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2017 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2017 GMC Terrain do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Terrain years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

37 reports with mileage · 96 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

23 reports
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46,580 miles · Jan 29, 2021
EnginePower TrainWheels

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEALS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE …

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A A MESSAGE THAT STATES 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND A MESSAGE READING 'SERVICE STABILITREK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. THIS CREATED SUDDENLY JERKING AND SLOW ACCELERATION SO THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I FOUND A FORUM AT [XXX] THAT REVEALS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH GMC MODES AT LEAST AS LONG AS 2011. THE DURATION FOR WHICH THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH GMC MODELS, AND THE FACT THAT STABILITREK IS AN INTEGRAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE IN AVOIDING ACCIDENTS SEEMS TO MERIT A RECALL. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11390694

5,000 miles · Nov 25, 2019
Power Train

AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE ACCELERATING, ALL TORQUE IS LOST AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVS HIGH. IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS CAUSES A BIG JOLT. IT IS DANGEROUS, ALL POWER IS LOST, THEN SUDDENLY TOO MUCH POWER IS APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICL…

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AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR, WHILE ACCELERATING, ALL TORQUE IS LOST AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVS HIGH. IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS CAUSES A BIG JOLT. IT IS DANGEROUS, ALL POWER IS LOST, THEN SUDDENLY TOO MUCH POWER IS APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 40,502 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11282165

63,000 miles · Nov 1, 2019
Power TrainVisibility/wiper

I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSIDE MY TRANSFER TO BORE A HOLE T…

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I HAD MY 2017 GMC TERRAIN DENALI FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED TWO SERIOUS ISSUES. ISSUE #1-I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, GRINDING NOISE, AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH CAUSED SOMETHING INSIDE MY TRANSFER TO BORE A HOLE THROUGH IT. DEALER COULD NOT GET THE PART FOR 2 WEEKS. IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. A MONTH LATER WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AT A DIFFERENT AUTO SHOP, I WAS ASKED IF I RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE ONLY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE ENTIRE THING WAS LOOSE AND MOVING, AND THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE RIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLTS ON THE TRANSFER CASE AND CHARGED ME A $60 DIAGNOSTIC FEE (FOR THEIR ERROR). ISSUE #2-AT 63,000 MILES MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A BUSY STREET IN THE POURING RAIN (VERY SCARY). I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW WIPER TRANSMISSION AND WOULD COST $318 BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MY 2YO. CAR HAS NOW HAD TWO SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AND WAS TOLD 'CARS HAVE SO MANY MOVING PARTS AND PIECES THAT IT'S A WONDER MORE THINGS WEREN'T WRONG WITH IT'. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONDESCENDING AND COULDN'T CARE LESS. GMC NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #11277638

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.