GMC TERRAIN · model year

2020 GMC TERRAIN

250 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2020GMCTERRAIN carries 250 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2020 TERRAIN is service brakes with 49 filings, followed by engine (45) and unknown or other (27). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2020 TERRAIN. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

250
Complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths
2020 GMC TERRAIN — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2020 GMC TERRAIN. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

250 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES49
ENGINE45
UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24
POWER TRAIN24
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM18
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING5
STRUCTURE:BODY3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
BACK OVER PREVENTION3
SUSPENSION2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2

Recalls (2)

20V66800029/10/2020

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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. Th

23V33900011/05/2023

CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR

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 fai

Recent Complaints

20260209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving in cold weather at various speeds; moisture accumulated and deactivated the charger, causing the vehicle to go into LIMP Mode and lose drive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the charger air cooler was defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer also wanted to place an air deflector on the vehicle. The contact was informed of a service update for the failure however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and learned that in Canada, the issue was being remedied with a bra apparatus and a thermal wrap for the engine to prevent the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not covered. The contact was waiting to hear from a supervisor. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Mileage: 140,000

20260130UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I own a 2020 GMC Terrain with approximately 110,000 miles. While driving in winter, the vehicle suddenly lost cabin heat and defrosting capability. The temperature gauge began fluctuating and the cooling fans continued running after the vehicle was shut off. A mechanic diagnosed the cause as a cracked radiator that allowed coolant to leak out, which is a known frequent failure on this model. Because the heater stopped working in sub-freezing temperatures, this created a safety hazard due to lack of defrosting and heat while driving. The failure occurred without warning, and no coolant warning light was displayed before the heater stopped working. The vehicle was not overheating at the time, but the loss of heat and defrost made winter driving unsafe.

20260127ENGINE

I noticed a sticker in driver door stating recall however no evidence. The vehicle will not pull hills, back up on a hill and will not accelerate over 25 miles per minute. Dangerous to drive on roads. Took vehicle to a GMC dealer for diagnostic test, received the report for what the report found. Took the report to auto shop to get repaired however the vehicle still continues with same issue. Took the vehicle to another auto shop. I was informed of some differences added issues. I had those issues fixed. The vehicle still running the exact way after all of the repairs. The top hood on the vehicle paint starts peeling after a year of owning it. I purchased the vehicle at Kia of Gardendale 2020. No one had any answer regarding the situation. Very disappointed with a GMC vehicle. I just want to know the mystery.

20260127FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I noticed a sticker in driver door stating recall however no evidence. The vehicle will not pull hills, back up on a hill and will not accelerate over 25 miles per minute. Dangerous to drive on roads. Took vehicle to a GMC dealer for diagnostic test, received the report for what the report found. Took the report to auto shop to get repaired however the vehicle still continues with same issue. Took the vehicle to another auto shop. I was informed of some differences added issues. I had those issues fixed. The vehicle still running the exact way after all of the repairs. The top hood on the vehicle paint starts peeling after a year of owning it. I purchased the vehicle at Kia of Gardendale 2020. No one had any answer regarding the situation. Very disappointed with a GMC vehicle. I just want to know the mystery.

20260127STRUCTURE:BODY

I noticed a sticker in driver door stating recall however no evidence. The vehicle will not pull hills, back up on a hill and will not accelerate over 25 miles per minute. Dangerous to drive on roads. Took vehicle to a GMC dealer for diagnostic test, received the report for what the report found. Took the report to auto shop to get repaired however the vehicle still continues with same issue. Took the vehicle to another auto shop. I was informed of some differences added issues. I had those issues fixed. The vehicle still running the exact way after all of the repairs. The top hood on the vehicle paint starts peeling after a year of owning it. I purchased the vehicle at Kia of Gardendale 2020. No one had any answer regarding the situation. Very disappointed with a GMC vehicle. I just want to know the mystery.

