This vehicle was bought new and is a NEW 2026 GMC TERRAIN DENALI with less than 5,000 miles at this time. It is a continuous event and not a specific failure date, but began soon after purchasing. The specific parts are UNKNOWN. It could be tires, wheels, steering parts (CV JOINTS, CONTROL ARMS ETC) or possibly transmission. I took it initially to the purchasing dealership and they took it for a ride and just dismissed the problem without investigating. Several days later I called and talked to the person who sold me the SUV and was told either him or service manager or both would call me, but neither did so. They were to set up a return date. After this insulting experience I decided to take it to a Cadillac dealer that I have had great experience with in the past. They took it for a ride and did experience the problem and investigated what they thought could be causing the SUV to wobble, shimmy, or shaking sensation. This Cadillac dealer said there investigation showed nothing wrong and returned the vehicle to me and said nothing could be done unless GM gave them permission. Next I wrote to the service manager expressing my disappointment in nothing being done and my disappointment in General Motors. There is a Service Bulletin (Document ID: PIT6466). This makes four efforts on my part to get satisfaction with this 2026 GMC TERRAIN DENALI and how it is not fun to drive and there is anxiety on the safety of the vehicle when being driven. *Now for the problem I am experiencing with this 2026 GMC TERRAIN DENALI. There is the sensation of a “wobble, shimmy, or shaking” under low to moderate acceleration when going straight or turning. It could be tires, wheels, steering parts or power train. It is difficult to tell. Sometimes the sensation is as if the wheels will fall off. This is an awful feeling and gives you the feeling the SUV is not safe and it is not fun to drive at all.* Why do I have to drive a brand new expensive SUV and feel unsafe and not enjoy do so?
GMC Terrain ball joint problems
34 of the 3,143 owner complaints about the GMC Terrain describe ball joint or control arm failure, most of them for the 2013 model year.
- owner complaints
- 34
- worst model year
- 2013
- typical mileage
- 78,000
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
I was driving north on [XXX] when I felt a slight pull to the right. I figured it was my lane assist even though I was in my lane. Seconds later it felt like if someone was in my passenger seat and just yanked my steering wheel to the right hitting the guardrail. My whole tire and the assembly was off but everything was still intact to the tire. The tie rods, axle, ball joints, the whole assembly. During investigation I was told by the mechanic that the stabilizer bar was a clean break. There was damage to the front end and all down the side. I was told by GM that the force of the impact was what ripped off my tire but it was not enough impact or damage to deploy the airbags. I was on crutches for my left leg, bruising and scar now from a huge abrasion to my right arm. Still having right shoulder pain. I sent all this to the attorney General and they tried to mediate but Afton from GM told Mike that he contacted me 3 times and I did not return her calls. I called her a left her multiple messages and she has not returned my calls. I only had the car for a few months with 5,000 miles on it. I put $2,500 down then had to turn around and get a used vehicle, put another $2,000 down and making the same payment due to the hit on my credit for a 2023 plain vehicle. Plus my insurance went up, missed work, medical bills, etc. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My SUV pulls hard to the right when braking at speeds above 50 mph and much more on the interstates at 65 mph and above. I first experienced this after three weeks of ownership on a drive up I-95 on a trip to NC. It has happened numerous times while traveling on the interstates and has almost caused loss of control when having to brake hard when cut off by another driver or traffic suddenly coming to a stop. The vehicle has been to the service department numerous times....at first they suspected a braking issue and have had both calipers replaced, all brake lines replaced, lower control arms replaced and the right side strut replaced. None of these repairs have solved the problem. The factory service rep who took over the situation tested 3 other GMC 2025 Terrain suvs and all had the same problem. He reported the issue on a safety report to GM in Michigan and the response from GM was that it is a normal condition for the Terrain models. I have never owned, driven, or ridden in another vehicle in over 50 years of driving which performed like this, this is not a normal condition in my opinion.
2015 gmc terrain sle awd. Suv was taking in for oil change found excessive rust on frame under all four doors. On both sides rust and holes near the front of both rear wheels. I believe its called the "rocker" I'm unsure. I bought the car at a little over 71,000 miles in 2022-2023 now just getting to 94,000 in February 2026. If there was rust which there probably was the car should have not been sold if the rust was enough to cause problem later on. I may need to go purchase a new car while still owe some money in the car loan. Rust and hole in the rear control arm. The amount to replace and repair all the parts with labor exceeds current value.
The windshield wipers became inoperable due to a ball joint failure within the wipers. The parts are available for inspection. The safety of myself and others were put at risk as it was raining heavily after sundown and I could no longer see through my windshield due to the rain not being cleared off by windshield wipers. The visibility issue could have caused an accident, especially if the car in front of me had slammed on breaks. The problem has not been addressed by a dealer but I will be doing that in the following weeks. No one has inspected the component. I did not get any warning lamps or messages. The wipers just immediately stopped.
My wife was driving on the highway to work when it was raining. Both of the wipers stopped working all of a sudden causing her to not be able to see out of the windshield. When she got home that night I could see that the linkage arm had came off the ball joint.
Transmission and control arms
Drive side frame is rotted out which has allowed rear driver side control arm for the wheel to freely move. The passenger side is completely fine. Contacted gm and was told it has to be taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. It’s easy to see the issue I have pictures that can be provided. This car should not be rotted out frame was perfect 8 years ago with no rust and has been washed twice a week during winter to remove salt with undercarriage car wash.
Ball joint for wiper assembly just "pops off" while in use causing wipers to stop working. I have taken vehicle apart, fixed the issue ( reconnecting the ball joint) and issue happens again. I understand the vehicle is from 2012, but uses same part 2010-2017, which is currently a recall on 2013-2015 models. First occurrence of this issue was July 02, 2019. I brought to GMC dealer, they said they were out of the part. Since then I've not had the issue until today March 14, 2023 where I almost hit another car, due to it popping off and stopped working while in motion.
Upon traveling west on M50 in Monroe county the vehicles windshield wipers stopped working during a heavy storm. My visibility was gone. I had to veer off onto the shoulder of the road. I was unable to see out of my windshield during the windshield wiper failure. I got out of the vehicle and smoke was coming near the windshield wiper arms at the cowl vents. My windshield wipers were completely off as if the wiper transmission arm had broke. The windshield wiper motor was dead and the ball joint for the transmission had fallen off. This is a major safety concern. HIGH RISK of a head on collision and/or accident involving a pedestrian, structure and environment off road.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the GMC Terrain ball joint
Which GMC Terrain years have ball joint or control arm failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2013 (9 complaints), 2012 (6 complaints) and 2011 (4 complaints).
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