IllustrationWHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT LOSES PROPULSION WITHOUT NOTICE. THE VEHICLE STAYS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLES RPM INCREASE AS YOUR FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T CONTINUE TO MOVE. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN PROPULSION IS TO COMPLETELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN START UP AGAIN.
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
What owners actually said
220 reportsREAR DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. ALSO COULD NOT ENTRR CAR AFTER CAR WASH AS ALL OTHER DOORS WERE INOPERABLE.
TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
WIRING HARNESS NOT WEATHER SEALED N SHORTED OUT AFTER DEALER WASHED CAR ON DELIVERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO ANCHOR BUICK GMC (1 AUTOMOTIVE BLVD, ELKTON, MD 21921, (443) 406-4623) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC TERRAIN. WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO ANCHOR BUICK GMC (1 AUTOMOTIVE BLVD, ELKTON, MD 21921, (443) 406-4623) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
THE CAR AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKED UP AS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. COULD NOT GET CAR TO MOVE.
WHILE DRIVING ON A SNOW- COVERED ROAD WITH ANY AMOUNT OF SNOW, THE SNOW GETS PACKED INSIDE OF THE WHEELS AND THROWS THE WHEEL BALANCE OFF CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY BADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE SNOW PACK EVVERY DAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN AERODYNAMIC DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WHEELS WHERE THE SNOW D…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A SNOW- COVERED ROAD WITH ANY AMOUNT OF SNOW, THE SNOW GETS PACKED INSIDE OF THE WHEELS AND THROWS THE WHEEL BALANCE OFF CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY BADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE SNOW PACK EVVERY DAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN AERODYNAMIC DESIGN FLAW WITH THE WHEELS WHERE THE SNOW DOESN'T GET BLOWN OUT OF THE WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC ALERT: SERVICE THE ENGING AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 TERRAIN WITHIN 7 DAYS. THE CODE WAS P050F. I HAVE A LITTLE OVER 10,000 MILES ON HERE.
I HAVE AROUND 6 TO 7 MONTH WITH THE VEHICLE AND SINCE DAY ONE IT MADE A WEARD NOISE IN THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE VEHICLE DOESNT RESPOND AND PERFORM WELL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FIRST THEY STATED IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN THEY STARTED GIVING ME MANYDIFERENT EXCUSES AND THAT IT WAS NORMA…
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I HAVE AROUND 6 TO 7 MONTH WITH THE VEHICLE AND SINCE DAY ONE IT MADE A WEARD NOISE IN THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE VEHICLE DOESNT RESPOND AND PERFORM WELL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AT FIRST THEY STATED IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEN THEY STARTED GIVING ME MANYDIFERENT EXCUSES AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL BUT STILL THE SUV WOULDNT RESPOND I CALLED GM AND THEY OPENED A TICKET BUT AFTER THAT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN OTHER WORDS THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. YESTURDAY FEB 26,2019 THE SUV STARTED HAVING WORST PROBLEMS AS TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT RUN MOR THEN 33 MILES A HOUR IT STARTED SHAKING RPMS GOING WILD THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 5500 MILES ON IT. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO OUT OF THIS TIME I HAVE WITH IT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MORE TIMED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAN WITH ME
WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR AFTER COMING OUT OF REVERSE THE CAR REVS UP BETWEEN 35 AND 45 RPMS. THIS IS WHEN IT IS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD AND RPMS DROP TO 25RMS. WHEN I GIVE IT SOME GAS THE RPMS GO UP AGAIN TO THE 35-45 RPM. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS TO STOP IS TO PULL OV…
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WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR AFTER COMING OUT OF REVERSE THE CAR REVS UP BETWEEN 35 AND 45 RPMS. THIS IS WHEN IT IS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD AND RPMS DROP TO 25RMS. WHEN I GIVE IT SOME GAS THE RPMS GO UP AGAIN TO THE 35-45 RPM. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS TO STOP IS TO PULL OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR AND OPEN THE DOOR. I LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MIN AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND DRIVE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG THAT WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN EVERYTHING COMES BACK FINE. I HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND IT HAS HAPPENED WITH WITNESSES SO I AM NOT IMAGINING IT. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND STARTED HAPPENING A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT IT. THE DATE I AM GIVING OF WHEN IT HAPPENED IS THE LATEST ONE - IT STARTED 8/18.
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.