What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2020 GMC Terrain

Typical pattern

6.2% of complaints about the 2020 GMC Terrain came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2020 vehicle — around the middle of the 178 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes (63 complaints), typically at 5.5 yr or about 40,000 miles.

Complaints
304
Median age at failure
4.9 yr
Median mileage
42,510 n=53
Crash / fire / tow
11.5% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes
63 reports · 40,000 mi
5.5 yr
12.7%
Engine
57 reports · 67,000 mi
5.0 yr
8.8%
Other
34 reports · 3,000 mi
4.4 yr
5.9%
Electrical system
27 reports · 5,600 mi
4.3 yr
3.7%
Power train
27 reports · 57,000 mi
3.9 yr
3.7%
Fuel / propulsion
25 reports · 5,000 mi
4.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V339000 2023-05-11
Child seat:vehicle latch anchor

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

20V668000 2020-10-29
Power train:automatic transmission

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

In owners’ own words

Other mileage not reported 11 mo in service
THE AC SYSTEM PRODUCES A TOXIC CHEMICAL SMELL CAUSING THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE TOXIC ODOR. THE SMELL IS INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE MODERATE TO EXTREMELY POTENT.THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS AND CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS AUG. 1, 2020. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SEEN AT A LOCAL GMC DEALER 3 TIME SINCE JUNE, 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN BETWEEN MARCH AND EARLY JUNE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
Other 3,000 mi 1.3 yr in service
WHEN EVER I GO TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND I GO TP PUCH IN THE GAS PEDDLE THERE IS A VIBRATION DURING MOTION.
Other mileage not reported 2.1 yr in service
I had an incident this morning when I put my car in park position it remained in reverse. I took it out of park and put in drive then I put forward but the vehicle still remained in reverse. I turned the vehicle off and it still remained in reverse. Ali controls on infotainment panel was inoperable. ( example: I couldn’t turned off or turned radio).
Service brakes 457 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
WHEN REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO BRAKING. HIT A PARKED CAR. AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND ATTEMPTING TO MOVE VEHICLE BRAKES DID ENGAGE AND RESPOND CORRECTLY. REAR DAMAGE TO TERRAIN OCCURRED REQUIRING TOWING.

Other Terrain model years

2024202220202019201820172016201520142013201220112010

How to read this