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2018 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Terrain do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 129 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 41 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 reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

68 reports
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50,000 miles · Sep 2, 2020
Service Brakes

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 GMC TERRAIN (VIN NO. [XXX]) TWO YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. ON AUGUST 6, 2020, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING WITH OUR 2-YEAR-OLD SON TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE FUNERAL. TRAVELING AROUND 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED US. THE PEDAL BECAME ENTIRELY STIFF …

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 GMC TERRAIN (VIN NO. [XXX]) TWO YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. ON AUGUST 6, 2020, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING WITH OUR 2-YEAR-OLD SON TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE FUNERAL. TRAVELING AROUND 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED US. THE PEDAL BECAME ENTIRELY STIFF MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. IT TOOK CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. REMIND YOU, I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY 2-YEAR-OLD SON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11352837

51,138 miles · Jun 15, 2020
Service Brakes

MY 2018 TERRAIN HAS 51138 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I HAD TO COAST TO A SAFE SPEED AND PULL MY PARK BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. BECAUSE MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME. THE VACUUM PUMP IS OUT. EVEN THE TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PART WA…

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MY 2018 TERRAIN HAS 51138 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP. I HAD TO COAST TO A SAFE SPEED AND PULL MY PARK BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP. BECAUSE MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME. THE VACUUM PUMP IS OUT. EVEN THE TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGED IT HAPPENED REALLY EARLY ON IN MY VEHICLES MILEAGE BUT IS STILL SAYING IT IS MY COST TO REPLACE. I ASKED REPEATEDLY FOR THE PART NUMBER SO I COULD COMPARE THAT PART NUMBER TO THE PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE 2018 GMC TRUCKS AND THE DEALERSHIP AND GM REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE PART NUMBER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328851

14,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Service Brakes

BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AT 14,000 MILES ALL 4 ROTORS ARE PITTED WITH GROOVES. DEALER TOOK THEM APART AND FOUND NOTHING THAT COULD CAUSE IT. SAID THEY WERE "WEATHERED". TOOK IT TO 2 OTHER PLACES AND SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. DEALER WONT REPLACE BECAUSE BUMPER TO BUMPER WONT COVER IT. ITS A DEFECT DIDNT NOTICE UNTIL ANOTHER DEAL…

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BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AT 14,000 MILES ALL 4 ROTORS ARE PITTED WITH GROOVES. DEALER TOOK THEM APART AND FOUND NOTHING THAT COULD CAUSE IT. SAID THEY WERE "WEATHERED". TOOK IT TO 2 OTHER PLACES AND SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. DEALER WONT REPLACE BECAUSE BUMPER TO BUMPER WONT COVER IT. ITS A DEFECT DIDNT NOTICE UNTIL ANOTHER DEALER DID THE OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY SAID THEY WERENT LIKE THAT IN FEBRUARY.

NHTSA ODI #11210612

10,608 miles · Mar 21, 2019
EngineService Brakes

I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC ALERT: SERVICE THE ENGING AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 TERRAIN WITHIN 7 DAYS. THE CODE WAS P050F. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 10,000 MILES ON HERE.

NHTSA ODI #11190567

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

I HAVE AROUND 6 TO 7 MONTH WITH THE VEHICLE AND SINCE DAY ONE IT MADE A WEARD NOISE IN THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE VEHICLE DOESNT RESPOND AND PERFORM WELL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FIRST THEY STATED IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN THEY STARTED GIVING ME MANYDIFERENT EXCUSES AND THAT IT WAS NORMA…

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I HAVE AROUND 6 TO 7 MONTH WITH THE VEHICLE AND SINCE DAY ONE IT MADE A WEARD NOISE IN THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE VEHICLE DOESNT RESPOND AND PERFORM WELL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FIRST THEY STATED IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN THEY STARTED GIVING ME MANYDIFERENT EXCUSES AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL BUT STILL THE SUV WOULDNT RESPOND I CALLED GM AND THEY OPENED A TICKET BUT AFTER THAT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN OTHER WORDS THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. YESTURDAY FEB 26,2019 THE SUV STARTED HAVING WORST PROBLEMS AS TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT RUN MOR THEN 33 MILES A HOUR IT STARTED SHAKING RPMS GOING WILD THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 5500 MILES ON IT. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO OUT OF THIS TIME I HAVE WITH IT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MORE TIMED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAN WITH ME

NHTSA ODI #11182744

650 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Service Brakes

TAKATA RECALL MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT STEM FROM THE DEALERSHIP FIXING THE ISSUE, AS I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN YET FOR THE FIX. MY ISSUES LIES IN THE FACT THAT I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 5 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW STUCK IN A LEASE FOR 3 YEARS KNOWING THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS UNSTABLE. THAT CAUSES ALARMING CONCERN TO ME AND…

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TAKATA RECALL MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT STEM FROM THE DEALERSHIP FIXING THE ISSUE, AS I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN YET FOR THE FIX. MY ISSUES LIES IN THE FACT THAT I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 5 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW STUCK IN A LEASE FOR 3 YEARS KNOWING THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS UNSTABLE. THAT CAUSES ALARMING CONCERN TO ME AND MY WIFE. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT AND NOW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SO FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LEASE WHICH IS ALMOST 3 YEARS AS I JUST LEASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND I THEREFORE ASK TO BE ABLE TO LEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THE PRICE I AM CURRENTLY PAYING PER MONTH. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST. UNLESS I RECEIVE A GUARANTEE FROM THE MANUFACTURER THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH MY VEHICLE I AM LEFT WITH MORE CONCERNS THAT ONE WHO LEASES A NEW VEHICLE SHOULD BE LEFT WITH.

NHTSA ODI #11141339

2,290 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesStructureCrash

I PULLED INTO OUR CARPORT. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR JUST "SPED UP AND WENT FASTER AND FASTER." IT HIT THE FRONT OF THE CAR STRAIGHT ON. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID THE FRONT END COLLISION STOP HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI #11066136

1,500 miles · Dec 28, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE CAR …

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THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE CAR THEN STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. THE 2ND TIME SAME SITUATION WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #11057250

Official recalls

5

20V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 29, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.

18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Aug 30, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

18V340000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

May 24, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the SDM becomes inoperative, it will not detect a crash or command the necessary air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18179.

17V516000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Aug 22, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.

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.