20260106SERVICE BRAKES

While driving down the interstate a notice popped up on my dash about the brake assist. When I attempted to slow down the vehicle to safely pull over the brake pedal was very hard to push. I was able to slow the vehicle to a complete stop but needing to use both feed and press hard with all my weight. Once the vehicle was parked and shut off I turned it back on to have the check engine light pop up on the dash. I contacted Onstar and was towed to a dealership. The brake vacuum pump had broken off at the cam shaft and required extensive repairs. It is my understanding that this is a common occurance and there were previous recalls on the other style Terrains due to the same issue. yet they used the same part on the newer body style being fully aware of the design flaw.

20260105SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. While the contact’s wife was driving approximately 40 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal to pull into the parking lot of Walmart, the braking distance was extended while bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. The driver used excessive force on the brake pedal using both feet. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the brake vacuum pump had failed. The vacuum pump had fractured where it was connected to the camshaft, causing pieces to enter the engine. The brake vacuum pump and the connector were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

Mileage: 156,000

20251229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Towards the tail end of a nearly 2.5 hour drive, the Automatic Theft Deterrent System was activated on the interstate. I lost every display on the dash panel including my speedometer, battery, coolant, gas, turn signals, and windshield wipers. I went into the nearest parking lot and was unable to restart the vehicle. It was towed to the dealership closest to our home and was repaired for $2200. The technicians at the dealership were not sure of what caused it and had never seen an issue like this so it was “elevated” to the GM engineers at their headquarters. They replaced the electrical control module and both key FOBs. We have not experienced any similar issues.

20251219POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill or making a left or right turn, the tires were skipping, and there was a clicking and whining sound coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that a friend test-drove the vehicle and informed that the vehicle had experienced transmission failure. Neither the independent mechanic nor the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V668000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

20251218ENGINE

This message concerns a persistent engine light that activates and generates engine code P0299, indicating an engine underboost issue. There have been several occasions where I am driving over 55mph on the highway and my 2020 Terrain SLT fails to pick up speed over 60mph in traffic. I took it to my GMC dealer earlier this year for them to diagnose, and they discovered that the charge air cooler tube had collected moisture. Once that was fixed, the vehicle was fine for about a month when the same thing happened. I took it to another GMC dealer and found that the turbocharger wastegate actuator had to be replaced. Once replaced, I had no problems until it began to get cold where I live. Now the vehicle is doing the same thing. Now what happens is the engine light will come on and give the engine underboost message but goes away after a week of driving. I have taken it to 2 dealers for diagnosis, only for the engine light to disappear before they can figure out what the problem is now. Th

20251217ENGINE

The intercooler has been a document problem on GMC Terrains for awhile now. I had my intercooler replaced and now less than 10 months it is having the same problem. The vehicle will go into reduced power mode which would be a safety hazard because it will also stall sometimes when it is having performance issues. That could lead to someone colliding into me if it suddenly stops when someone is behind me. I believe this part should be recalled and fixed for free.

20251217POWER TRAIN

The intercooler has been a document problem on GMC Terrains for awhile now. I had my intercooler replaced and now less than 10 months it is having the same problem. The vehicle will go into reduced power mode which would be a safety hazard because it will also stall sometimes when it is having performance issues. That could lead to someone colliding into me if it suddenly stops when someone is behind me. I believe this part should be recalled and fixed for free.

20251216SERVICE BRAKES

Since August 2024, my brake booster has gone a total of five times each time with the notification on the dash service brake assist. And it just went again as of two days ago. I’ve brought it to Firestone where they have replaced it each time with a warranty on the part. I called them yesterday to tell them that it went again and they refused to fix it telling me that they got the part from the dealership and that I would have to take it there so the dealership would have to figure out what’s wrong with it as to why the car is “chewing up” the part. I have young kids and this part has gone five times.

