GMC Terrain reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 3,153 complaints about the GMC Terrain with NHTSA since 2010, most often about engine and transmission and drivetrain. GMC has filed 38 warranty extensions and 57 service campaigns for it, and there are 22 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the GMC Terrain? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Terrain a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 3,153
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 38
- Filed by GMC
- Service campaigns
- 57
- Filed by GMC
- Safety recalls
- 22
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Terrain with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | Other or unspecified (27%) | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | 13 | Electrical system (31%) | 0 | 8 |
| 2024 | 52 | Transmission and drivetrain (42%) | 1 | 10 |
| 2023 | 40 | Fuel and propulsion (40%) | 2 | 11 |
| 2022 | 88 | Fuel and propulsion (36%) | 4 | 19 |
| 2021 | 36 | Engine (28%) | 2 | 5 |
| 2020 | 197 | Brakes (33%) | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | 185 | Engine (37%) | 3 | 8 |
| 2018 | 223 | Brakes (31%) | 5 | 5 |
| 2017 | 135 | Engine (59%) | 1 | 5 |
| 2016 | 152 | Engine (30%) | 2 | 5 |
| 2015 | 298 | Visibility and wipers (34%) | 3 | 9 |
| 2014 | 297 | Engine (41%) | 2 | 8 |
| 2013 | 364 | Engine (54%) | 3 | 15 |
| 2012 | 364 | Engine (46%) | 4 | 19 |
| 2011 | 386 | Engine (46%) | 4 | 32 |
| 2010 | 290 | Engine (37%) | 2 | 34 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Terrain model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by GMC
Warranty extensions and service campaigns GMC filed with NHTSA for the Terrain, in its own words. A warranty extension means GMC pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Electrical system· model years 2017–2025
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionMar 2023· Visibility· model years 2010–2012, 2016–2017
Special Coverage. On certain 2010-2012 model year and 2016-2017 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, the ball joints in the front windshield wiper modules of these vehicles may experience high corrosion and wear that could result in the separation of one or…
- Warranty extensionSep 2022· Visibility· model years 2010–2017
Special Coverage. On some vehicles, a link ball socket in the front wiper transmission may separate.
- Warranty extensionJul 2022· Visibility· model years 2010–2012
Special Coverage. On certain vehicles, the ball joints in the front windshield wiper modules of these vehicles may experience high corrosion and wear that could result in the separation of one or more ball joints from their sockets during wiper operation.
- Warranty extensionJun 2021· Engine and cooling· model years 2012–2013
Special Coverage (Revised correction statement, service procedure and customer reimbursement).
- Warranty extensionOct 2020· Engine· model years 2012–2013
Emission Recalls and Special Coverage. Population movement between bulletin numbers.
Manufacturer reference N192268180 and N: quote it to a dealer to check whether a car is covered.
- Warranty extensionOct 2020· Engine and cooling· model years 2012–2013
Special Coverage Adjustment. Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine and certified to the EPA Bin 4 emission standard and the California Cleaner Federal Vehicle option of Bin 4 emission standard, may exhibit catalytic converter and/or oxygen sensor performance degradation,…
- Warranty extensionJan 2020· Brakes· model years 2012
Special Coverage (Revised Service Procedure). Some 2012 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionJan 2020· Brakes· model years 2013
Special Coverage (Revised Warranty). Some vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine (RPO LEA) may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionDec 2019· Visibility· model years 2010–2012, 2014–2017
N192266180 - Special Coverage - On some 2010-2012, and 2014-2017 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, a link ball socket in the wiper transmission may separate.
- Warranty extensionJul 2018· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
15810-03 - Special Coverage Revised. On some vehicles that are equipped with a 2.4L engine (RPO LAF), a malfunction-indicator light (MIL) may illuminate due to thermal damage or face erosion of the catalytic converter.
- Warranty extensionJun 2018· Fuel system· model years 2015
18029 - Special Coverage. Certain vehicles listed above, may have an inoperative purge solenoid that could lead to excessive fuel vapors entering the combustion chamber from the fuel tank.
- Warranty extensionJun 2018· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
15810-02 - Special Coverage (revised warranty section). On some vehicles that are equipped with a 2.4L engine (RPO LAF), a malfunction-indicator light (MIL) may illuminate due to thermal damage or face erosion of the catalytic converter.
- Warranty extensionJun 2017· Engine· model years 2010–2011
12313D - Special Coverage. On some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine (RPO LAF), the chrome layer on the balance chain pins may wear, allowing the chain to stretch.
