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2013 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Terrain years

Owner complaints for the 2013 GMC Terrain are substantially higher than the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

241 reports with mileage · 123 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 197 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports14 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

25 reports
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82,000 miles · Feb 7, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY CAR BEGAN MAKING ODD KNOCKING SOUNDS AND SINCE IT WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET AND THE CAR LOCKED UP AND QUIT. I PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND CALLED AAA. I TRIED TURNING THE VEHICLE ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT MADE A SIGNIFICANTLY LOUD NOISE TH…

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MY CAR BEGAN MAKING ODD KNOCKING SOUNDS AND SINCE IT WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET AND THE CAR LOCKED UP AND QUIT. I PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND CALLED AAA. I TRIED TURNING THE VEHICLE ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT MADE A SIGNIFICANTLY LOUD NOISE THAT WAS CONCERNING. AFTER A MECHANIC ASSESSED WHAT WAS WRONG, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR WAS NEARLY OUT OF OIL, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD NOT BEEN 3,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGE. THE REPAIR COST OVER $2,000.

NHTSA ODI #11395062

77,000 miles · Jan 5, 2021
EngineUnknown Or Other

OIL WAS POURING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR 2013 GMC TERRAIN, "LOW OIL PRESSURE SHUT OFF ENGINE" SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TERRAIN HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DIAGNOSTIC TEST CAME BACK WITH #19-NA-021. WE WERE INFORMED ABOUT SB-10057977-8108, A RECALL FROM GM INVOLVING AN OIL LEAK FROM RE…

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OIL WAS POURING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR 2013 GMC TERRAIN, "LOW OIL PRESSURE SHUT OFF ENGINE" SIGNAL CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. TERRAIN HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. DIAGNOSTIC TEST CAME BACK WITH #19-NA-021. WE WERE INFORMED ABOUT SB-10057977-8108, A RECALL FROM GM INVOLVING AN OIL LEAK FROM REAR PART OF ENGINE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED THAT OUR VIN IS INELIGIBLE AND CANNOT BE PROTECTED THROUGH THE SPECIAL COVERAGE, BUT ARE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11386720

60,771 miles · Feb 11, 2020
Air BagsSeatsUnknown Or OtherInjury

AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE TWO WEEKS LATER I DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS SKIN RASH ON MY FACE AND NECK AND SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES CAUSING ME TO HAVE CARDIAC ARREST SYMPTOMS IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND MY DOG IS ALSO DYING FROM THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY SITUATION IS LIFE OR…

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AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE TWO WEEKS LATER I DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS SKIN RASH ON MY FACE AND NECK AND SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES CAUSING ME TO HAVE CARDIAC ARREST SYMPTOMS IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR THE PAST 11 MONTHS MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL AND MY DOG IS ALSO DYING FROM THE SAME SYMPTOMS. MY SITUATION IS LIFE OR DEATH AT THIS MOMENT AND MY CONDITION IS UNKNOWN AND I'M NOT SURE IF I WILL SURVIVE

NHTSA ODI #11308401

60,660 miles · Jan 24, 2020
EquipmentUnknown Or OtherInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE WHITE PARTICLES EMITTING FROM THE AIR CONDITION VENTS WHILE THE UNIT WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED DEVELOPED A SKIN RASH AND A BURNING SENSATION IN HER LUNGS. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITION UNIT WAS NOT ACTIVATED, WHITE PAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE WHITE PARTICLES EMITTING FROM THE AIR CONDITION VENTS WHILE THE UNIT WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED DEVELOPED A SKIN RASH AND A BURNING SENSATION IN HER LUNGS. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITION UNIT WAS NOT ACTIVATED, WHITE PARTICLES EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS LOCATED BY THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WENT TO A DOCTOR WHERE EROSION IN HER LUNGS, PNEUMONIA, AND AN INFECTION ON HER FACE WERE DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD RECENTLY STARTED TO COUGH UP BLACK AND RED MUCUS. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE CHILD TO A DOCTOR TO BE TREATED. THE CONTACT HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST PERFORMED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTS CAME BACK POSITIVE BUT WAS YET TO RECEIVE THE ACTUAL RESULTS AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RESULTS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE MATTER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MATTER AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,660.

NHTSA ODI #11301673

101,000 miles · Dec 14, 2019
Unknown Or Other

EXTREMELY COLD DAY DRIVING HOME AND CAR STARTED TO BUCK A LITTLE, THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT STARTED TICKING. NEXT THING MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THE CAR BLEW IT'S REAR MAIN SEAL OUT AND AFTER READING IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL TWO…

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EXTREMELY COLD DAY DRIVING HOME AND CAR STARTED TO BUCK A LITTLE, THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT STARTED TICKING. NEXT THING MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THE CAR BLEW IT'S REAR MAIN SEAL OUT AND AFTER READING IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY OTHER HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAD CHECKED THE OIL TWO DAYS PRIOR AND IT WAS FULL. THE CAR HAD NO OIL IN IT. I BASICALLY SPENT 16,000 AND 3 YEARS LATER THE CAR IS JUNK.

