NHTSA Complaint #11280607 — 2010 GMC TERRAIN

ONE NIGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY TWO LANE ROAD DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE STRAIGHT UP POSITION ALMOST OFF THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS ONLY BY GOD THAT SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. A SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE SHE WAS MEETING TRAFFIC AND BEHIND HER WAS AN 18 WHEELER BIG TRUCK AND OTHER VARIOUS VEHICLES. AS AN ADDED ISSUE SHE HAD NO PHONE RECEPTION TO CALL FOR HELP, DANGEROUSLY SITTING, BARELY OFF THE ROAD, ON THE 'SMALL' SHOULDER OF THAT TWO LANE ROAD AS A YOUNG WOMAN WITH NO HELP IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM. SHE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED TO PROCEED TO A SAFE AREA, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT AN INCIDENT, THANK GOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM WAS RELATED TO THE PLASTIC GROMMET COMING APART FROM THE METAL BALL IN WHICH IT WAS ATTACHED. POOR DESIGN SHOULD BE NOTED IN THAT THIS ATTACHMENT IS UPSIDE DOWN. A CONSTANT WEAR IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE BEING A PLASTIC GROMMET SURROUNDING A METAL BALL IN THE UPSIDE DOWN POSITION ALLOWING WATER AND DIRT TO ENTER THE JOINT FURTHER INCITING THE POSSIBILITY OF A DISLODGING IN THE FUTURE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHERE THIS WILL HAPPEN, OR WHAT SITUATION YOU MIGHT BE IN, FURTHER PROMOTING THE POSSIBILITY FOR AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THANKFULLY GOD GUIDED MY DAUGHTER TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND KEPT HER SAFE. IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE BEING SO PREVALENT IN SO MANY MODEL YEARS, AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND NO RECALL TO BE ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER! WAKE UP GM, LIVES ARE IMPORTANT TOO!