Engine. Review the 197 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility/wiper. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

364 reports

5,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013

Service BrakesCrash

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PURCHASED 2013 GMC TERRAIN DENALI BRAND NEW; VEHICLE HAD APPROX 5000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. WHILE OUT TO MOUNTAINS AND JUST STARTING TO HEADING DOWN A STEEP GRADE ON A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD (JUST STARTED MOVING AND WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH), ABS KICKED IN AND WOULDN'T STOP, PREVENTING THE BREAK FROM BEING PRESSED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THIS STEEP GRADE ROAD WITH A CLIFF ON ONE SIDE AND A MOUNTAIN FACE ON THE OTHER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PICKING UP SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO GET THE ABS TO RELEASE THE BREAKS SO THAT I COULD USE THEM AGAIN. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BREAKS, SHIFTED FROM M1 TO DRIVE, THEN TO NEUTRAL, THEN TO REVERSE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO TRIED TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING, NOT TOUCH THE BREAKS, AND SEE IF THE BREAKS WOULD RELEASE AND I STILL CONTINUED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STOP. AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 1/2 MILE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN I HIT THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WHICH DID STOP THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DID THE BREAKS BECOME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE RAPID DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. MY FAMILY AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO DEATH THAT DAY AND ALL COULD'VE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT. BUYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520537

60 miles · May 17, 2013

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE LEFT WHEN THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HYDRAULIC STEERING, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PERFORM IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT DID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.

NHTSA ODI #10512577

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2013

Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10509266

1,300 miles · Mar 22, 2013

Service Brakes

WHEN I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AT STOP SIGN I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY BADLY PLACED SO MY FOOT MISSED THE BRAKE AND I WENT THRU THE STOP SIGN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. (FORTUNATELY,I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE ONCOMING LANE) OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MY FOOT HAD TO RELEARN THE POSITION OF THE PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SA…

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NHTSA ODI #10504074

Official recalls

22V137000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 8, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.

16V582000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Aug 4, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.