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U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Gmc TERRAIN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

297 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 171 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 101 of 297 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation289.4%
Transmission and shifting248.1%
Braking behavior155.1%
Electrical and battery issues103.4%
Steering behavior93.0%
Fuel system concerns20.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Visibility/Wiper
101
Engine
80
Electrical System
31
Exterior Lighting
23
Power Train
21
Unknown Or Other
21
Visibility
17
Air Bags
16
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Visibility/Wiper101
Engine80
Electrical System31
Exterior Lighting23
Power Train21
Unknown Or Other21
Visibility17
Air Bags16

Visibility/Wiper: 101; Engine: 80; Electrical System: 31; Exterior Lighting: 23; Power Train: 21; Unknown Or Other: 21; Visibility: 17; Air Bags: 16

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
21
25,000 to 49,999
26
50,000 to 74,999
61
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
30
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00021
25,000 to 49,99926
50,000 to 74,99961
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99930
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 61; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 7

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (61). 126 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2015
11
2016
6
2017
9
2018
26
2019
54
2020
39
2021
29
2022
60
2023
24
2024
19
2025
11
2026
9
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201511
20166
20179
201826
201954
202039
202129
202260
202324
202419
202511
20269

2015: 11; 2016: 6; 2017: 9; 2018: 26; 2019: 54; 2020: 39; 2021: 29; 2022: 60; 2023: 24; 2024: 19; 2025: 11; 2026: 9

Pattern summary

Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10980153 · 2017-04-24 (April 24, 2017)

THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS THE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND STALL. I PULL OVER OR STAY IN PLACE AS THE CAR PROCEEDS TO TURN OFF. THE SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION AND ENGINE LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND THE CAR DIES. EACH TIME I AM ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON WITHIN A FEW MINUTES.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11098186 · 2018-05-27 (May 27, 2018)

LEAVING MY PARKING SPOT AFTER GOING OUT TO EAT I WENT IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AT ABOUT 5MPH, TURNED THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON. PUT IT IN DRIVE AND JUST AS I STARTED TO ACCELERATE IT STALLED. THIS HAPPENED 10-12 TIMES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE LEAVING CAR WASH AS I WAS EXCELLERATIG OUR. VEHICLE STALLED AS I WAS LEAVING A COMPLETE STOP FROM A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE STALLING WHILE STARTING TO ACCELERATE. 43,000 MILES FROM FIRST OCCURREN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098186 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10852664 · 2016-03-31 (March 31, 2016)

I'VE ATTACHED MY FINAL REPAIR NOTICE TO GM AND IT HAS ALL OF THE DETAILS. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FINAL REPAIR DONE. THEY STILL SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR. I ASKED GM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL TO HELP ME. THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKY AND THE BRAKES BARELY WORK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. ITS LIKE GM WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A HUGE ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE BEFORE DOING ANYTHING.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852664 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10928785 · 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, GASKET KIT, AND CHAIN LINKS FOR THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER BEING SERVICED, THE VEHICLE LATER BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD AND THE GEARS ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,461 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928785 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10825602 · 2016-02-11 (February 11, 2016)

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT CHIME COMES ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOTHING OR ALMOST NOTHING IN THE SEAT. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 45 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND EITHER DURING A BRAKING EVENT OR ACCELERATION EVENT (EITHER FROM A STOP OR DURING AN OVERTAKE MENUVER). IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEED GOES ABOVE 60MPH. IN ALL THESE SITUATIONS THE CHIME COMES ON AT MOST IN-OPPORTUNE TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION STARTLING THE DRIVER CAUSING HIM/HER TO TAKE THE EYES OFF THE ROAD TO LOOK AROUND WHAT IS GOING O…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10825602 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10763755 · 2015-09-14 (September 14, 2015)

RADIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING ON AUGUST 26TH. THERE WAS NO VOLUME, I COULD NOT CHANGE THE STATIONS BY STEERING WHEEL OR TOUCH. THE BLUETOOTH WOULD NOT WORK. THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND REMAINED ON THE ENTIRE EVENING. I CALLED GMC SUPPORT AND THEY SAID TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY, BUT I DID NOT DO SO AS I DIDNT WANT TO MESS ANYTHING UP. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. I WAS TOLD THEY SEE THIS ISSUE OFTEN AND BY UNPLUGGING AND RESETTING THE BATTERY, IT WILL FIX THE ISSUE. PROBLEM RESOLVED. RADIO STOPPED FU…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763755 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10873112 · 2016-06-07 (June 7, 2016)

ENGINE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING; WOULD HAVE TO GUIDE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART. RADIO SHUTS OFF; ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SHUT OFF AND CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SPORADICALLY SINCE LAST YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED IN FOR SERVICE ON THE ISSUE, HOWEVER I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. JUST THIS PAST WEEK TILL NOW, THE CARS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTING SHUTTING DOWN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE IN PARKING MODE AT LEAST MORE THAN 6 TIMES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10873112 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10692212 · 2015-03-05 (March 5, 2015)

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT THE BOTTOM OF A FREEWAY OFFRAMP THE KEYS ON THE KEYRING ATTACHED TO THE KEY IN THE IGNITION GOT STUCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS BRIEFLY PREVENTED ME FROM EXITING THE TURN, AND THEN WHEN THE KEYS BROKE FREE THE CAR HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF!! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BREAKS AND NO HEADLIGHTS. I WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE NEXT BLOCK WHERE I TURNED RIGHT OUT OF TRAFFIC BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP. I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER PUTTING INTO NEUTRAL (OR PARK, DON'T REMEMBER)…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,247 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692212 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11576994 · 2024-03-12 (March 12, 2024)

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was released, and the vehicle sputtered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Reduced Engine Power" was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would shut off while idling unless the accelerator pedal was intermittently depressed. The contact also stated that the vehicle had failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was tak…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11576994 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11614417 · 2024-09-13 (September 13, 2024)

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle jerked and shut off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The contact stated that on several occasions, while the vehicle was jerking at a complete stop, the contact shifted to park(P) to prevent the vehicle from stalling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump was leaking fuel into the oil gasket. The me…

Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11614417 at NHTSA ↗