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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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3,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021
Unknown Or Other

WHEN EVER I GO TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND I GO TP PUCH IN THE GAS PEDDLE THERE IS A VIBRATION DURING MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11399393

27 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

PURCHASED NEW 2020 GMC TERRAIN W/7MILES. LEFT DEALERSHIP ON MY WAY HOME, AND WITHIN 20 MILES, RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON DASH-> SERVICE - ESC - DISMISS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE SUV SLOWED DOWN AT LEAST 10 MILES FROM 65MILES PER HOUR. AFTER ENGINE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKING, I CONTINUES HOME AROUND 30 MILES MO…

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PURCHASED NEW 2020 GMC TERRAIN W/7MILES. LEFT DEALERSHIP ON MY WAY HOME, AND WITHIN 20 MILES, RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON DASH-> SERVICE - ESC - DISMISS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE SUV SLOWED DOWN AT LEAST 10 MILES FROM 65MILES PER HOUR. AFTER ENGINE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKING, I CONTINUES HOME AROUND 30 MILES MORE WITH NO MORE PROBLEMS. CALLED MY SALES PERSON THE NEXT DAY, AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT ESC WAS. (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) HE CALLED ME BACK AND INDICTED THE VEHICLE MAY NEED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I TOLD MY WIFE, WHY WOULD A DEALERSHIP NOT CHECK ON VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPDATES BEFORE RELEASING VEHICLES TO THE NEW OWNERS, PRIOR TO LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS CALLED, "BEING PROACTIVE." WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER PURCHASING THIS NEW SUV.

NHTSA ODI #11373835

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE AC SYSTEM PRODUCES A TOXIC CHEMICAL SMELL CAUSING THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE TOXIC ODOR. THE SMELL IS INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE MODERATE TO EXTREMELY POTENT.THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS AND CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS …

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THE AC SYSTEM PRODUCES A TOXIC CHEMICAL SMELL CAUSING THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE TOXIC ODOR. THE SMELL IS INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE MODERATE TO EXTREMELY POTENT.THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS AND CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS AUG. 1, 2020. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SEEN AT A LOCAL GMC DEALER 3 TIME SINCE JUNE, 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN BETWEEN MARCH AND EARLY JUNE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

NHTSA ODI #11343583

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2020
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other

THE COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE INSIDE FRONT OF THE CAR IS TOO SMALL AND I CANT REACH THE GAS PEDAL EXCEPT WITH MY TOE. MY FOOT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF AS I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO HAVE THE SEAT WAY UP OR I CANT REACH. I AM 5 FOOT TALL WOMAN. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THING THAT I HAVE TO PUT UP. I DROVE IT FOR 10 MINUTES AND DIDN'T REALIZE I…

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THE COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE INSIDE FRONT OF THE CAR IS TOO SMALL AND I CANT REACH THE GAS PEDAL EXCEPT WITH MY TOE. MY FOOT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF AS I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO HAVE THE SEAT WAY UP OR I CANT REACH. I AM 5 FOOT TALL WOMAN. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THING THAT I HAVE TO PUT UP. I DROVE IT FOR 10 MINUTES AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT. I ASKED FOR A PEDAL THAT IS LONGER AND CLOSER TO THE FLOOR AFTER I HAD BOUGHT IT AND SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO TO FIX IT. THEY ASKED IF I HAD A BUTTON TO ADJUST IT AND I DON'T. ITS ON THE EXPENSIVE ONE. THIS SHOULD BE ON ALL VEHICLES FOR SAFETY. I WANTED TO GIVE IT BACK BUT THEY NEVER HELPED ME. I HAVE 1100 MILES ON IT .IT NEW STILL. THE OTHER THING THIS CREATES IS I AM UP SO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAT ITS ALMOST ON MY CHEST IN ORDER TO REACH PEDAL WITHOUT HAVING TO STRAIN AND LATER HAVING PAIN IN MY LEG FROM DOING THAT. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH CHUCK NASH GMC IN SAN MARCOS , TEXAS. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE BY THE GMC COMPANY. I ALSO TOLD THE SALESMAN I WANTED A CANYON PICKUP LIKE I HAD BEFORE. I TRADED THAT ONE IN DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE 2017 CANYON WAS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP. ONLY HAD IT FOR 2 YRS AND 1 MONTH. THEY WERE NO HELP! THANK YOU, [XXX] PLEASE HELP ME INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11316405

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.