2015 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#7 most-complained of 16 Terrain years
The 2015 GMC Terrain has 297 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 60, and 3 recalls, ranking 7th worst out of 16 model years with a Caution verdict. Visibility & wiper failures lead complaints at 40% share, followed by engine issues at 28%.
- Complaints
- 297
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 9 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 28 hwy
Top 2015 GMC Terrain problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers120 (40%)
- Engine83 (28%)
- Electrical System50 (17%)
- Other21 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain21 (7%)
- Brakes17 (6%)
- Fuel System17 (6%)
- Airbags16 (5%)
- Structure & Body15 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (2%)
What owners report
- Side-impact airbags fail to deploy during real crashes, sometimes despite dashboard messages indicating deployment.
- Windshield wipers stop working due to corroded ball joints in the wiper module, part of a recall for 2014-2015 models.
- Touchscreen and radio displays go black, disabling the backup camera and other functions.
- Engine loses power or decelerates unexpectedly at highway speed, in one case with visible smoke from the rear.
- Vehicle accelerates or lurches unexpectedly when the driver's foot is off the gas pedal.
- Keys can become stuck in the steering wheel during a turn, cutting power steering, brakes, and headlights.
2015 GMC Terrain recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V165000Mar 17, 2022Visibility & Wipers681,509 vehicles
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 22V137000Mar 8, 2022Electrical System740,581 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
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."
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 15V666000Oct 16, 2015Airbags395 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
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.
Risk: 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.
2015 GMC Terrain fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 GMC Terrain reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 Terrain has a Complaint Index of 60, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 7th worst among the 16 model years covered, with newer years like 2021-2025 scoring much lower.
- What problems does the 2015 GMC Terrain have?
- NHTSA lists 297 complaints for the 2015 Terrain, led by visibility and wiper issues (40% of complaints) and engine problems (28%). Median mileage at failure was 65,000 miles overall, with engine issues typically appearing around 89,500 miles.
- Does the 2015 GMC Terrain have a wiper recall?
- Yes. Recall 22V165000 covers 2014-2015 Terrain models where corroded ball joints in the windshield wiper module can cause one or both wipers to fail.
- Are there airbag issues with the 2015 GMC Terrain?
- NHTSA recall 15V666000 covers front seat-mounted side impact air bags on the 2015 Terrain. Owner complaints also describe crashes where side airbags failed to deploy, with 6 crashes reported among 16 airbag-related complaints.
- Should I avoid the 2015 GMC Terrain compared to other years?
- The 2015 Terrain is rated Caution, not the worst year but worse than 2016-2025 models, several of which carry Good or Best verdicts with lower Complaint Index scores.