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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

What owners actually said

364 reports
5,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air BagsSuspensionWheels

WE BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. HER OLD GMC HAD OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAD A BLOWN OUT TIRE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. SHE WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. SHE IS ON HER WAY HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND GOES OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, NOT SPEEDING. ANOTHER TIRE BLOWS OU…

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WE BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A BRAND NEW GMC TERRAIN. HER OLD GMC HAD OVER 200,000 MILES ON IT. SHE HAD A BLOWN OUT TIRE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. SHE WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. SHE IS ON HER WAY HOME FROM A FRIENDS HOUSE AND GOES OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, NOT SPEEDING. ANOTHER TIRE BLOWS OUT. HAS TO GET CAR TOWED. THE TOW CAR TO GMN DEALERSHIP. DAYS IN SHOP AIRBAG ISSUES, TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TAKES OVER 4 DAYS TO BE REPAIRED HAS TO GO BACK. OVER $1700.00 BILL. THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659670

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

FRONT END COLLISION, SECOND DRIVER WAS GOING 60MPH. DASHBOARD ON THE TERRAIN INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED, BUT THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659215

20,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Power Train

I NOTICE MY CAR WAS JERKING A LITTLE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME I NEED MY AIR INDUCTION CLEAN (COST WILL BE OVER $200), THIS CLEANING HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS CLEANING, REALLY. SHOULD THIS BE COV…

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I NOTICE MY CAR WAS JERKING A LITTLE SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME I NEED MY AIR INDUCTION CLEAN (COST WILL BE OVER $200), THIS CLEANING HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR A YEAR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS CLEANING, REALLY. SHOULD THIS BE COVERED ON WARRANTY. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING A RECALL ON VEHICLE WITH E85 FUEL SYSTEM, SO CALL THE NEAREST DEALER AND SEE IF MY VEHICLE IS COVER. MY QUESTION IS: DOES THE E85 HAVE ANYTHING TO DO THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650621

17,800 miles · Oct 5, 2014
Engine

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE I FELT THE ENGINE HESITATE AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND I BASICALLY HAD A FEW SECONDS TO MERGE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE AND GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL GMC DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641496

7,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014
WheelsCrash

1. ON AUGUST 17, 2014 MY VIRTUALLY NEW 2013 GMC TERRAIN WITH LESS THAN ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF USE CRASHED DUE TO THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION [GMC] GMC TERRAIN DEFECT IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE AS CONFIRMED BY AN OFFICIAL GMC DEALER AS RECORDED HEREIN. THE DETAILS OF THIS INCIDENT ARE RECORDED BELOW AND …

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1. ON AUGUST 17, 2014 MY VIRTUALLY NEW 2013 GMC TERRAIN WITH LESS THAN ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF USE CRASHED DUE TO THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION [GMC] GMC TERRAIN DEFECT IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE AS CONFIRMED BY AN OFFICIAL GMC DEALER AS RECORDED HEREIN. THE DETAILS OF THIS INCIDENT ARE RECORDED BELOW AND REPRESENT ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF MY MANY ATTEMPTS BY USPS MAIL, EMAIL AND TELEPHONE TO CONTACT GMC AND TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. GMC HAS NOT MADE ANY MEANINGFUL RESPONSE TO MY CONTACTS AND, IN POINT OF FACT AND IN TRUTH, GMC HAS ACTED TO INTIMIDATE, TERRORIZE AND BULLY ME! 2. DURING THE MORNING OF AUGUST 17, 2014 IN MY 2013 GMC TERRAIN WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN VIRGINIA, NEAR CHESTER, VIRGINIA, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SUDDENLY SEPARATED AND DETACHED FROM THIS VEHICLE CAUSING THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DISORDERED AND DEVIATE TO THE LEFT AND TO CRASH INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER SEPARATING THE NORTH BOUND LANE OF I 95 FROM THE SOUTH BOUND LANE. MY DAMAGED VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, TO A GMC DEALERSHIP IN CHESTER, VIRGINIA AND THEN TO SECOND GMC DEALERSHIP IN CHESTER, VIRGINIA WHERE TEMPORARY REPAIRS WERE MADE AFTER MANY DELAYS AND LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF PARTS AND OTHER GMC GLITCHES. AFTER THE TEMPORARY REPAIRS WERE EFFECTED SIX DAYS LATER, AT 5:55 PM, MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. A COPY OF THE REPAIR FACILITY OF THE GMC DEALER: STROSNIDER CHEVROLET, INC., ATTESTING TO THESE FACTS, IS REPRINTED BELOW WHEREIN IT IS RECORDED: 'THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO COME LOOSE CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE DISTORTED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE CONCRETE CENTER DIVIDER AND THE WHEEL COMPLETELY CAST OUT FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ENSUING BODY DAMAGE' FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND FOR INCLUSION IN MY FILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638662

26,500 miles · Aug 18, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR THAT THE SERVICE STABILITITRAK LIGHT HAS COME ON AND A MESSAGE TO DO THAT HAS COME UP ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN ON THE DASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE POWER IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED. THEN YOU CANNOT TURN THIS OFF AS IT LOCKS THE CONTROLS FOR THIS FEATURE WHICH CAN NORMALLY BE TURNED ON AN…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR THAT THE SERVICE STABILITITRAK LIGHT HAS COME ON AND A MESSAGE TO DO THAT HAS COME UP ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN ON THE DASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE POWER IS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED. THEN YOU CANNOT TURN THIS OFF AS IT LOCKS THE CONTROLS FOR THIS FEATURE WHICH CAN NORMALLY BE TURNED ON AND OFF. I TOOK THE CAR IN THE FIRST TIME AND THERE WE'RE RELAY AND SENSOR ISSUES WHICH THEY FIXED. I AM WAITING FOR THE CALL AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON THIS TIME. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR NOT JUST THIS VEHICLE BUT ANY VEHICLE TO HAVE A FEATURE THAT YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF TO IMMEDIATELY CAUSE POWER LOSS? SHOULD YOU NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THIS FEATURE OFF TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY CAUSING SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED? ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A FEATURE YOU CAN TURN ON AND OFF ANYTIME YOU WANT WHEN IT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I HAVE READ ON DIFFERENT WEB SITES THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10625912

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2014
Structure

THE BACK HATCH DOES NOT HAVE A FEATURE TO REVERSE CLOSING IF SOMETHING (SAY, A CHILD) IS IN BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND THE CLOSING DOOR. YOU HAVE TO PULL UP ON IT VERY HARD TO GET IT TO STOP CLOSING ON A CHILD AND OPEN BACK UP. IF A PARENT ISN'T THERE TO STOP IT, IT WILL DEFINITELY INJURE (POSSIBLE SEVERELY) A CHILD'S HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10620955

1,500 miles · Jun 24, 2014
EngineEquipment Adaptive/mobilityVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE CRASH LIGHT AND SIGNAL CAME ON AND THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THIS HAPPEN ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGH THE TRUCK IN JULY 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605635

500 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Visibility/wiper

THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE CLOCK. MY DEALER TELLS ME THI…

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THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE CLOCK. MY DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS HIS FIFTH COMPLAINT RE THIS MATTER. HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597337

14,945 miles · Jun 2, 2014
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,945.

NHTSA ODI #10595500

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.