What 370 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Terrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDOW WIPERS CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10905067

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WITHOUT WARNING, AN INTERNAL BALL JOINT ROD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION ROD PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ UPDATED 10/24/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10904399

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WHILE CAR IN USE. WIPERS CAME OUT OF SOCKET REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT SOMETIMES THE BALL JOINTS CORRODE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE 2013 AND ON WONDERING IF THIS IS ALSO A COMPLAINT WITH THE 2012? THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TO US TWICE. BOTH TIMES WE WERE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE SECOND TIME I HAD JUST STARTED OUT AND ENDED UP GOING HOME THE FIRST TIME IT WAS EN ROUTE AND WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER WE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING HARD AND I COULDN'T SEE THE WIPERS STOPPED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND WERE ALSO IN MY WAY WHEN THEY STOPPED IN MY VISUAL FIELD. I HAD TO ROLL MY DRIVER SIDE DOWN IN ORDER TO SEE. THIS WAS HORRIBLY SCARRY AND THE 2012 MODELS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE SAME DEFECTS THAT THE 2013 ARE BEING RECALLED FOR.

NHTSA ODI 10902045

WIPERS IN "ON" POSITION, WIPER MOTOR AUDIBLY RUNNING, NEITHER WIPER BLADE WOULD MOVE ACROSS WINDSHIELD, BOTH REMAIN STATIONARY. CAN MANUALLY MOVE BOTH BLADES FREELY, NO BINDING, IN UNISON VALIDATING LINKAGE BETWEEN THE TWO BLADE ARMS WERE STILL CONNECTED. SUSPECTED MOTOR SHAFT/SPLINE CONNECTING TO THE "BLADE TRANSMISSION" WAS DISCONNECTED, STRIPPED, OR FELL OFF. TO ENSURE NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, REMOVED 25 AMP FUSE (NO. 29) FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BUSS AND INSPECTED FUSE. FUSE INTACT AND IN LIKE NEW CONDITION. REINSTALLED THE FUSE RESUMING MOTOR FUNCTION. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO VALENTINE GMC BUICK, FAIRBORN, OHIO AND ASKED SERVICE MGR IF A TSB REFERENCING THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAD BEEN REPORTED. THE SERVICE MGR DID NOT COMMENT; INSTEAD HE SHOWED ME AN ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN OF THE AREA IN QUESTION POINTING TO THE BLADE TRANSMISSION. TO CONFIRM MY DIAGNOSIS, HE HAD ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS INSPECT THE AREA IN QUESTION PENDING THE REMOVAL OF A PANEL. SERVICE MGR FOLLOWED BY STATING I "MIGHT" NOT HAVE TO PAY, DEPENDING ON THE PROBLEM. THE INSPECTION PROVED IT WAS INDEED THE WIPER BLADE TRANSMISSION P/N 25948436, GM AT FAULT. THE SERVICE MGR ALSO STATED PARTS ON-HAND FOLLOWED BY A $250.00 QUOTE TO REPLACE. WITH THE AREA IN QUESTION APART, I CONCURRED WITH THE WORK WHICH WAS DONE IN A FEW MINUTES. AFTER EXAMINING THE BILL, I CROSSED THIS PART NUMBER ON-LINE AND FOUND COUNTLESS GENUINE GM SOURCES CHARGING FAR LESS; $95.16, TO BE EXACT (LESS SHIPPING AND INCLUDES 1 YR WARRANTY). I BROUGHT IT UP TO THEIR ATTENTION AND WAS TOLD THEIR LIST PRICE IS $199.95 WITH THE SAME 1 YEAR WARRANTY, AND THE LABOR COST WAS DISCOUNTED DOWN TO $85.00 PER HOUR. REGARDLESS OF COSTS, THE FACT REMAINS; LOW OR NO VISIBILITY COULD RESULT IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH UNLESS ADDRESSED. RECOMMEND RESEARCHING OTHER VEHICLES CARRYING THIS PART FOR POTENTIAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10816714

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DECIDED TO LIFT THE HEADLIGHT HIGHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10479383

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY; THEREFORE, THERE ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VIBRATION. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS THE VIBRATION DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700.

NHTSA ODI 10458530