Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2013 engine blew out, I did an oil change around February and a month later took my vehicle to aamco and they found a gallon of coolant in the engine. None of the warning lights came on prior to this happening at all whatsoever. The oil life was still at 32% with no oil in my engine. All 3 of my windshield wipers as well rotted within the year that I purchased the vehicle. Now I do not have a working vehicle at all whatsoever due to the engine and car not wanting to start. When I put the code reader in when it first happened it told me it was the camshaft sensor so I changed both sensors and all the spark plugs and even bought the crankshaft sensor and it was none of the above until later I found out it was the engine that blew. I have spent so much money on this vehicle it's ridiculous.
1. Engine burning oil, had to be replaced at 100,000 miles. In repair shop again, oil coming out of exhaust?? 2. Car would stall out while driving, try to accelerate at a red light, almost crashed a few times. Back window has been covered in oil from exhaust. Couldn't see. 3. Only used White Plains Buick/GMC for repairs. Car is there now. 4. NYS DMV is currently investigating 5. Check engine light just recently came on
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign number: 16V582000 (Visibility). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The part was available for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
My wife was driving 65 miles an hour on the interstate in the pouring rain, and her windshield wipers suddenly stoppped working, causing an immediate and total loss of vision. Luckily, she did not wreck, but this was a very dangerous situation that could have ended very badly. I removed the trim covering the wiper motor, and found that the transmission linkage arm that connects the wipers to the motor had become disconnected. The nylon bushing that holds it in place was very badly worn. There is no direct replacement bushing available, so I replaced it with a bushing that sort-of fit. As you can imagine, this repair only lasted about 2 months. The same thing happened again to my wife two days ago. She was on her way to work (in the pouring rain, no less) when the linkage arm again disconnected. …
I was driving in the rain and my front windshield wipers went out. I had to pull over and stop to avoid having an accident. I could hear the motor running but they would not move. I parked my car, got a ride home and went back and picked it up when it stopped raining. The next day I took it to the shop and dropped it off for repair. I was told that it was the transmission that was inoperable, but the warranty would not cover this. I paid $285.21 to have this repaired on 9/9/16. The following day in the mail I received a recall notice from GMC stating that their was a recall on my windshield wipers. I called GMC and explained that I had just paid to have them repaired. I spoke to jaylen and she stated that the dealership was aware of the recall and should have called GMC first and she would check with them. …
Takata recall - as I was driving to work on a local road it started to rain one morning. I flipped the switch to turn on my wind shield wipers and they would not move. The next day I went to the dealership and they said it might be an electrical problem and that it would cost a ton of money because they would have to take parts off in order to get to the wipers to see what was causing the wipers to not work. They just did not move at all. I received a recall letter in September of 2016 for the wipers saying that there was a defect. I took my Terrain back to the dealership and told them there was a recall. They looked it up and saw that it was indeed a recall but that GMC had not figured out how to fix it. They said I needed to wait for another letter. I have been checking the website every month to see if the recall has been updated and it has not. …
Windshield wipers stopped working, cannot drive in the rain. Received a letter about a recall. (campaign id 16V582) called GMC's home office as well as two dealerships and am being told because there is no remedy for the problem yet, I have to pay out of pocket for the repairs to be done and then wait to be reimbursed by the dealer when the recall has been remedied, which one dealer said could take years. I am a single guy living on my own and my income is very tight from month to month, and I don't feel that I should have to pay for this repair due to faulty craftsmanship by GMC. Also, I'm being lied to by these dealers for the repair cost. The GMC rep told me that a temporary fix would cost $70-$140, every dealer is quoting me $400+ and I simply cannot afford that, I feel that this is absurd and needs to be repaired with no cost out of my pocket.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V582000 (visibility); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving in the rain and using the windshield wipers, the wipers failed without warning. The contact stated that the windshield wipers stalled in mid motion and remained in the middle of the windshield. The contact had the vehicle towed home. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 GMC Terrain. While driving 35 MPH, the windshield wipers seized without warning. The contact stated that the weather was bad at the time of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V582000 (visibility,wipers). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
7/18/16 while driving in a downpour today on a busy road, the wiper linkage ball joint which attaches the linkage to the motor failed. This made the wipers stop and immediately all forward visibility was obscured. It made it very difficult to find a place to pull off while slowing down in traffic. I was very lucky to not hit someone or something. The parts stores sell an entire new linkage assembly for around $150. The nylon linkage assembly hangs upside down which is a very dangerous flaw in the GMC design and should be looked into to prevent tragedy. Respectfully, lucky guy
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2013 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2013 GMC Terrain, 15% of the model year's 364 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 GMC Terrain window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-582 (motor, Aug 4, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 GMC Terrain window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.