IllustrationWHEN THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG WENT OFF IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S COAT AND SHIRT CAUSING 2ND-3RD DEGREE BURNS.
2018 GMC Terrain
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Terrain do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Terrain years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
490–25K
1125–50K
1150–75K
875–100K
7100–150K
5150K+
91 reports with mileage · 129 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.
- Service Brakes. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 41 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 reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsFIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A SEPARATION OF THE DASH NEAR AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. I AM ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL ACTUALLY M…
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FIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A SEPARATION OF THE DASH NEAR AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK. I AM ABLE TO PUSH THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A VERY HARD SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS OCCURS USUALLY BETWEEN 2K AND 3 K RPMS. THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY JERK AS IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST RECALL N182155400. MY HUSBAND A CPD POLICE SERGEANT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 17, 2018 NB ON 111TH STREET (PUBLIC STREET) WHEN HE WAS HIT GOING 30 MPH BY AN UNLICENSED DRIVER HITTING HIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE: BUMPER/TIRE/DOOR. TO HIS DISMAY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE HAD HIS …
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THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST RECALL N182155400. MY HUSBAND A CPD POLICE SERGEANT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON JUNE 17, 2018 NB ON 111TH STREET (PUBLIC STREET) WHEN HE WAS HIT GOING 30 MPH BY AN UNLICENSED DRIVER HITTING HIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE: BUMPER/TIRE/DOOR. TO HIS DISMAY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LUCKILY HE HAD HIS TAKE HOME RADIO IN THE CAR TO CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANT. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL WE RECEIVED THE ONSTAR JUNE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT ON JUNE 19, 2018 AND THEN A PHONE CALL ON JUNE 20, 2018 FROM GMC HAGGERTY TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR THE RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT ADDRESS THE RECALL SINCE THE GMC WILL BE IN THE AUTO SHOP FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS BEING REPAIRED. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT - WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST. WE FILED A CLAIM ONLINE WITH OUR INSURANCE D48 1451-D03-13B STATE FARM UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 13-01F8-89B ON JUNE 17, 2018. WE DO NOT HAVE ESTIMATES FROM THE AUTO SHOP AT THIS TIME.
I PULLED INTO OUR CARPORT. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR JUST "SPED UP AND WENT FASTER AND FASTER." IT HIT THE FRONT OF THE CAR STRAIGHT ON. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID THE FRONT END COLLISION STOP HAPPEN.
Official recalls
520V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Oct 29, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Aug 30, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
May 31, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
18V340000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
May 24, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the SDM becomes inoperative, it will not detect a crash or command the necessary air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18179.
17V516000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Aug 22, 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.