GMC Terrain: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
GMC Terrain problems by model year, from 3,102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (82%, 93 drivetrain complaints), 2023 (76%, 29 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (69%, 248 drivetrain complaints). 14 of the 14 GMC Terrain years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No GMC Terrain year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2016 (40%).
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (248 of 1,602 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every GMC Terrain year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain | high | 57% | 151 | 295 | 6/14 | 3 |
| 2011 Terrain | very high | 69% | 248 | 397 | 3/14 | 4 |
| 2012 Terrain | high | 59% | 195 | 370 | 5/14 | 4 |
| 2013 Terrain | very high | 67% | 229 | 369 | 4/14 | 3 |
| 2014 Terrain | high | 57% | 155 | 301 | 7/14 | 2 |
| 2015 Terrain | high | 40% | 108 | 315 | 13/14 | 3 |
| 2016 Terrain | elevated | 40% | 53 | 152 | 14/14 | 2 |
| 2017 Terrain | very high | 82% | 93 | 134 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2018 Terrain | high | 43% | 90 | 223 | 12/14 | 5 |
| 2019 Terrain | high | 55% | 99 | 185 | 9/14 | 3 |
| 2020 Terrain | high | 45% | 86 | 197 | 11/14 | 2 |
| 2021 Terrain | high | 50% | 17 | 36 | 10/14 | 2 |
| 2022 Terrain | high | 56% | 49 | 88 | 8/14 | 2 |
| 2023 Terrain | very high | 76% | 29 | 40 | 2/14 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the GMC Terrain years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
GMC Terrain transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the GMC Terrain involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 20 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2017 | 17V516000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2018 |
| May 2018 | 18V358000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V668000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018–2020 |
17 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2009 | 09V489000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system | 2010 |
| Dec 2010 | 10V623000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2011 |
| Oct 2011 | 11V511000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2012 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V447000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2010–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V666000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V449000 | equipment: other: labels | 2016 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V502000 | electrical system: ignition | 2011–2013 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V582000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2013 |
| May 2018 | 18V340000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2018 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V576000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018–2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V184000 | seats | 2019 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V612000 | tires | 2021 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V137000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2010–2017 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V165000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2014–2015 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V724000 | seats | 2022 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V929000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2023 |
| May 2023 | 23V339000 | child seat: vehicle latch anchor | 2020–2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the GMC Terrain
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the GMC Terrain
What are the worst years for the GMC Terrain?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst GMC Terrain years are the 2017 (82% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2023 (76% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2011 (69% of relevant complaints, very high). 14 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the GMC Terrain?
No GMC Terrain year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2016 (40%).
Does the GMC Terrain have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,602 of 2,832 relevant NHTSA complaints (57%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the GMC Terrain reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 14 of 14 GMC Terrain years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 57% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the GMC Terrain?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the GMC Terrain years we track, out of 20 in total: 17V516000 (Aug 2017, 2018), 18V358000 (May 2018, 2018), 20V668000 (Oct 2020, 2018–2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.