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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

What owners actually said

220 reports
3,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BACKWARDS AND "TRANSMISSION HOT AUTO ENGINE" ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAINBOW NORTHSHORE BUICK GMC (888-525-9150, LOCATED AT 2925 N HWY 190, COVINGTON, LA 70433) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BACKWARDS AND "TRANSMISSION HOT AUTO ENGINE" ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAINBOW NORTHSHORE BUICK GMC (888-525-9150, LOCATED AT 2925 N HWY 190, COVINGTON, LA 70433) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE CONTACT TRADED IN THE VEHICLE FOR A DIFFERENT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #11152606

15,100 miles · Nov 18, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

LEAKING DIESEL FUEL LINE WHILE RUNNING, PARKED AND IN GEAR. SECOND DIESEL TERRAIN FLEET VEHICLE TO LEAK FUEL; OTHER COLLEAGUE HAD THE SAME ISSUE RECENTLY AND WAS ASKED IF SOMEONE CUT THE FUEL LINE. NOW, MINE IS LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #11152349

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2018
Unknown Or Other

1. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ONLY WORKS WITH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL.GM REFUSES TO FIX IT AS THEY SAID THEY DESIGNED THE VEHICLE THIS WAY. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND DRIVES WITH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, WE BOUGHT THIS FEATURE FOR OUR YOUNG DRIVERS TO HAVE THEM REMINDED IF THEY DRIFT OUT OF THEIR LANE. 2. WARNING WINDOW …

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1. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING ONLY WORKS WITH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL.GM REFUSES TO FIX IT AS THEY SAID THEY DESIGNED THE VEHICLE THIS WAY. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND DRIVES WITH HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, WE BOUGHT THIS FEATURE FOR OUR YOUNG DRIVERS TO HAVE THEM REMINDED IF THEY DRIFT OUT OF THEIR LANE. 2. WARNING WINDOW ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING DISPLAYS ON THE RADIO SCREEN WHILE DRIVING, SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO PUSH OK TO GET RID OF IT. GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EITHER. 3. SEATBELTS ARE NON ADJUSTABLE HEIGHTWISE AND LENGTHWISE. THEY ARE OK FOR TALL PEOPLE, FOR ME BEING 5'4 THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND RUB MY NECK.SO I HAVE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THEM. GM IN 2018 DESIGNED ALL THEIR GMC AND BUICK VEHICLES THIS WAY, TO SAVE MONEY, I AM SURE. THESE TYPE OF UNADJUSTSBLE SEATBELTS WERE USED BACK IM THE 80'S.

NHTSA ODI #11144540

7,000 miles · Oct 22, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THEIR IS A START/STOP FEATURE IN THIS MODEL WHERE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS. I'M TOLD IT'S FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. ONE DAY I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHICH HAPPENED TO BE ON A SMALL HILL. THE CAR STOPPED AND BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT SCARED ME AND I THOUGHT I WOULD HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I IMMEDIA…

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THEIR IS A START/STOP FEATURE IN THIS MODEL WHERE THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS. I'M TOLD IT'S FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. ONE DAY I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHICH HAPPENED TO BE ON A SMALL HILL. THE CAR STOPPED AND BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT SCARED ME AND I THOUGHT I WOULD HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MAKE THE CAR RE-START, THEN IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SACRIFICE SAFETY OVER FUEL. IF ONLY THERE WAS AN OPTION TO DISABLE THIS FUNCTION. I WAS SCARED FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BEHIND ME. SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN!

NHTSA ODI #11141873

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

500 miles · Oct 17, 2018
Engine

THE AUTO STOP FEATURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE IT IS SLOW TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AND BEING IN SOUTH LOUISIANA EVEN WITH AC ON HI IT STILL SHUTS DOWN AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11141150

2,500 miles · Jun 22, 2018
Air BagsEnginePower Train

FIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A SEPARATION OF THE DASH NEAR AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. I AM ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL ACTUALLY M…

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FIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A SEPARATION OF THE DASH NEAR AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. I AM ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A VERY HARD SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS OCCURS USUALLY BETWEEN 2K AND 3 K RPMS. THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY JERK AS IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT.

NHTSA ODI #11103448

3,500 miles · Jun 22, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST RECALL N182155400. MY HUSBAND A CPD POLICE SERGEANT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 17, 2018 NB ON 111TH STREET (PUBLIC STREET) WHEN HE WAS HIT GOING 30 MPH BY AN UNLICENSED DRIVER HITTING HIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE: BUMPER/TIRE/DOOR. TO HIS DISMAY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE HAD HIS …

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THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST RECALL N182155400. MY HUSBAND A CPD POLICE SERGEANT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 17, 2018 NB ON 111TH STREET (PUBLIC STREET) WHEN HE WAS HIT GOING 30 MPH BY AN UNLICENSED DRIVER HITTING HIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE: BUMPER/TIRE/DOOR. TO HIS DISMAY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE HAD HIS TAKE HOME RADIO IN THE CAR TO CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANT. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL WE RECEIVED THE ONSTAR JUNE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT ON JUNE 19, 2018 AND THEN A PHONE CALL ON JUNE 20, 2018 FROM GMC HAGGERTY TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR THE RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT ADDRESS THE RECALL SINCE THE GMC WILL BE IN THE AUTO SHOP FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS BEING REPAIRED. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT - WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST. WE FILED A CLAIM ONLINE WITH OUR INSURANCE D48 1451-D03-13B STATE FARM UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 13-01F8-89B ON JUNE 17, 2018. WE DO NOT HAVE ESTIMATES FROM THE AUTO SHOP AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11103351

1,000 miles · Jun 3, 2018
Seats

MANUEL LEVER TO LIFT LOWER AND RAISE THE HEIGHT KEEP COMING OFF THE TRACK . THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME , THAT I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11099409

20 miles · May 18, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THERE IS NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THE AUTO / STOP FEATURE; I CONSIDER EACH USER SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATE THIS OPTION.

NHTSA ODI #11096685

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.