NHTSA Complaint #11228907 — 2010 GMC TERRAIN

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY 2010 GMC TERRAIN MALFUNCTIONED (STOPPED WORKING) WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. DURING THE DOWNPOUR AND TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, I SWITCHED MY WIPERS TO 'HIGH SPEED' AND IMMEDIATELY THE WIPERS HALTED IN THE UPPER LEFT POSITION, FAILING TO MOVE FROM THAT POINT. I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LACK OF VISIBILITY AND HAD TO MANEUVER IN BETWEEN CARS TO GET SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. I AM VERY LUCKY THIS DID NOT RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR A WRECK. FROM THAT POINT, I NEEDED TO WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED AS HIGH SPEED CARS PASSED ME ON THE SHOULDER, GIVEN MY WIPERS WOULD NOT MOVE - DESPITE THE BATTERY/ENGINE/CAR RUNNING APPROPRIATELY OTHERWISE. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON (AND VERY DANGEROUS) PROBLEM, WHERE THE PLASTIC SOCKET (OR LINKAGE) OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DETACHES IN HIGH VELOCITY. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED - AS IT HAS BEEN IN CANADA.