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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Service Brakes complaints

68 reports
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79,000 miles · May 31, 2023
Service Brakes

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated while making a left turn the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving without proper braking response to her residence. The contact…

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The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated while making a left turn the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving without proper braking response to her residence. The contact stated she used the parking brake to fully stop the vehicle. The contact's husband took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing an unknown pipe and vacuum pump to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #11524691

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2023
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

Driving home from our local town 4/15/2023, the brake pedal became to hard to push down. Check engine light came on as I got to my driveway, and that is 1 mile from the main road. My kids were scared to tears as was my girlfriend. Run a scan and dtc p0557. Come to find the vacuum pump on the top drivers side of motor is the part…

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Driving home from our local town 4/15/2023, the brake pedal became to hard to push down. Check engine light came on as I got to my driveway, and that is 1 mile from the main road. My kids were scared to tears as was my girlfriend. Run a scan and dtc p0557. Come to find the vacuum pump on the top drivers side of motor is the part that is bad it broke inside the valve cover. Looking up the issue and find out it is a known problem and no recall. I have kept the parts and all receipts for the repairs, I have to do myself cause the repairs are way to much for me to pay out of pocket. This is a serious issue for this car and year and GMC needs to address the issue. Why has nothing been done yet??? I am making payments on this car with no warranty for the car so I'm stuck fixing the car. But GMC knows that this is a problem and does nothing?!? I remember when American cars were good cars what happened to that time ?? And what happened to company's being responsible for the product they put out to customers? Guess that time is gone, I won't buy another American car again, unless it's a old Detroit built car.

NHTSA ODI #11519724

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2023
EngineService Brakes

I was coming to a stop with my vehicle and the brakes would not work. I carefully got my car home and to a shop. It was determined that the break booster pump broke which caused metal parts to go into the engine. Now my engine is blown! Bought my car brand new in 2018 and kept up with regular vehicle maintenance has 90k miles.

NHTSA ODI #11499890

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2022
Service Brakes

Brakes go to floor an brake peddle starts to vibrate, (lost of brakes ) Brake assist light comes on. Vehicle has 27000 miles . Problem started at 6000 miles an was brought to GMC service centers 3 times for same issue. They replaced 3 different parts at a total cost of1600 dollars. Brake system is being replaced one part at a ti…

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Brakes go to floor an brake peddle starts to vibrate, (lost of brakes ) Brake assist light comes on. Vehicle has 27000 miles . Problem started at 6000 miles an was brought to GMC service centers 3 times for same issue. They replaced 3 different parts at a total cost of1600 dollars. Brake system is being replaced one part at a time at my expense, GMC has no clue what problem is. Will not admit there is an issue? Just got vehicle back for 3rd time an 3rd new part .

NHTSA ODI #11489252

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2022
Forward Collision AvoidanceService Brakes

Vehicle stuck in emergency assist mood. Without warning I couldn't slow down/stop without putting alot of my weight on the brake breaks were so hard to press down.

NHTSA ODI #11483976

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2022
Service BrakesInjury

When trying to brake, brake pedal became extremely hard to push and Repair brake assist notification and check engine light came on

NHTSA ODI #11483176

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2022
Service Brakes

Vacuum pump went out brakes hard to push and I know gmc had a recall for this issue on other vehicles as well previously.

NHTSA ODI #11482865

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2022
Service Brakes

Brake has to be pushed all the way down HARD to stop, brake assist warning comes up. I’ve had the car for less than 2 years and it’s way too new for anything to go out. Undriveable unless it’s fixed.

NHTSA ODI #11481807

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2022
Service Brakes

While getting off the interstate, the brakes failed with no prior warning, or issues. The brake pedal became extremely difficult to depress and stopping distance was greatly increased. Could not come to a complete stop without using the emergency brake. We drove home (about 2 miles from the interstate exit) and about a half mile…

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While getting off the interstate, the brakes failed with no prior warning, or issues. The brake pedal became extremely difficult to depress and stopping distance was greatly increased. Could not come to a complete stop without using the emergency brake. We drove home (about 2 miles from the interstate exit) and about a half mile after the brake failure, a "service brake assist" light illuminated. Vehicle was towed to dealership the next morning. The problem was the vacuum pump exploded and caused vacuum to the brake booster to be lost, making the pedal difficult to push. Luckily this happened at 11pm and there was nobody in front of us, there definitely would have been a collision.

NHTSA ODI #11476977

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2022
Service Brakes

6/3/22 I went to the grocery store which is on a four lane road. When I left the store I had no brakes. On a four lane stop and go road. The was no warning just nothing peddle to the floor and now check engine light is on. I am reading this same problem repeatedly. I love this car but this is a serious hazard and needs to be add…

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6/3/22 I went to the grocery store which is on a four lane road. When I left the store I had no brakes. On a four lane stop and go road. The was no warning just nothing peddle to the floor and now check engine light is on. I am reading this same problem repeatedly. I love this car but this is a serious hazard and needs to be addressed. We are all driving around practically rear ending people. I was an inch from the guy in front of me thank God the light changed as I was coming up on him or I would have hit him.

NHTSA ODI #11467275

Official recalls

5

20V668000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.