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2020 GMC Terrain

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2020 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

Limited mileage data: 40 of 195 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

34 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2025
Unknown Or Other

I was driving on the highway below the speed limit when I heard a pop that sounded like a balloon and instantly the sound of wind getting into the car. I pulled over and found that the sunroof was rapidly shattering. I did not see a rock that had hit it. Maybe the tempered glass just exploded. I was not driving very close by any…

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I was driving on the highway below the speed limit when I heard a pop that sounded like a balloon and instantly the sound of wind getting into the car. I pulled over and found that the sunroof was rapidly shattering. I did not see a rock that had hit it. Maybe the tempered glass just exploded. I was not driving very close by any other vehicles at the time, but was on the highway.

NHTSA ODI #11698362

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2025
Unknown Or Other

The Vehicle Identification Number for this vehicle is not recognized in the NHTSA program. From Online vehicle registration Oahu Hawaii

NHTSA ODI #11695207

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2025
Unknown Or Other

Back up camera does not work. It shows a blue screen and says service repair needed.

NHTSA ODI #11686112

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2025
Unknown Or Other

The bolts fell out and the bracket that holds the drive shaft in place fractured while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11681490

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2025
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other

My backup camera in my 2020 vehicle has failed twice. Once was covered under manufacturer's warranty, and it then failed again 14 months later, which is not covered under warranty. As explained by the dealer, a parts warranty is 12 months if covered under manufacturer warranty and 24 months if paid for by the owner. Different…

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My backup camera in my 2020 vehicle has failed twice. Once was covered under manufacturer's warranty, and it then failed again 14 months later, which is not covered under warranty. As explained by the dealer, a parts warranty is 12 months if covered under manufacturer warranty and 24 months if paid for by the owner. Different warranties for the same part? Additionally, there is a service bulletin out about this issue as MANY other owners are reporting the same issue. The camera parts are being damaged by "water intrusion". There is NO rust or damage that would be contributing to this, thus it appears to be a manufacturing defect. There is no way I should have had to replace this part twice with only 40,000 miles on the vehicle. (first time at 24,000 miles, second time at 38,500 miles). I feel that the manufacturer should be fixing these as they know it is a widespread problem.

NHTSA ODI #11658372

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2024
Unknown Or Other

Every time it rains, the floorboard of my car is soaking wet. I took it to the dealership, and they stated the leak is coming from inside the firewall. I have only had this vehicle for 2 years and just recently moved to a house without a garage. Now that I am just now noticing it, I am wondering if it was like this when I bought…

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Every time it rains, the floorboard of my car is soaking wet. I took it to the dealership, and they stated the leak is coming from inside the firewall. I have only had this vehicle for 2 years and just recently moved to a house without a garage. Now that I am just now noticing it, I am wondering if it was like this when I bought it, but I am only noticing it now that I do not have a garage. They want to charge me over $1,000 just to take apart the dashboard to find the leak and that is just insane. There is no telling how much mold, rust, etc. could be in my car from this leak.

NHTSA ODI #11632151

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2024
Unknown Or Other

My car sunroof drainage system is not draining properly and GMC won’t see me for a month. There’s an excessive amount of water that’s pooling in the rear passenger floorboards buckets of water.

NHTSA ODI #11631788

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2024
Unknown Or Other

While driving my vehicle, check engine light came on. Then, my car proceeded to flash about 4 warnings on the dash, Fuel Level Low (had half tank of gas), Engine Power Reduced, Service ESC, and Service Transmission. My vehicle shut itself off while driving 55 down a main highway and put itself into park. Forcing me to pull over …

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While driving my vehicle, check engine light came on. Then, my car proceeded to flash about 4 warnings on the dash, Fuel Level Low (had half tank of gas), Engine Power Reduced, Service ESC, and Service Transmission. My vehicle shut itself off while driving 55 down a main highway and put itself into park. Forcing me to pull over and be stranded on the side of the road. In the way of other cars, with no way to get out of the way. I then had to shut car off, wait, and start it back it up. However, after the first time this happened, I cannot drive my vehicle more than 15 to 20 minutes without it doing this to me over and over again. To make matters worse, I am 37 weeks pregnant, and the last thing I need is to be without a car. I also had just gotten my vehicle inspected and an oil change the week before, with no issues to show. The only thing I did to my car before it did this, was remote start my vehicle, which I do every single morning and have for the little over a year I've owned this car. Also, my car has less than 60,000 miles on it!! The mechanic who is currently working on fixing this issue for me, has concluded it to be a throttle body, or the actuator of the car.

NHTSA ODI #11571635

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2023
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

On 4/10/2023, I took my vehicle to a local GMC dealership because it was stalling and didn't have any power. Upon accelerating the vehicle it would stall and take off at a high speed. The dealership has had my vehicle periodically from April 2023 and it presently sets at the dealership because they ain't getting a code, But aft…

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On 4/10/2023, I took my vehicle to a local GMC dealership because it was stalling and didn't have any power. Upon accelerating the vehicle it would stall and take off at a high speed. The dealership has had my vehicle periodically from April 2023 and it presently sets at the dealership because they ain't getting a code, But after the dealership drove the truck for over 200 miles, they were finally able to duplicate the stalling yet are not able to diagnose the problem!! This vehicle is very dangerous to be on the road and I have almost gotten hit twice and I'm not driving the vehicle anymore at this time. I have previously reached out to you all and I would be most thankful if you could get in touch with me. Thank you

NHTSA ODI #11549930

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2023
Unknown Or OtherFire

I was driving approximately 75mph on the interstate. 3 hrs into my trip I started feeling hot so I turned the a/c up. In my peripheral vision I saw orange and thought a car was beside me on fire. Immediately I realized it was my vehicle. I immediately slowed and came to a stop. I put it in park and opened the door. By the time I…

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I was driving approximately 75mph on the interstate. 3 hrs into my trip I started feeling hot so I turned the a/c up. In my peripheral vision I saw orange and thought a car was beside me on fire. Immediately I realized it was my vehicle. I immediately slowed and came to a stop. I put it in park and opened the door. By the time I started to exit there were flames higher than the rear windows. A car that was behind me stopped. They said about a mile back there was a spark under the car by the rear tire. Then it went up in flames.

NHTSA ODI #11533758

Official recalls

2

23V339000 · Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor

May 11, 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. 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 N232403240.

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.

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.