- Warranty extensionApr 2017· Electrical system· model years 2010
14159D - Special Coverage. Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionApr 2017· Electrical system· model years 2011
15285D - Special Coverage. Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionApr 2017· Engine and cooling· model years 2012
16118 - Special Coverage. Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionSep 2016· Fuel system· model years 2010–2011
12313C - Special Coverage. Bulletin was revised to remove special coverage adjustment for the fuel pump that is now included in Voluntary Emissions Recall 43180. Updates have been made to the Part Information, Service Procedure, and Warranty Transaction Information sections.
- Warranty extensionAug 2016· Engine and cooling· model years 2010–2011
15810 - Special Coverage. A malfunction-indicator light (MIL) may illuminate due to thermal damage or face erosion of the catalytic converter. Replace the catalytic converter. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
- Warranty extensionMar 2016· Engine· model years 2010
14159C - special coverage (revised to adjust labor time). Some vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionMar 2016· Engine· model years 2011
15285C - special coverage (revised to correct labor time misprint).
- Warranty extensionMar 2016· Engine· model years 2011
15285B - special coverage (labor time revised). Vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionJul 2015· Engine· model years 2011
15285 - special coverage. Some 2011 Model year chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionJun 2015· Airbags· model years 2010–2011
14710 - special coverage. On some 2010-2011 Model year chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles, high resistance in the side-impact airbag (siab) circuit may cause the airbag-readiness light to illuminate and the service air bag message to display.
- Warranty extensionJun 2015· Steering· model years 2010–2014
14232A - special coverage (warranty transaction information revised).
- Warranty extensionMar 2015· Engine· model years 2010–2013
14882 - special coverage. Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine (laf, lea or luk) that have experienced high oil consumption may also experience a frozen and/or plugged pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) system during cold weather operation.
- Warranty extensionJan 2015· Engine· model years 2010
14159A - special coverage (revised warranty information). Some 2010 Model year chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles, equipped with a 2.4L engine, may exhibit excessive engine oil consumption (less than 2,000 miles per quart of engine oil), due to piston ring wear.
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Steering· model years 2010–2014
14232 - special coverage. Some vehicles may have increased friction in the steering system.
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Steering· model years 2010–2014
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Power Steering Stick-Slip
- Warranty extensionAug 2014· Fuel system· model years 2013
14289 - special coverage. On some vehicles, equipped with E85 flex fuel capability (fhs), the flexible fuel sensor may become inoperative during normal operation due to an electrical failure caused by road salt and other environmental contaminants.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Terrain model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Engine1,211 (38%)
- Transmission and drivetrain475 (15%)
- Visibility and wipers413 (13%)
- Electrical system352 (11%)
- Other or unspecified317 (10%)
- Brakes210 (7%)
- Fuel and propulsion190 (6%)
- Airbags146 (5%)
Safety recalls
22 recalls cover at least one Terrain model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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The door strikers may fracture, resulting in the door opening unexpectedly.
The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars.
The fuel pump module may not consistently provide sufficient fuel to the engine, resulting in an engine stall.
The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.
The driver's seat may have a stripped or loose bolt at the seat frame height-adjust pivot.
The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light.
The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted.
The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
And 7 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE20009Preliminary evaluation· opened Jun 2020, closed Jun 2022· Steering· model years 2010–2012
Momentary Increased Steering Effort
- EA19005Engineering analysis· opened Dec 2019, closed Nov 2022· Visibility· model years 2010–2012, 2014–2016
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
Led to recall 22V165000.
- RQ18002Recall query· opened Nov 2018, closed Dec 2019· Visibility· model years 2010–2012, 2014–2016
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
NHTSA's own page for the 2027 GMC Terrain has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the GMC Terrain reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 3,153 owner complaints, 38 warranty extensions and 57 service campaigns GMC filed, and 22 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2011 (386), 2012 (364), 2013 (364). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the GMC Terrain?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name engine (38%), transmission and drivetrain (15%), visibility and wipers (13%). GMC has filed 38 warranty extensions covering the Terrain, listed on this page.
Which Terrain model years have the most complaints?
2011 (386), 2012 (364), 2013 (364). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Terrain with each other rather than with other models.
Has GMC extended the warranty on the Terrain?
Yes: electrical system (model years 2017–2025); visibility (model years 2010–2012, 2016–2017); visibility (model years 2010–2017), and 35 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Terrain?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 22 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.