 Terrain instead, as GMC corrected many of Terrain’s issues for this model.
To give you an idea, in 2016, the Terrain only registered 75 owner complaints compared to 211 in 2015.
In addition, the price difference is not substantial. According to Kelley Blue Book, a 2015 Terrain four-cylinder with AWD has a fair purchase price of $16,329, while for similar 2016 version, you would pay $16,658.
Photos: GMC
