What GMC Terrain owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See GMC Terrain safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2026 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 168 |
| 2025 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 335 |
| 2024 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 372 |
| 2023 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 458 |
| 2022 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 528 |
| 2021 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 696 |
| 2020 | 197 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 845 |
| 2019 | 185 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 1,006 |
| 2018 | 223 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1,344 |
| 2017 | 134 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1,064 |
| 2016 | 152 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1,232 |
| 2015 | 297 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1,573 |
| 2014 | 296 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 1,698 |
| 2013 | 364 | 14 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 1,935 |
| 2012 | 364 | 17 | 5 | 19 | 0 | 1,842 |
| 2011 | 386 | 11 | 8 | 24 | 0 | 1,755 |
| 2010 | 290 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1,651 |
The vehicle systems named most often in GMC Terrain complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
The Electric Power Steering (EPS) gear assembly / rack and pinion failed completely. Yes, the component is available for inspection upon request; it is currently located at the servicing dealership. A total failure of the steering gear assembly caused immediate loss of power steering assist, making the vehicle extremely heavy, rigid, and difficult to steer or control. This sudden mechanical/electronic failure puts the driver, passengers, and other motorists at extreme risk of a collision, especially if it occurs at highway speeds or while negotiating a turn. This did fail on me driving down the Highway! Yes. The problem was officially diagnosed and confirmed by the franchise dealership. They…
My 2023 GMC Terrain has experienced two separate incidents of complete loss of motive power/engine propulsion while being driven. The vehicle suddenly loses the ability to accelerate and maintain normal propulsion, creating a serious safety risk in traffic. The first occurrence was on August 8, 2026. The vehicle was subsequently diagnosed and repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealership with General Motors involvement. After those repairs were completed and the vehicle was returned to me, the same loss-of-propulsion symptom occurred again on September 26, 2026, approximately two weeks after the vehicle was returned. The second failure occurred while I was actively driving and again resulte…
Without any type of warning, I was driving down the road when my car started making a knocking/ticking type noise then my engine light came on. I attempted to hit my brakes and stop, and I had no control. There was no brakes without pushing it all the way to the floor it was very hard to get my car to stop. I managed to get off the road and into a parking lot and now told that I have $5000 worth of repairs, including the vacuum pump, camshaft timing and guides. After reading information I see there is complaints filed regarding this failed vacuum pump and I would just like to report this.
I have had my check engine light come on for P0299. I've lost power while on the road. Had my turbo replaced and now the same issue is starting again. I'm afraid of my car stalling out again with my child in the car. This is a definite safety issue especially since this is happening again months after getting the new turbo put in.
While driving at the speed limit the vacuum pump failed on my 2020 GMC Terrain. This failure led to me enter an intersection with heavy cross traffic, nearly striking g several vehicles. This is the 3rd time I have had to replace this pump in 2 years. The pump explodes sending chards of metal into the engine leading to more damage and labor intensive work.
I bought this 2017 used on XXX I have had to put 1 quart of oil in the car every 500 miles. Because it burns oil like crazy. And now at this point, the transmission has just quit. I believe they call it the drive train. I am taking it to D and D auto repair in [XXX] on Thursday of this week. GMC knows about the drive train problem as it is common well known problem INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Dear [Manufacturer], I am writing to report a serious safety concern with my [year, make, model]. A bolt from the idler arm/undercarriage came off after becoming severely rusted. I had the vehicle inspected by a repair shop, but they could not determine why the bolt failed or why it had rusted to this extent. This is extremely concerning because a failure of this component while driving could potentially result in loss of control and a serious accident. I am asking the manufacturer to investigate this issue and determine whether this is a known defect or corrosion-related problem. Please let me know if you would like to inspect the vehicle or failed component. I look forward to your resp…
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage at the residence, there was fuel leaking from the vehicle from the fuel line. The contact stated that the fuel pump was replaced. There was a strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure but stated that the repair was not covered because the VIN was not included in the recall.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This update contains a required software change to help improve the overall software update and diagnostics process.
⢠Improved eCall system performance
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the virtual garage door opener not programming to a garage opener. Engineering is working on a new module.
Great News! Your vehicle keeps getting better. This update contains a required software change to help improve the overall software update and diagnostics process. During the update process, your radio may stay on up to 5 minutes after you exit the vehicle. This is expected behavior when an update package is onboard the vehicle. Do not service your vehicle during installation.
This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall. Certain vehicles may have a condition which can cause the fuel pump power control module to fail. If this were to occur, fuel flow to the engine could be interrupted. Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module.
General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall. Certain vehicles may have a condition which can cause the fuel pump power control module to fail. If this were to occur, fuel flow to the engine could be interrupted. Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module.
This PI is to instruct dealer on diagnostic procedures that need to be completed prior to replacing a radio or IPC display
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
This preliminary information addresses a clunk noise in the front suspension traced to the control arm bushings.
Emission Recall. General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall. Certain vehicles listed above may have a condition which can cause the fuel pump power control module to fail. If this were to occur, fuel flow to the engine could be interrupted. Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module.
This preliminary information addresses a clunk noise in the front suspension traced to the control arm bushings.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
On June 1, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-009 to investigate instances of a momentary increase in steering effort after the vehicle is driven in a straight line for a period of time due to an issue with the steering gear in model year (MY) 2010 through 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs.If the electric power steering system fails to operate as intended, the driver will experience momentary increased effort when attempting to turn the steering wheel from the
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2027, owners most often name: engine, power train, visibility/wiper. 3,148 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
