2018 Gmc TERRAIN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Gmc TERRAIN has 317 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: the first time while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle instrument panel warning lights activated and gauges fluctuated followed by acceleration, braking and steering movement. then the information panel displayed stabilitrak unavailable, collision warning unavailable, lane change alert unavailable and . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 16 crash reports 14 injuries

317

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

75 complaints

24%

• THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND
• I PULLED INTO OUR CARPORT. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR JUST "SPED UP AND WENT FASTER AND FASTER." IT HIT THE FRONT OF THE CAR STRAIGHT ON. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID THE FRONT END COLLISION STOP HAPPEN.
• TAKATA RECALL MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT STEM FROM THE DEALERSHIP FIXING THE ISSUE, AS I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN YET FOR THE FIX. MY ISSUES LIES IN THE FACT THAT I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 5 YEARS OLD. I AM NOW STUCK IN A LEASE FOR 3 YEARS KNOWING THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS UNSTABLE. THAT CAU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

51 complaints

16%

• PURCHASED A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. 12 DAYS AND 460 MILES LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A P050F. THIS IS CODE FOR A LEAK IN THE BOOSTER. THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, JUST CHECKED FOR LEAK AND RESET ENGINE LIGHT. AS I READ MORE, THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE BRAKES
• FIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A SEPARATION OF THE DASH NEAR AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. I AM ABLE TO PUSH THE
• THE AUTO STOP FEATURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE IT IS SLOW TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AND BEING IN SOUTH LOUISIANA EVEN WITH AC ON HI IT STILL SHUTS DOWN AT TIMES.

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

“PURCHASED A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. 12 DAYS AND 460 MILES LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A P050F. THIS IS CODE FOR A LEAK IN THE BOOSTER. THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, JUST CHECKED FOR LEAK AND RESET ENGINE LIGHT. AS I READ MORE, THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE BRAKES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

41 complaints

13%

• STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE JERKED, THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE INFO SYSTEM GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK AND PARKING ASSIST. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAID "THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
• ADDITION TO REPORT 11091743. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR WARNING OF TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK, PARKING ASSIST AND NOTIFICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE (MAY 2, 2018). VEHICLE PICKED UP (MAY 11, 2018) AFTER SERIES OF REPAIRS. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING
• VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE FOR 9 DAYS FOR- (AS IDENTIFIED ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM) TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK, PARKING ASSIST AND A MESSAGE "THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE". ON FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2018 I PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM JIM CAUSLEY AFTER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AS INDICATED ON THE SERVICE REPORT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE JERKED, THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE INFO SYSTEM GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK AND PARKING ASSIST. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAID "THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

35 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S ALERT WARNING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE
• THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND
• STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE JERKED, THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE INFO SYSTEM GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK AND PARKING ASSIST. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAID "THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S ALERT WARNING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

33 complaints

10%

• DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE OVER WATER,A LOUD EXPLOSION HAPPENED.AT FIRST I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS,UNTIL I HEARD WIND BLOWING FROM THE MOON ROOF AREA.THE GLASS ON THE ROOF EXPLODED AND SENT GLASS DOWN WARD.LUCKILY I HAD THE MOON ROOF SHADE CLOSED OR THE GLASS WOULD HAVE CAME DOWN ON ME.I NEARLY LOST CON
• PURCHASED A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. 12 DAYS AND 460 MILES LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A P050F. THIS IS CODE FOR A LEAK IN THE BOOSTER. THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, JUST CHECKED FOR LEAK AND RESET ENGINE LIGHT. AS I READ MORE, THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE BRAKES
• THERE IS NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THE AUTO / STOP FEATURE; I CONSIDER EACH USER SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATE THIS OPTION.

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

“DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE OVER WATER,A LOUD EXPLOSION HAPPENED.AT FIRST I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS,UNTIL I HEARD WIND BLOWING FROM THE MOON ROOF AREA.THE GLASS ON THE ROOF EXPLODED AND SENT GLASS DOWN WARD.LUCKILY I HAD THE MOON ROOF SHADE CLOSED OR THE GLASS WOULD HAVE CAME DOWN ON ME.I NEARLY LOST CON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 317 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED AND GAUGES FLUCTUATED FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION, BRAKING AND STEERING MOVEMENT. THEN THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED STABILITRAK UNAVAILABLE, COLLISION WARNING UNAVAILABLE, LANE CHANGE ALERT UNAVAILABLE AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: PURCHASED A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. 12 DAYS AND 460 MILES LATER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A P050F. THIS IS CODE FOR A LEAK IN THE BOOSTER. THEY DID NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, JUST CHECKED FOR LEAK AND RESET ENGINE LIGHT. AS I READ MORE, THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE BRAKES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE JERKED, THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE INFO SYSTEM GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: TRANSMISSION, STABILITRAK AND PARKING ASSIST. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I GOT A MESSAGE THAT SAID "THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S ALERT WARNING SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)