2013 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Gmc TERRAIN has 484 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (43% of all complaints), specifically: the stability track gave an error and the engine now slow. the error doesn't let the vehicle to accelerate. the check engine light also went on. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 13 crash reports 35 injuries

484

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

208 complaints

43%

• THE STABILITY TRACK GAVE AN ERROR AND THE ENGINE NOW SLOW. THE ERROR DOESN'T LET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WENT ON. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT COLLISION ALERT SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE STABILITY TRACK GAVE AN ERROR AND THE ENGINE NOW SLOW. THE ERROR DOESN'T LET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WENT ON. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

54 complaints

11%

• THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE POURING RAIN, AND HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPPED WORKING, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE AND TOTAL LOSS OF VISION. LUCKILY, SHE DID NOT WRECK, BUT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY BADLY. I REMOVED THE TRIM
• WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED DURING RAIN STORM FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

44 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE
• I NOTICE MY CAR WAS JERKING A LITTLE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME I NEED MY AIR INDUCTION CLEAN (COST WILL BE OVER $200), THIS CLEANING HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS CLEANI
• GMC TERRAIN HESITATES IN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. TACHOMETER SHOWS ENGINE SPEEDS UP BETWEEN SHIFTS, CAUSING A STALL/ LEARCH FORWARD BETWEEN SHIFTING HAPPENS MORE WHEN WARM THEN WHEN COLD. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY AFTER TRANSMISSION IS WARMED UP.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

31 complaints

• WHILE DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THEN COME TO COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR END WILL START TO LOUDLY THUMP, IT STARTS OUT SLOWLY THUMPING AND BEGINS TO SPEED UP AND WHEN YOU START TO RELEASE THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP ONCE ONE BEGINS TO ACCE
• WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH LIGHT AND SIGNAL CAME ON AND THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THIS HAPPEN ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGH THE TRUCK IN JULY 2013. *TR
• I HAVE A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2014. IT HAD ONE PREVIOUS OWNER. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I DIDN'T NOTICE THE ABNORMAL NOISE IT MAKES. WHILE THE CAR IS EITHER IN DRIVER OR REVERSE, IT MAKES A WEIRD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. THE NOISE GOES AWAY IN PARK. HOWEVER, TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THEN COME TO COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR END WILL START TO LOUDLY THUMP, IT STARTS OUT SLOWLY THUMPING AND BEGINS TO SPEED UP AND WHEN YOU START TO RELEASE THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP ONCE ONE BEGINS TO ACCE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

23 complaints

• ROAD DIRT, SNOW, MUD ACCUMULATES AT INSIDE BOTTOMS OF DOORS ALL THE WAY UP TO BOTTOM OF SPEAKER AREAS. I CAN SEE WHERE IT IS PULLING DOWN THE BOTTOM PANELS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED FOR GM INFO ON THIS AND NOTHING BACK FROM DEALER. ALSO 2 WEEKS AGO ENGINE LITE CAME ON, TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLAC
• WHEN THE GMC TERRAIN IS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNINGS THE VEHICLE "MISSES" FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS CONDENSATION IN THE FUEL LINE. AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE SMOOTHES OUT AND RUNS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EACH AND EVERY MORNING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ANY OTHER TIME.
• LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE LEFT LANE DURING RUSH HOUR THE ENGINE BLEW ON A 2 YEAR OLD GMC TERRAIN. HOW THIS IS AT ALL POSSIBLE I HAVE NO CLUE, BUT LUCKILY ENOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND AWAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. BELOW IS THE BACKGR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ROAD DIRT, SNOW, MUD ACCUMULATES AT INSIDE BOTTOMS OF DOORS ALL THE WAY UP TO BOTTOM OF SPEAKER AREAS. I CAN SEE WHERE IT IS PULLING DOWN THE BOTTOM PANELS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED FOR GM INFO ON THIS AND NOTHING BACK FROM DEALER. ALSO 2 WEEKS AGO ENGINE LITE CAME ON, TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLAC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 484 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE STABILITY TRACK GAVE AN ERROR AND THE ENGINE NOW SLOW. THE ERROR DOESN'T LET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO WENT ON. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THEN COME TO COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR END WILL START TO LOUDLY THUMP, IT STARTS OUT SLOWLY THUMPING AND BEGINS TO SPEED UP AND WHEN YOU START TO RELEASE THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP ONCE ONE BEGINS TO ACCE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)