2020 GMC Terrain problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 GMC Terrain are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 56% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 GMC Terrain have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 86 of 197 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Terrain concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under engine (58). For comparison, the 2019 scores 55% and the 2021 scores 50%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2020 GMC Terrain
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 GMC Terrain said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 86 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 GMC Terrain?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 GMC Terrain involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: 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…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 GMC Terrain? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 GMC Terrain
Does the 2020 GMC Terrain have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 86 of 197 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 GMC Terrain concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 GMC Terrain?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 GMC Terrain involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 20V668000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which GMC Terrain years are better?
Among the GMC Terrain years we track, the 2015 (40%), the 2016 (40%) and the 2018 (43%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (45%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 GMC Terrain?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 GMC Terrain has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.