Headlight complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Headlights flicker when auto stop releases and clicks back on to move the vehicle. This happens when it wants too but usually at the same time service parking brake will pop up, followed by steering is reduced, drive with care.. Lets see what else. Carplay no longer works. No sound. sd card error pops up. Car will not play music through a cord but will via bluetooth, but charges a phone. OnStar light flickering between green and red until I turned off power to the liftgate. (manually clicking over knob to disable) Headlights flickering can cause accidents. Sure hope there's no epileptics out. Yes, orielly. I have documentation, photos, videos, take your pick I'm here to help. Not evaluated at dealer or mechanic, who can afford labor rates? This has been happening for months and I will continue to report till something is done or lives are cared about.
I was driving at nighttime and my head lights cut off.. they were in auto light mode. I read that gmc knows about some sort of issue with this but only covers repairs up to 150k miles. My car is 156k miles. There was no warning lights and no indication anything was wrong. Luckily I was the only care on my side of the highway and was able to slam on the brakes and come to a complete stop. I turned the car off and then turned the head lights to manual and they can back on. A few hours later when I got home, I let the car cool off and turned the headlight back to auto and turned the car on and the worked.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting). After the recall repair was performed, the contact discovered that while driving at night, the low-beam headlights illumination was extremely low, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who indicated that no failure was found, and that the headlights operated as intended. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification NHTSA 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 local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be coming soon. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while the wife was driving approximately 45 MPH she accidentally hit an animal due to visibility issues with the headlights. There were no warning lights. The police arrived on the scene; however, no reports were filed. The front passenger headlight was damaged, along with the front grill and tie end rod. There were no air bags deployed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic and repaired. The driver had minor back injuries, no medical treatments applied, and just a few days off work. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 100,000
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH his vehicle inadvertently and unknowingly crashed into the vehicle in front. The contact was unable to see the vehicle in front of him due to the glare of headlights. The air bags did deploy. There were no warning lights. The vehicle was damaged in the front, but drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed with a failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There were no police reports or medical treatments. The contact has minor injuries to the jaw. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 76,000
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the high beam headlights would operate independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she was stopped by oncoming drivers and informed that the high beams were flashing while driving. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired but continued to experience the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact also found NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V165000 (Visibility) associated with her VIN. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, there was an abnormal glare causing a visibility hazard. The contact stated that she was unable to read the road signs due to the glare. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V137000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V165000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Terrain years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (24), 2014 (17), 2012 (10), 2013 (10) and 2016 (10) model years. Headlight complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for GMC Terrain headlight problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 22V-137 (headlights, Mar 8, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Terrain headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights (4 mentions).
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.