Temperature actuator door is broken, this causes my windshield to fog up therefore I can't see to drive.
2011 GMC Terrain visibility problems
35 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 94,000.
- owner complaints
- 35
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 94,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Windshield wiper/washer: motor2
- Windshield wiper/washer1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
GMC Terrain visibility problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 GMC Terrain visibility
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V‑582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V‑582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intruding into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint resulting in loss of windshield wiper function. ODI?s review focused on 2010-2012 and 2014-2016 Equinox and Terrain vehicles. Owners were reporting a high rate of failures of the windshield wiper system. These failures were the same as that addressed by recall 16V‑582. ODI's review of data supplied by GM as well as its own confirmed a high failure rate in model years 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2022, GM filed a defect information report recalling all MY2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles to remedy the potential failure of the front windshield wiper transmission assembly.General Motors is also conducting a special coverage program, N192266181, for MY2010-2012 and MY2016-2017 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The special coverage is for a period of 15 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first.Both the recall, 22V‑165, and the special coverage program, N192266181, address windshield wiper system failures on the subject vehicles. The dealership will inspect the front wiper assembly for ball joint wear. Depending on the degree of wear, the wiper links will be replaced, and a water shield installed or the entire module will be replaced.In view of the recall and special coverage, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis (EA). the federal safety agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.
EA19005
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V‑582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V‑582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on the Air Inlet Panel at the base of the windshield.RQ18-002 was opened to assess windshield wiper failure rates in the MY 2010-2012 and MY 2014 - 2016 Equinox and Terrain (subject vehicles).During the course of the investigation, ODI received additional consumer complaint traffic bringing its total to 602 concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. In their December 20, 2018 response to ODI's Information Request (IR) Letter, GM reported 1,303 complaints related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Together, these bodies of data correspond to 1,905 unique Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).GM stated the recalled vehicles exhibited double the warranty rate and five times the complaint rate of the subject vehicles and that continuing complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles stemmed from publicity surrounding Recall 16V‑582.ODI's review of GM's data confirms the stated difference in failure rates between the recalled and subject vehicles. However, ODI believes that the subject vehicle failure rates are nevertheless elevated and that publicity alone cannot account for the continued consumer complaint traffic concerning the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. ODI is upgrading to RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis to compare subject vehicle failure rates and engineering practices to those in peer vehicles.The 602 ODI complaints cited can be viewed in a separate attachment.
RQ18002
What 2011 GMC Terrain owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The windshield wiper blades stopped working while driving at night in the rain. This was a dangerous situation as i had a hard time seeing where i was driving.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of GM Special Coverage Adjustment Campaign Number: N192266181. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in inclement weather, the driver's side windshield wiper detached and flew off the vehicle while it was set at maximum wiper speed. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where a technician determined that the windshield wipers were corroded, and the driver's side windshield wiper was replaced. However, the contact stated that upon engaging the windshield wipers the following day, the driver's side and passenger's side became stuck together. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,280.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH with the windshield wipers in use, the contact attempted to use the high setting for the windshield wipers and the driver’s side windshield wiper detached and struck the driver’s side mirror. The contact stated that the windshield wiper was replaced. The failure recurred three times. The dealer had not been informed of the failure. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.
my windshield wipers just suddenly stopped working during a rain storm. I managed to get home safely and after a quick search I was able to confirm this is a known problem with GMC Terrain's. It is talked about in Special Coverage N192266180. However this happened during a rain storm with limited visibility. So I am filing this complaint because GMC needs to issue a full blown recall and not a fix for after the windshield wiper system module breaks. Failed wipers during a storm could get people killed. I was lucky but others may not be. I took video of the wipers not working during the storm if you wish for me to send it to you.
My fear is that the car's engine accelerates very slowly when entering large intersections, I feel that it is a great danger
Wipers were intermittently working then completely died. Took for replacement and 3 months after replacement motor dies again. Take it back to the mechanic which said it would be a dealership issue. I go to the dealership which they do have n192266180 special coverage adjustment wiper transmission arm linkage failure which they said they would have replaced my wiper motor. However, the special cover adjustment has expired. I feel that this is a safety issue. My wipers no longer work and I am looking for a replacement by the dealership due to a safety issue with the wiper transmission.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in the rain, the front windshield wipers were activated from low to high however, the wiper blades went up and failed to go back down. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the roadway and waited for the rain to stop for the contact to manually push the wiper blades down. The contact attempted to activate the wipers however, the wipers were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
On Wednesday, May 19th at approximately 8:30pm I was driving east on I-10 leaving Baton Rouge during a torrential rain storm with family members in my car. As we were driving with the wiper blades on, without warning the driver side wiper blade completely! stopped! It went off to the left and rested on the driver’s rearview mirror. It was such a horrifying shock, I had to lean over to the front passenger side to see out of the window with the help of my sister. I tried to slow down to see if we could get off the interstate or whether or not there was an overpass we could stop under and try to fix the wiper. When we stopped under the first available overpass, I tried to adjust the wiper and played with the on off switch to see if I could get the driver side wiper to work again. It never has worked since yesterday. I decided to stay at a safe distance behind an 18 wheeler using its red lights and trailer width to exit at the nearest offramp where we waited out the rain. When we started out again, we encountered rain again on the Bonnie Carr spillway which was extraordinarily dangerous. I’ve NEVER been so frightened driving in my life as the life. No mechanic, police or insurance have looked at the car. I found that GMC has/had a recall for the 2013 GMC Terrains(in Canada?) but no other year. In a forum I found many other GMC owners who have experienced the same thing but haven’t received any recall information to get the problem fixed. I cannot imagine a more dangerous situation than having your windshield wipers go out doing a major storm in Louisiana. As we are heading into hurricane season this is a crucial issue for me. It is my sincere hope that GMC will contact me and allow me to go somewhere to get these wiper blades fixed or replaced. If I get the wiper blades fixed myself, I would like GMC to confirm in writing that they will reimburse me for the cost. Also, I’m concerned that I could be putting more defect GMC wiper products on my car. Please help.
Was driving about 35 MPH on back roads in pouring rain with wipers on high, when the wipers stopped in the up position. No other cars where on the roads, and was only about 2 miles from my house, so made it home, but very slowly. Can hear wiper motor working, but wiper blade arms do not move, like they have become unattached from wiper motor.
Questions about the 2011 GMC Terrain visibility
Does the 2011 GMC Terrain have visibility problems?
Owners have filed 35 complaints about the visibility of the 2011 GMC Terrain, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Terrain visibility problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 94,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 GMC Terrain visibility?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the GMC Terrain have the most visibility problems?
The GMC Terrain model years with the most visibility complaints are 2015 (120 complaints), 2014 (89 complaints) and 2012 (81 complaints).
Other 2011 GMC Terrain problems
Engine 199Transmission 76Fuel system 48Electrical 29Airbags 25Driver assistance 22Acceleration 18Steering 15Body 11Seats 10Brakes 7Lights 7Seat belts 7Suspension 5Tires 3Locks 2Wheels 1
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