Is the 2016 GMC Terrain a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Terrain years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2016 GMC Terrain are in line with other Terrain years. Visibility and wipers stands out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 10 Terrain years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 49 (32%) | 56k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 46 (30%) | 55k–108k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 10 (7%) | 38k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 9 (6%) | 42k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 5 (3%) | 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 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 153 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 9 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
14 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.
Recalls for the 2016 GMC Terrain: 2
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.
The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
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: 427
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 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
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
Neighbouring years
2015 Terrain: 299 complaints, keep it · 2017 Terrain: 135 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2016 GMC Terrain a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Terrain years. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Terrain?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (49), engine (46), air bags (10), electrical system (9), transmission and drivetrain (11).
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Terrain have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 22V-137), Tires (NHTSA 16V-449). 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.