General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have issued a product safety recall for the 2010 to 2017 model year GMC Terrain crossover due to headlight glare. This recall comes after the automaker was denied a request to have the recall dismissed earlier this month, as the headlamps were found to be in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards due to their luminosity levels.
The problem: the headlamps in affected vehicles may illuminate areas that are located above the vehicle and outside of the driver’s view with excessively bright light. NHTSA said previously that, based on the reflection angle and luminosity numbers provided by GM in its motion to dismiss this recall, the headlamps in affected vehicles would have a “luminous intensity of 450-470 cd,” which exceeds the limit of 125 cd.
The hazards: the bright reflection from these headlamps may cause glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: the remedy for this problem is currently under development, although it will likely involve replacing the headlamps on affected vehicles, or modifying the headlamps in a way so they produce less glare for oncoming traffic.
Affected components: headlights.
Affected vehicles:
- 2010-2017 GMC Terrain
Number of affected vehicles: a total of 740,581 vehicles are believed to be affected by this problem.
Owners should: owners of affected vehicles will receive an owner notification letter in the mail with instructions on how to proceed. These letters will be mailed out starting on April 23rd, 2022. If owners are unsure whether or not their vehicle is affected by this recall action, they can visit my.gm.com/recalls and type in their VIN to see any open recalls that may be active on it. Affected owners can also reach out to GMC directly using the contact information included below.
Contacts:
- GM recall number: N222363740
- NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V137000
- GMC Customer Service: 1-800-462-8782
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Comments
Out of so many vehicles with lights brighter than the sun, the GMC Terrain is the one they want to recall/fix? What about full size Cadillac SUVs with the vertical row of lights? New Ford, GM and Toyota pickups and so many more with brighter, blinding lights that are way more irritating than the Terrain. Yes, I do own a Terrain, but can’t say I’ve had people flash their brights at me because my lights were too bright.
I agree. I’ve been driving a 2016 Terrain since new and no one’s ever flashed brights at me. Yet I’m constantly blinded by other vehicles, usually by knuckleheads who have their “foglights” on 100% of the time.
I have a 2015 Cadillac srx with defective, from th factory headlights. When I dim my lights at night , I basically do not have any lights. This is a factory defect caused by the extreme heat of the halogen bulb on the dim side ,has burned the reflector off inside. This is a very unsafe situation and GM SHOULD REIMBURSE US OWNERS !!
I have still not heard anything from GM. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR LIYAL CUSTOMERS. WE DESERVE SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION , WE PAID FOR A VEHICLE THAT COSTS MORE THAN AVERAGE, AND THIS IS THE THANKS WE GET. !? .??????????
Oh my I’ve been told from my local sales people, they said it could be up to two years. I bought and paid for a GMC terrain the day the recall came out and I have yet to receive it. The guy told me that what he thinks is gonna happen (he’s the second salesman to tell me this) is it going to be at least two years and at that time they’re going to have a big sale on the GMC terrains that they’ve had sitting on their lot for two years. It’s not looking good. I have a 2020 GMC Sierra pick up and I had just sold a 2012 GMC terrain. Nobody ever flash the bright lights at me when I drove my train but every time I drive my 2020 GMC sierra pick up at night time, I always get somebody blinking their lights at me because they think I have my bright lights on. It’s so stupid! I’m beyond frustrated.
Waine here Canada ,, Hu r u kidding ,, I have a 2010 TERRAIN LST .. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM WITH KNIGHT HAWKS … THE ORIGINAL ,HEAD LIGHTS WERE TRERIBLE . USELESS VISABILITY // CHEERS
So the government wants customers to bring their Terrains in so dealers can make their headlights dimmer?
I have a 2012 terrain, I have to use the fog lights when its dark because my lights are too dim
So you should buy new, brighter lamps for your headlights. They don’t cost that much and aren’t hard to replace. Lamps lose brightness over time, which most people don’t realize.
Sounds nit picky to me. Some one at NHTSA woke up with a boner and just had to address it.
We have the exact vehicle depicted in this story, a 2014 Terrain SLT2 in silver, with the argent, unpolished wheels. So, my ears naturally pricked up when I read this story. The reason? In 128,000 miles of ownership, spanning eight years, we have had no warranty claims or failures. Not one. It was a demo, so 30 of 31 oil changes were performed in our driveway using synthetic oil. The vehicle deserved such care. No serp belt; not even spark plugs. But, the reason for not enjoying the use of this vehicle any longer and considering jettisoning it? The crappy looking, embarrassing headlamps. The lenses are heavily fogged, turning yellow and are developing stress cracks in the lenses. The headlamps are a major frontal feature in this car. It is apparent that the soap in modern car washes attacks the clearcoat placed on the lenses for some reason. It has seen only 3 automated car washes, but that did it. C’mon Mary, recall these and get it over with. And, don’t break any tabs installing the new ones!
I had a GMC terrain and I also have a 2020 GMC Sierra truck and every time I drive my truck at night time somebody flashes their lights at me. Never have I ever had anyone flash their lights at me when I drive my Terrain at night.The lights on my truck are way brighter than my terrain. I sold my Terrain to my neighbor and bought another one. I paid for it and was ready to take it off of the lot And the dealership stopped me because they said I couldn’t take it because of the recall for the lights.This is just stupid. GM better hurry up and find a solution. It’s been a month already and still they haven’t come up with a solution. Absolutely ridiculous.I would like to be able to take my car home from the dealership lot that I bought and paid for.
Almost 3 months into this recall with still zero solutions in place. How is it taking this long?