2012 GMC Terrain Visibility/wiper Problems
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about visibility/wiper problems on the 2012 GMC Terrain, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 90,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “windshield wipers” (47% of reports).
- 74visibility/wiper complaints
- 90,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $380typical repair cost reported by owners
- 72%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 35 of 74 complaints (47%)
- Wiper motor: mentioned in 16 of 74 complaints (22%)
- Heavy rain: mentioned in 7 of 74 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility/wiper repair on the 2012 GMC Terrain at $380, and half of them between $360 and $470.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems happen?
Based on 57 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 74 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
GMC Terrain visibility/wiper complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility/wiper complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Terrain | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2025 Terrain | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2022 Terrain | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Terrain | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 Terrain | 2 | 1% | 1,000 |
| 2019 Terrain | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Terrain | 4 | 2% | 151 |
| 2017 Terrain | 3 | 2% | 42,500 |
| 2016 Terrain | 46 | 30% | 56,000 |
| 2015 Terrain | 101 | 34% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Terrain | 74 | 25% | 77,465 |
| 2013 Terrain | 50 | 14% | 60,000 |
| 2012 Terrain | 74 | 20% | 90,000 |
| 2011 Terrain | 28 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 2010 Terrain | 40 | 14% | 97,243 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists visibility/wiper for the 2012 GMC Terrain. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I was driving while it was raining. The wipers stopped working. The driverside wiper jumped partially off the windshield. I had my mechanic inspect it. The fuses, relay, and wiper motor are operational. The bushing on the wiper transmission failed. I found the following recall. Special Coverage…
Wiper motor went out on me no warning
Windshield wipers quit working. I can hear something, but blades don't move. I see the 2014-15 have a recall.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 GMC Terrains have visibility/wiper problems?
No. NHTSA has 74 owner complaints about visibility/wiper for the 2012 GMC Terrain (20% of the 364 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 GMC Terrain visibility/wiper?
No recall currently lists visibility/wiper for this vehicle.
At what mileage do visibility/wiper problems start?
The median reported mileage is 90,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix visibility/wiper problems on the 2012 GMC Terrain?
Owners report a typical cost of $380 (half paid between $360 and $470), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility/wiper problems on the 2012 GMC Terrain?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield wipers”, in 35 of 74 complaints, followed by “wiper motor” (16).
Other 2012 GMC Terrain problems
- Engine problems (169)
See all 2012 GMC Terrain problems or visibility/wiper problems across all Terrain years.