4.2
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 27,181 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I was driving on an interstate highway. I entered a construction zone restricted to two lanes.(one each way). It began to rain very hard, after a short time of starting the front windshield wipers; both stopped. There was a total failure of both wipers with out any warning and a total loss of vision due to a rain covered windshield. Due to the restricted traffic lanes in the interstate construction zone there was no shoulder on either side to pull off onto and no way to exit the interstate traffic flow for several miles. I was able to avoid a crash and exit the interstate after several miles. With a different driver, slightly different circumstances or a little less luck it would have resulted in LOSS of LIFE!!!! The cause was failure of the wiper arm linkage more specifically the ball broke off of the wiper motor arm. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME FAILURE THAT CAUSED A RECALL TO BE ISSUED FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS OF THE GMC TERAIN. The parts are available for inspection.
- Le Mars, IA, USA
Windshield wipers stopped working during a downpour. Lucky I was able to make it home safely but took time. Checked fuses, nothing wrong there. Can hear something running so assume motor is OK, but linkage may have broken. Will have to take to mechanic
- Louisville, KY, USA
The front windshield wipers suddenly stopped working while I was driving on the freeway in moderate rainfall on [XXX]. I wasn't able to see through the windshield. I will call GMC in Roseville MN on Monday, June 9, 2025 to request a service date. I waited until the rain was lighter, so I could drive from Willow River Rest Area to Moose Lake, 19 miles. It was inspected at the repair shop, Federated Co-Ops Moose Lake 017, 100 Arrowhead Ln, Moose Lake, MN 55767. (218) 485-4409. He didn't have the part to make the repair on June 6, 2025. His note: Removed engine plastic trim and wiper transmission. socket on wiper transmission popped off. reinstalled. recommend new wiper transmission. There were no prior indications or issues with the wipers not functioning properly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Blaine, MN, USA
WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN IN A CONSTUCTION ZONE, WIPER QUIT WORKING. Never notified vehicle had a wiper linkage failure issue. Paid for repairs out of pocket and GM won't compensate because a GM Dealer didn't perform repair. See Service Bulletin N192266180-01, thank you!
- Flushing, MI, USA
When driving in a rainstorm, there was a loud pop, and the driver side windshield wiper stopped moving. After I finally got home I checked the pivot point of the wiper arm and the nut was still tight. I ordered a new wiper motor module, and replaced it. On the old module I discovered one of the arms had disconnected at a pivot point. I understand NOW that GM has an extended warranty for the part so I will be pursuing reimbursement.
- Brook Park, OH, USA
My wife was driving on the highway to work when it was raining. Both of the wipers stopped working all of a sudden causing her to not be able to see out of the windshield. When she got home that night I could see that the linkage arm had came off the ball joint.
- Agawam, MA, USA
I have a 2016 GMC Terrain, garage kept and seldom driven, with ONLY 53,260 miles on it. Last night while leaving the movie Theatre in the RAIN my WIPERS stopped working while in motion. I had to drive home in the rain unable to see!!! Looked on NHTSA.gov site and saw where recalls were issued for 2015-??s but not 2016-??s, although I-??m reading numerous complaints for the same occurring on my model suv. Can GMC provide some insight into this?
- Lansing, IL, USA
While driving in the rain, my windshield wipers stopped working. No lights on, nothing showing in my GMC app. I've noticed many others with this same issue, and am aware of the recall on the 2014-2015 models. GMC should extend the recall to cover the 2016 as well since this is a known issue.
- Sussex, WI, USA
I was driving while it was raining. My windshield wipers were on and functioning without issue. I heard a noise and my windshield wipers had stopped moving and now they do not work. I called several places to schedule an appt for my car/wipers to be assessed and repaired. I was told by 3 different shops that a recall had been issued for the year adjacent to my car and my issue sounded like the recall issue.
- Bridgeton, NJ, USA
Was coming back from a hospital and it started to rain and had the wipers on and all of a sudden they stopped working! When I got home I tried to see if it was a fuse and it wasn-??t! Called my mechanic who looked at it today and I needed a whole new wiper mtr/ w/ linkage! That was a road hazard and never should have happened on my GMC Cost me $430 to repair and I feel like GMC should reimburse me!
- Jackson, NJ, USA
A severe rain down pour started, I turned on my front windshield wipers, and they swiped about twice, than stopped completely, in a vertical position. I could not see, and had to try to get to the side of the road, to pull over to safety. This was extremely dangerous, and from what I am reading, happens frequently to GMC Terrains. Apparently, there was a recall for 2013-2015, seems the 2016 needs added!! No warning lights are on in the car. No failure report via my GMC app.
- Seguin, TX, USA
It was raining so turned on the windshield wipers while driving home and they just stopped working. I had to stop driving until the rain stopped.
- West Point, GA, USA
Both windshield wipers completely stopped without any warning in a heavy down pour while driving. I could not see to pull over or continue driving.
- Waterford , MI, USA
I turned my wipers on when it started raining. And noticed that my wipers were not working.
- Adamstown, MD, USA
Driver's side windshield wiper inoperable when turned on during a pouring rain while traveling at 70 MPH!!! Passenger side worked but drivers did not.
- West Palm Beach, FL, USA
2016 GMC Terrain front windshield wipers failed completely during a major rainstorm downpour event. Visibility during 05/21/2022 drive on Interstate 94 was immediately compromised and my son had to pull over to avoid potential collision. Diagnosis indicates wiper motor is still operational, both front wipers are still coupled/ganged-together and move in unison, but can now be moved freely by hand, indicating wipers are de-coupled from motor. This is the same failure mode that prompted NHSTA to push for a GM recall of 2013, and then later 2014 & 2015 GMC Terrain vehicles. There is a growing list of 2016 GMC Terrain owners reporting this same failure mode online. NHTSA & GM should take a serious look at this before someone is seriously injured.
- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA
wipers failed during storm they became disconnected and i had to use my 4 ways and pull over in traffic
- Avonmore , PA, USA
While driving in rain, I turned wipers on. The rain turned heavy and I put wiper setting to faster mode. The wipers suddenly failed and stayed on windshield. The wipers failed to work in any setting. I pulled car to the side of road waited for the rain to pass before driving.
- Douglasville, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH in inclement weather, the windshield wipers stopped working as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and waited until the rain slowed down and drove home safely. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with a wiper module failure. The contact was informed that the wiper module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
- Lake Orion, MI, USA
- Raleigh, NC, USA