My 4 cyl. AWD GMC Terrain has had excessive oil use which caused premature failure of the timing chain, loss of power/compression, blown engine, damage to exhaust manifold, cellinoids, and melted the catalytic converter. Its was a road safety, poor emissions due to failed catalytic converter. Headlights are too bright for oncoming traffic at night. Another road & safety hazard. Auto warranty is refusing to cover parts listed above caused by the timing chain and excessive oil consumption problems.
2012 GMC Terrain: headlights failing or too dim
8 of the 364 complaints about the 2012 GMC Terrain describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 35,000
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 14 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the passenger's side headlamp failed to provide proper illumination. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2012 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. AAA arrived at the contact's residence and replaced the battery. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the plugs and other unknown parts were replaced however, the failure recurred. The contact replaced the battery twice. The contact also stated that the passenger's side headlamp had failed. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) which he associated to the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I have a problem with the Headlights they are yellow and there is no way I have found to clean them. It makes it hard to get a bright view at night especially when travelling on secondary streets with low or limited lightning. I have also noticed that a lot GMC Terrains have the same issue. Is there are will there be a recall on my 2012 GMC Terrain it does create a very dangerous situation especially at night. I no longer like to drive at night because of this problem, the coatings on the lights makes the night vision awful. Thank you for reading. You can send me a reply.
Vehicle shuts off when slowing to a stop and have to restart in order to accelerate. That was looked at and 'fixed' and now the vehicle shakes when slowing down and headlights dim as if it is trying not to shut off. Engine is very rough and rattles while starting to accelerate and accelerating. When brakes are pushed the car starts to turn off while in motion. When stopped, car shakes and there is a very hard knocking coming from the engine.
The low beam h11 bulb is causing the (male/female plug in) for this component to overheat causing the plastic to become charred, partially melted and brittle in which the low beam light stops working due to this problem. The wiring is becoming soft at the plug in connection from this heat and allowing the protective wire insulation to be melted permitting the bare wire to be visible which could produce a fire hazard at this location. This has occurred on the right side twice and on the left side once. In all three cases, the bulbs with the female plug in and the male electrical connection has been replace. This vehicle has only 28755 miles on it. Just noticed the low beam light on right side not working again today. Replaced this side within the last 9 months.
The headlight system on this vehicle leaves a lot to be desired. The headlights are veiled somehow so that there is no illumination above the headlights with low beam. When driving in hilly areas, the forward projection of the headlights is very limited when traveling down hill. The hi beams illuminate well, but when driving in the country with oncoming traffic and low beams in hilly areas, the view of the side of the road ahead is very restricted. If I had driven this vehicle at night before I bought it, I doubt that I would have bought it, it's that bad.
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
Service bulletins that may apply
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water...
- Special Coverage (Revised correction statement, service procedure and customer reimbursement)
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and...
- This informational bulletin provides an out line on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp...
- This informational bulletin provides information on exterior lamp condinsation and replacement guidelines
- Exterior lighting: turn signal
- This technical bulletin provides repair information for low beam headlamp bulb diagnosis/replacement to...
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 22V137000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2012 GMC Terrain headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 2012 GMC Terrain?
8 of 364 owner complaints about the 2012 GMC Terrain (2%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 2014.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2012 GMC Terrain?
There is 1 recall and 14 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2012 GMC Terrain
Wipers 77Oil consumption 75Check engine light 48Stalling 47Engine failure 24Loss of power 21No deployment 15Jerking 12Knocking 11Won't start 11Fire or smoke 8Misfire 7Seat belt 7Ball joint 6Screen failure 5Key fob 5
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