← New search

2020 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 GMC Terrain do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 40 of 195 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

195 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine

This 2020 GMC Terrain has a "feature" called autostop. This is not a switch to turn this off. It would not be so bad if the engine would run for 5 minutes at a stoplight before stopping the engine but it immediately shuts down the engine after a stop. This is getting annoying and dangerous due to the delay in getting the car mov…

Read full complaint

This 2020 GMC Terrain has a "feature" called autostop. This is not a switch to turn this off. It would not be so bad if the engine would run for 5 minutes at a stoplight before stopping the engine but it immediately shuts down the engine after a stop. This is getting annoying and dangerous due to the delay in getting the car moving. I have only had the car for a month. I understand that later gmc cars have a disable switch. This car should be recalled and either disable the auto stop permanently or be able to disable the "feature" on demand. Problem: potential crash hazard due to car not starting and damage to battery and starter.

NHTSA ODI #11445742

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2021
Engine

loss of oil due to engine defect and need new engine. engine and car at dealership. engine has not been torn apart to find cause. occupants could have died because of engine stoppage... GM wants owner to pay over 15,000 for new engine and instillation. car under new car warranty has 24211 miles. no early warning lights of low oi…

Read full complaint

loss of oil due to engine defect and need new engine. engine and car at dealership. engine has not been torn apart to find cause. occupants could have died because of engine stoppage... GM wants owner to pay over 15,000 for new engine and instillation. car under new car warranty has 24211 miles. no early warning lights of low oil.... Owner took car in immediately when warning lights appeared 9-27-21 and GMC dealership improperly serviced . on 10-14-21 same warning lights reappeared and taken immediately to same close dealership. Now told new engine needed.

NHTSA ODI #11439841

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

While driving instrumental panel and infotainment panel completely blacked out for no reason at all. This is the second time in two days this has happened.

NHTSA ODI #11439538

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

Instrument panel and infotainment system panel completely blacked out while driving vehicle

NHTSA ODI #11439427

40,000 miles · Nov 4, 2021
Service Brakes

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost brake functionality while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the vacuum pump replaced. The vehicle was…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost brake functionality while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the vacuum pump replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11439344

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I had an incident this morning when I put my car in park position it remained in reverse. I took it out of park and put in drive then I put forward but the vehicle still remained in reverse. I turned the vehicle off and it still remained in reverse. Ali controls on infotainment panel was inoperable. ( example: I couldn’t turned …

Read full complaint

I had an incident this morning when I put my car in park position it remained in reverse. I took it out of park and put in drive then I put forward but the vehicle still remained in reverse. I turned the vehicle off and it still remained in reverse. Ali controls on infotainment panel was inoperable. ( example: I couldn’t turned off or turned radio).

NHTSA ODI #11436089

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceVehicle Speed Control

Not long after I bought my 2020 GMC Terrain my adaptive cruise started disengaging. There are never any warning lights, except the noise and vibration of the seat before it shuts off then tells you it's disengaging. I didn't think anything of it until it's became a regular occurrence in the last month or two. I tell my dealershi…

Read full complaint

Not long after I bought my 2020 GMC Terrain my adaptive cruise started disengaging. There are never any warning lights, except the noise and vibration of the seat before it shuts off then tells you it's disengaging. I didn't think anything of it until it's became a regular occurrence in the last month or two. I tell my dealership about it and they drive it but it never disengages on them, so they say nothing is wrong with my vehicle. I have a picture of the "adaptive cruise disengaging" and video of where I can't reset it until after about 15 or so minutes or letting my car set for a while or turning off the engine then it works again. I also have noticed that my auto start/stop hasn't been turning on & off anymore.

NHTSA ODI #11432173

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance

On fairly level ground, reduce speed hill descent control msg has activated (12 mile and maxwell area 2x, Rochester Hills Kohls parking lot exit) and once entering river bend dr. vehicle has also has had activated brakes on oak hill street in rochester. the vehicle has less than 4100 miles. very concerning about activated br…

Read full complaint

On fairly level ground, reduce speed hill descent control msg has activated (12 mile and maxwell area 2x, Rochester Hills Kohls parking lot exit) and once entering river bend dr. vehicle has also has had activated brakes on oak hill street in rochester. the vehicle has less than 4100 miles. very concerning about activated brakes.

NHTSA ODI #11422295

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2021
Unknown Or Other

After starting my vehicle on May 28, 2021, the infotainment screen was pink and green with lines. The radio was playing loudly, and I had not previously set it to that volume. Additionally, the volume control button did not work. I headed to the nearest GM dealer, and I did not attempt to turn off the screen. A service represe…

Read full complaint

After starting my vehicle on May 28, 2021, the infotainment screen was pink and green with lines. The radio was playing loudly, and I had not previously set it to that volume. Additionally, the volume control button did not work. I headed to the nearest GM dealer, and I did not attempt to turn off the screen. A service representative said I needed an appointment, and I could not be seen until one day during the next week. I needed the turn-by-turn navigation, and I did not know if the issue would worsen or cause other issues, so I asked for a rental vehicle. My vehicle had accumulated less than 10,000 miles, and I have an extended warranty. I was told the vehicle has to be diagnosed before a rental is approved, and their loaner vehicles were out for two and a half weeks. Every dealership I called stated I could not get an appointment that day. I asked GM to call dealers, and nothing worked. GM said if I rented a vehicle, they would not reimburse me because my vehicle would need to be diagnosed beforehand, with a minimum of a one-day, overnight stay. Normally, the back-up camera takes too long to transition to the radio screen, and it has temporarily appeared black. At less than 300 miles, the vehicle stopped going into drive. That occurred three times, placing me into a dangerous situation the third time, before the selling dealer decided to replace the transmission. At less than 8,000 miles, the driver door switch had to be replaced. I purchased the vehicle with seven accumulated miles. I am still getting familiar with this state, so I need navigation, but it would have caused major safety issues had I attempted to visit family members out-of-state, like I had planned, without turn-by-turn navigation. I had to forgo visiting my family. If more pressing issues had arisen, I would have been completely stranded, over a long weekend, and possibly on a roadside, like before. If I had a family emergency to attend to, the situation would have been horrible.

NHTSA ODI #11419078

4,200 miles · Apr 28, 2021
Electrical System

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WENT BLACK AND NOTHING WOULD WORK. STAYED THIS WAY WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED TURNED OFF CAR AND STILL DIDNT WORK. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DATA COMMUNICATIONS MODULE.

NHTSA ODI #11414329

Official recalls

2

23V339000 · Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor

May 11, 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. 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 N232403240.

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.

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.