NHTSA ODI #11289085

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I USE HEAT IN MY CAR FOR SOME REASON IT CUTS ITS SELF BACK ON .I CAN TURN THE HEAT OFF AND ITS DOES CUT OFF WHEN I PRESS OFF.THE PROBLEM IS WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURB IT BACK ON LATER IN THE DAY ,THE HEATS CUTS ITS SELF BACK ON BUT THE SYSTEM IN THE CAR SHOWS THAT THE HEAT IS OFF ,SO THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO TURN THE …

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WHEN I USE HEAT IN MY CAR FOR SOME REASON IT CUTS ITS SELF BACK ON .I CAN TURN THE HEAT OFF AND ITS DOES CUT OFF WHEN I PRESS OFF.THE PROBLEM IS WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURB IT BACK ON LATER IN THE DAY ,THE HEATS CUTS ITS SELF BACK ON BUT THE SYSTEM IN THE CAR SHOWS THAT THE HEAT IS OFF ,SO THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO TURN THE HEAT OFF IF THE SYSTEM INDICATES THAT ITS IS ALREADY OFF , THE ONLY WAY I CAN ACTUALLY CAN GET THE HEAT TO TUN OFF IS TO TURN ON THE AIR FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND THEN TURN IT OFF

NHTSA ODI #11258951

63,000 miles · Sep 16, 2019
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE HAD MY 2013 GMC TERRAIN FOR 3 YEARS AND IT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION, STARTING, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF AND TRUCK CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. OIL, IT CONSUMES LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN THE OIL CHANGES. I CHECK THE DIGITAL OIL DISPLAYS, THAT SHOW HOW MUCH OIL REMAINS, …

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I HAVE HAD MY 2013 GMC TERRAIN FOR 3 YEARS AND IT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION, STARTING, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF AND TRUCK CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THIS STARTED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. OIL, IT CONSUMES LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL BETWEEN THE OIL CHANGES. I CHECK THE DIGITAL OIL DISPLAYS, THAT SHOW HOW MUCH OIL REMAINS, AND IT CAN GO FROM 80% REMAINS TO 70% REMAINS IN A MATTER OF DAYS. ICUTTING OFF, THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN I DRIVE, IT LOOSES POWER AND CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. NO WARNING AT ALL. THIS IS VERY SCARY ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. IT WILL LOOSE POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE AND I HAVE HAD DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I AM SCARED IT WILL DO THIS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. STARTING, MY SUV CAN START WITH NO PROBLEM AND I CAN DRIVE TO THE STORE 5 MINUTES AWAY AND IT WILL NOT START WHEN I RETURN. I TRY STARTING IT 5 TIMES AND IT WILL FINALLY START. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT WILL START IN THE MORNING WHEN I GO TO WORK OR TAKE KIDS TO SPORTS PRACTICE OR THEIR GAMES AND WHEN I LEAVE WORK WILL NOT START AFTER 8 HOURS. AFTER A 1-2 HOUR GAME, SAME THING OCCURS, IT WILL NOT START. I HAVE TAKEN IT FOR DIAGNOSIS, RECEIVED CODE AND HAD IT REPAIRED. AFTER A FEW DAYS, SAME THING HAPPENS. MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. MY TRACTION LIGHT HAS ALSO COME ON BY ITSELF, FOR NO REASON. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS BUT IT SHOULD BE BEFORE INNOCENT PEOPLE, AND FAMILIES ARE INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #11255663

68,000 miles · May 24, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

OUR TERRAIN STARTED KNOCKING RIGHT BEFORE IT'S DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE CHECKED IT AND IT HAD NO OIL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BRUSHED IT AWAY AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT LEAKING BUT COULD BE BURNING THE OIL. IT WASN'T UNTIL WE TALKED TO A MECHANIC THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT CERTAIN GMC VEHICLES BURNING OIL AND THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED WE …

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OUR TERRAIN STARTED KNOCKING RIGHT BEFORE IT'S DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE CHECKED IT AND IT HAD NO OIL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BRUSHED IT AWAY AND STATED THAT IT'S NOT LEAKING BUT COULD BE BURNING THE OIL. IT WASN'T UNTIL WE TALKED TO A MECHANIC THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT CERTAIN GMC VEHICLES BURNING OIL AND THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON MORE OIL REPLACING 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. WE ALSO FOUND THAT OUR RADIO STOPPED WORKING BUT BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO INFORM US THAT THE WARRANTY WE GOT DIDN'T COVER THE RADIO. THEY TOLD US WE COULD GET IT REPAIRED BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE BUY A GMC OR A CHEVY SUV DUE TO THE ISSUES WITH GETTING THE REPAIRS DONE AND THE FACT THAT WE WANT A RELIABLE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11209736

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2019
Unknown Or Other

14882 REAR MAIN SEAL

NHTSA ODI #11180378

90,000 miles · Apr 11, 2018
Unknown Or Other

"TAKATA RECALL" MY CRASH DETECTION COME ON WHEN I AM DRIVING AND THERE IS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY TERRAIN STARTS BREAKING AUTOMATICALLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO GMC SERVICE AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT IT HAS DONE THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS

NHTSA ODI #11084670

Official recalls

3

22V137000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 8, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.

16V582000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Aug 4, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, dealers will repair the AIP-hole, inspect and, if necessary, replace the front wiper module, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 25302.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.