Is the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN reliable?

The 2012 Gmc TERRAIN has 500 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN?

Top problems: ENGINE (174 complaints, avg repair $500); VISIBILITY (82 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (37 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Contact any Gmc dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2012 Gmc TERRAIN?

The 2012 Gmc TERRAIN has an EPA rating of 21 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $3659. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2012 Gmc TERRAIN?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN is approximately $1,781/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2012 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Gmc TERRAIN has 500 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 287. The most common issue is engine problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: tl * the contact owns a 2012 gmc terrain. the contact was driving 5 mph when the vehicle stalled and the check engine light illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage w. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 21 crash reports 20 injuries

500

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

174 complaints

35%

• TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W
• ?ON APRIL 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING ON FAIRVIEW RD. AND TRAVELING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A CAR THAT RAN A RED LIGHT HIT HIM. ?HIS CAR ? A GMC 2012 TERRAIN WAS HIT MULTIPLE TIMES ? DRIVER'S FRONT END, FRONT END AND SPUN AROUND FROM THE FORCE AND HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ?[
• THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 10 TO 12 TIMES DUE TO FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS AND STABILITY TRAC AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TELL ME THEY CAN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Gmc TERRAIN

Based on 338 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 80K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

140

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Earlier than typicalmedian 35K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Reported earliermedian 45K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 86K mi · 120 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

In line with typicalmedian 89K mi · 64 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 87K mi · 22 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 77K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION05/07/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2012 Gmc TERRAIN

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$3,626

Per month

$302

Per mile

30.2¢

kWh/mi

1.60

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Gmc TERRAIN

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,781

Full coverage / month

$148

Liability only / year

$665

vs US avg

+6%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1781

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Gmc TERRAIN Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

45K mi

Engine coolant

150K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

23K mi

Engine air filter

45K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

45K mi

Uses GM Oil Life System. Full-size trucks may have shorter differential and transfer case intervals if used for towing.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Gmc New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Gmc. If you're buying a used 2012 TERRAIN, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Gmc dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2012 Gmc TERRAIN

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 500 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO AN ACCELERATION AFTER A RAPID DECELERATION OF AT LEAST 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL JERK IN RESPONSE TO YOUR ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THEN WILL RESPOND. THIS CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A COLLISION BY ACCELERATIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CAR CRASH AT 45 MPH. FRONT IN DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK UP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Gmc dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)