Is the 2013 GMC Terrain a bad year?
365 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 203, 4.4× a quiet Terrain year.
Consider selling
Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 GMC Terrain were filed between 66k and 113k miles. You're at 92,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Terrain owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 92,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 203 (56%) | 66k–113k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 44 (12%) | 69k–116k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 23 (6%) | 30k–116k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 19 (5%) | 33k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 54 (15%) | 48k–76k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (6%) | 32k–87k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 14 (4%) | 41k–85k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 8 (2%) | 44k–86k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 92,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 365 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 14 report an injury · 27 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My car starting sputtering yesterday morning. By lunch, I was a quart low on oil.
I had complete engine failure because of the timing chain breaking twice for this issue. It has stranded me and hundreds of others on the side of the road while driving.
The vehicle has a high oil consumption. Every 1k miles it consumes about 1QT. I have to add oil every month.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 92,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 GMC Terrain: 3
A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode and wear over time, possibly resulting in one or both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative. Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from GMC: 572
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 GMC Terrain. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Neighbouring years
2012 Terrain: 364 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2014 Terrain: 297 complaints, consider selling.
Every GMC Terrain year
2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Terrain years side by side
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.
Questions
Is the 2013 GMC Terrain a bad year?
365 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 203, 4.4× a quiet Terrain year. At 92,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all engine complaints about the 2013 GMC Terrain were filed between 66k and 113k miles. You're at 92,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 GMC Terrain?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (203), transmission and drivetrain (44), fuel system (23), air bags (19), visibility and wipers (54). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 66k–113k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 GMC Terrain have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 22V-137), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 16V-582), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-502). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.