20251211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Re: 2020 GMC Terrain. Our fuel pump control module (FPCM) unexpectedly failed after driving a short distance. Vehicle stalled without warning on the street and was unable to be started again. This could have resulted in a crash and/or injury to other people in the area. An independent service center suspected an issue with the module but was unable to make an official diagnosis. The vehicle was towed to the local GMC dealer who confirmed the FPCM failure and needed to be replaced at a cost of $850. There were no warning indicators prior to the incident and the vehicle's display only showed "battery saver mode" after stalling on the street.

20251203SERVICE BRAKES

While driving my brakes failed. I was unable to stop my car, my brake pedal became very stiff and I could not stop my car. There were no warning signs or lights on indicating there were any issues with my car prior to this happening. I had to have my car towed to the dealer. The current estimate is for a vacuum pump failure resulting in camshaft damage. Both need to be replaced. I see other GMC cars were recalled for what appears to be a similar issue. I am lucky no one was injured as this could have very easily resulted in a fatal event. I have never heard of such a thing happening before and am beyond belief that this has occurred. This is the third repair I've had done this year. I have also replaced a booter pipe and valve gasket due to leaking oil. The amount of repairs required in such a short a time seems excessive.

20251202SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving up the driveway at approximately 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. The contact used force to depress the brake pedal. When the vehicle came to a stop, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the front brakes. The contact stated that the message "Power Assist Brakes" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

Mileage: 198,000

20251130SERVICE BRAKES

While driving on a main road at around 45mph the vacuum pump that supplies brake fluid to the brakes failed. The car was unable to be stopped and had it not been late in the night I could have crashed into other vehicles on the road or hit someone walking. There was not indication prior to the malfunction and was very sudden. This issue has been observed by the dealer as well as multiple other individuals with the same problem for this make and model of car as well as others by the same manufacturer for similar years of manufacturing. This part has also been shown to break into the engine causing complete engine failure due to lack of a shear pin on the vacuum pump.

20251126BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the rear-view camera image was blue, and the parking sensor beeping sound was inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Mileage: 71,000

20251122UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The rear backup camera in my 2020 GMC Terrain failed. I first noticed and noted that the image was 'cloudy' on 5/3/2023, and it became very bad by 1/22/2024. On 7/1/2024, the image stopped working completely, replaced with a blue screen on the dashboard screen. I ordered a new camera and replaced it myself on 8/1/2024. Because the dealership did not mention any safety effects or recalls, and instead quoted me a very expensive repair estimate, and the vehicle was out of its 3 year warranty, I assumed it was my responsibility to repair this feature. However, I have seen recent news articles where other vehicles have been recalled by NHTSA for similar problems with backup cameras.

20251121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My a/c went out within 2 years of having the car in 22’. In 2025 i have had nothing but problems, the radio will go out when im driving for about 2 hours and it resets, the screen goes black, music stops, navigation stops and then it turns on like nothing happened. It happens everytime I drive 2+ hours. Back in September of 2025, I was on my way to work when I was stopped at a red light, it turned green and then my brakes locked up and I couldn’t drive my car had shut off, and wouldn’t come back on. I was stuck in the middle of the road not knowing what happened as the car had driven fine up until i stopped at the red light. Then tonight November 21,2025 around 0315 I was leaving work, I started my car, my car threw up a message that said “Low fuel, 0 miles” I had half a tank of gas when I got to work. I turned my car off then back again and it did the same thing. I let my car sit for a second and then my Gas gauge started to slowly increase to the correct amount of gas.

Compare 2020GMCTERRAIN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 GMC TERRAIN have?
The 2020 GMC TERRAIN has 250 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 GMC TERRAIN?
The 2020 GMC TERRAIN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 GMC TERRAIN?
Yes, the 2020 GMC TERRAIN has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC TERRAIN?
The most-complained component for the 2020 GMC TERRAIN is SERVICE BRAKES with 49 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2020 GMC TERRAIN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2020 GMC TERRAIN has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

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.