GMC Terrain — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1 model year to avoid, 5 to watch and 6 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid1 year

Caution5 years

Best bets6 years

Complaint history

2010: 290 complaints, Caution 2011: 386 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 364 complaints, Caution 2013: 364 complaints, Caution 2014: 296 complaints, Caution 2015: 298 complaints, Caution 2016: 152 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 135 complaints, Recommended 2018: 220 complaints, Recommended 2019: 184 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2022: 60 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 40 complaints, Recommended 2024: 52 complaints, Recommended 2025: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2025 2026: 32 complaints, Recommended 2011 · 386
2010: 290 complaints, Caution 2011: 386 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 364 complaints, Caution 2013: 364 complaints, Caution 2014: 296 complaints, Caution 2014 2015: 298 complaints, Caution 2016: 152 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 135 complaints, Recommended 2018: 220 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 184 complaints, Recommended 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2022: 60 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 40 complaints, Recommended 2024: 52 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2026: 32 complaints, Recommended 2026 2011 · 386
2010: 290 complaints, Caution 2010 2011: 386 complaints, Avoid 2011 2012: 364 complaints, Caution 2012 2013: 364 complaints, Caution 2013 2014: 296 complaints, Caution 2014 2015: 298 complaints, Caution 2015 2016: 152 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 135 complaints, Recommended 2017 2018: 220 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 184 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 36 complaints, Recommended 2021 2022: 60 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 40 complaints, Recommended 2023 2024: 52 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2025 2026: 32 complaints, Recommended 2026 2011 · 386
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ▲ Recommended 32 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2025 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ▲ Recommended 52 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ▲ Recommended 40 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ▲ Recommended 60 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 36 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ● Recommended 196 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2019 ● Recommended 184 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 220 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ▲ Recommended 135 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 152 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ◆ Caution 298 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 ◆ Caution 296 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 ◆ Caution 364 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2012 ◆ Caution 364 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 ■ Avoid 386 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 290 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

22

recalls on file across every GMC Terrain model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other GMC models