GMC · vehicle model

GMC TERRAIN

4,091 NHTSA complaints and 22 safety recalls across model years 2010–2026.

Complaints
4,091
Recalls
22
Model years
17

The GMCTERRAIN appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 4,091 consumer safety complaints and 22 safety recalls across 17 model years (2010–2026). That averages roughly 241 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even — most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration — which the table below isolates for the TERRAIN by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing GMCTERRAIN risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20269
202516
202444
202335
202251
202146
2020250
2019269
2018305
2017173
2016174
2015375
2014385
2013483
2012496
2011556
2010424

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

23
10
58
11
45
12
67
13
134
14
153
15
218
16
234
17
347
18
512
19
356
20
377
21
426
22
330
23
335
24
412
25
64
26
View all trending models →

Compare GMCTERRAIN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the GMC TERRAIN?
The GMC TERRAIN has received 4,091 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2010 to 2026, with 22 recalls. That averages about 241 complaints per model year.
What years of GMC TERRAIN are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the GMC TERRAIN from 2010 to 2026 (17 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the GMC TERRAIN have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many GMC TERRAIN model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common GMC TERRAIN complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the GMC TERRAIN are categorized by component — common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my GMC TERRAIN has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.