GMC Terrain: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
3,139 complaints filed with NHTSA about the GMC Terrain, model years 2010 to 2026. 8 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2011 (engine 4.3×, transmission 6.9×); 2013 (engine 4.4×); 2012 (engine 3.7×); 2014 (engine 2.8×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2017, 2016, 2019. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain | 290 | engine 2.5×, transmission 4.6× | 3 | |
| 2011 Terrain | 385 | engine 4.3×, transmission 6.9× | 4 | |
| 2012 Terrain | 364 | engine 3.7× | 4 | |
| 2013 Terrain | 365 | engine 4.4× | 3 | |
| 2014 Terrain | 297 | engine 2.8× | 2 | |
| 2015 Terrain | 299 | — | 3 | |
| 2016 Terrain | 153 | quiet: 2 of 10 | 2 | |
| 2017 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 135 | engine 1.8× | 1 | |
| 2018 Terrain | 226 | transmission 3.8× | 5 | |
| 2019 Terrain | 187 | transmission 4.8× | 3 | |
| 2020 Terrain | 198 | — | 2 | |
| 2021 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 36 | — | 2 | |
| 2022 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 61 | — | 2 | |
| 2023 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 41 | — | 2 | |
| 2024 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 55 | — | 1 | |
| 2025 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 13 | — | 0 | |
| 2026 TerrainFEW REPORTS | 34 | — | 1 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other GMC models
GMC Acadia · GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 1500 · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Yukon · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2010201120122013201420152016201820192020