CarBrief

Owners filed 298 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 GMC Terrain, and the biggest group is about wipers[1][2]. Two 2022 recalls cover the wiper module and headlight glare, so check that both repairs were done on any car you are considering[3][4].

298owner complaints[1]
3recalls[5]
19–26MPG combined (EPA)[6]
4★NHTSA overall rating[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 298 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Nine mention a crash, one a fire and six an injury. None report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part. The counts are not adjusted for sales.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Visibility/wiper[2] 101 70,000
Engine[8] 83 94,000
Electrical system[9] 31 47,000
Exterior lighting[10] 24 48,474
Power train[11] 21 31,430
Unknown or other[12] 21 49,301
Visibility[13] 20 87,500
Air bags[14] 16 55,000

Wipers. This is the largest group, with no crashes, fires or injuries reported[2]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe wipers that stop or seize while driving, often in rain or snow. Several describe a broken plastic part in the wiper assembly. Some say they were told there was no recall[2].

Engine. The engine group has one crash and one fire among its complaints[8]. In the sample we read, owners describe the car stalling, cutting off or losing power while accelerating, often with the check engine light on. Some say the dealer could not find the cause or the problem came back. A smaller number describe timing chain or timing belt work and an oil leak, with repair quotes in the thousands of dollars[8].

Electrical and lighting. In the electrical sample, owners describe stalling or shutting off while driving or starting, headlights that did not fully light, and radio trouble[9]. In the lighting sample, owners describe low beam headlights that did not light the road well, and dealers who could not adjust them[10]. A few lighting complaints say recall parts were not yet available at the dealer[10].

Air bags. There are only 16 complaints, but 6 mention a crash and 4 an injury[14]. The group is small, so treat it as a reason to check the recall below, not as a pattern.

Recalls

NHTSA lists three recalls for this model year, newest first[5].

Ask a GMC dealer to look up the VIN to see whether each repair is open or done on a specific car. Some owners in the complaints we read said dealers did not yet have parts for the 2022 recalls[10].

Fuel economy

The EPA lists several versions. Ratings are city, highway and combined MPG, with the EPA annual fuel cost estimate. That cost uses the EPA's current fuel price assumptions.

Version City / Hwy / Combined Annual fuel cost
2.4L 4-cyl FWD, regular or E85[6][16] 22 / 31 / 26 $2,600
2.4L 4-cyl AWD, regular[17] 20 / 28 / 23 $2,900
3.6L 6-cyl FWD, regular[18] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550
3.6L 6-cyl AWD, regular[19] 16 / 23 / 19 $3,550

All versions use a 6-speed automatic[6][18][19][17]. The 4-cyl front-wheel drive car is the most efficient listing[6]. The 3.6L AWD has the lowest city and highway ratings (16 / 23) and ties the 3.6L FWD at 19 combined[18][19].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel drive version 4 stars overall, 4 for frontal, 5 for side and 4 for rollover[7]. Its rollover risk is 17.4%[7]. The front-wheel drive version has the same star ratings, with a rollover risk of 19.1%[20].

Engine and size

The EPA lists a 2.4L 4-cylinder and a 3.6L 6-cylinder[6][18]. Delete the sentence. The dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Measure AWD FWD
Length[21][22] 185 in 185 in
Width[21][22] 73 in 73 in
Height[21][22] 67 in 67 in
Wheelbase[21][22] 113 in 113 in
Curb weight[21][22] 4,019 lb 3,854 lb

How 2015 compares with other years

2010: 290 complaints, 3 recalls20102011: 386 complaints, 4 recalls2012: 364 complaints, 4 recalls20122013: 364 complaints, 3 recalls2014: 297 complaints, 2 recalls20142015: 298 complaints, 3 recalls29820152016: 153 complaints, 2 recalls20162017: 135 complaints, 1 recalls2018: 225 complaints, 5 recalls20182019: 186 complaints, 3 recalls2020: 197 complaints, 2 recalls20202021: 36 complaints, 2 recalls2022: 88 complaints, 4 recalls20222023: 41 complaints, 2 recalls2024: 52 complaints, 1 recalls20242025: 13 complaints, 0 recalls2026: 33 complaints, 1 recalls20262027: 1 complaints, 0 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Terrain model year. The 2015 is highlighted[5].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20102903
20113864
20123644
20133643
20142972
20152983
20161532
20171351
20182255
20191863
20201972
2021362
2022884
2023412
2024521
2025130
2026331
202710

Using NHTSA counts for the same model, 2015 has 298 complaints and 3 recalls[5]. Three earlier years have more complaints: 2011 with 386, and 2012 and 2013 with 364 each[5]. 2010 (290) and 2014 (297) are just below 2015[5]. Every year from 2016 on is lower, and the highest of those is 225 in 2018[5].

For recalls, 2011 and 2012 have 4 each, 2018 has 5 and 2022 has 4[5]. 2010, 2013 and 2019 have 3, the same as 2015[5]. These counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.

Should you buy a used 2015 Terrain?

The data shows a model year with a steady flow of wiper, engine and lighting complaints, and two 2022 recalls on wipers and headlights[2][8][10][3][4]. The crash and injury counts in the wiper group are zero, but the recall says failed wipers can reduce visibility[2][3]. If you are shopping, ask for proof that the wiper and headlight recall repairs were done, and have a dealer check for the side air bag recall[3][4][15]. Ask about any history of stalling, since it shows up in the engine and electrical samples we read[8][9]. The data cannot tell you how a specific car has been kept, so a pre-purchase inspection still matters.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 GMC Terrain?
Owners filed 298 complaints[1]. The largest groups are visibility/wiper with 101 and engine with 83[1][2][8]. In the sample we read, owners describe wipers stopping and the engine stalling.
Are there recalls on the 2015 GMC Terrain?
Yes, three. They cover the wiper module (22V165), headlight glare (22V137) and the side air bag inflator (15V666)[3][4][15].
What is the gas mileage of the 2015 GMC Terrain?
The EPA rates the 2.4L FWD at 26 combined MPG and the 3.6L versions at 19 combined MPG[6][18][19]. The 2.4L AWD is rated 23 combined[17].
What safety rating does the 2015 GMC Terrain have?
NHTSA gives both the AWD and FWD versions 4 stars overall[7][20].
Is 2015 a bad year for the GMC Terrain?
It has 298 complaints, which is fewer than 2011, 2012 and 2013 but more than every year from 2016 on[5]. The data cannot say how any single car will hold up.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 298 owner complaints on file for the 2015 GMC Terrain (9 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 6 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 101 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 22V165, filed March 17, 2022: Visibility › Windshield Wiper / Washer › Motor. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 22V137, filed March 8, 2022: Exterior Lighting › Headlights. NHTSA recall database
  5. Owner complaints and recalls for every GMC Terrain model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for Terrain FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 83 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 94,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 31 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 24 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,474). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 21 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 31,430). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 21 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,301). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 20 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 16 complaints name the air bags component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. Recall 15V666, filed October 16, 2015: Air Bags › Side / Window. NHTSA recall database
  16. EPA rating for Terrain FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Terrain AWD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Terrain FWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Terrain AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TERRAIN SLE/SLT/DENALI 4DR SUV AWD: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,019 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TERRAIN SLE/SLT/DENALI 4DR SUV FWD: length 185 in, width 73 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 3,854 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.