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All cars · GMC · SUV

GMC Terrain.

The best GMC Terrain years are 2017, 2021, 2016, and no year drew much more than the average car's complaints. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 54, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2010 to 2025.

54Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.9× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2017 · Worst year 2011

GMC Terrain
Photo shows a 2010 GMC Terrain. Jim Hudson Buick/Pontiac/GMC/Saab, http://www.jimhudsonsuperstore.com/, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2010751.3× fewer complaints2011871.1× fewer complaints2012362.8× fewer complaints2013551.8× fewer complaints2014422.4× fewer complaints2015482.1× fewer complaints2016323.1× fewer complaints2017234.3× fewer complaints2018711.4× fewer complaints2019681.5× fewer complaints2020831.2× fewer complaints2021293.4× fewer complaints2022333× fewer complaints202343early read · 2.3× fewer complaints202474early read · 1.4× fewer complaints2025–few complaints

Best years to buy

2017.

2017234.3× fewer complaints than average2021293.4× fewer complaints than average2016323.1× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

None.

No GMC Terrain year drew much more than the average car's complaints.

Quick answers.

Is the GMC Terrain a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 54; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2017 and the worst is 2011.

What are the best GMC Terrain years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2017, 2021, 2016.

What GMC Terrain years should you stay away from?

No GMC Terrain year drew much more than an average car's complaints.

How many recalls does the GMC Terrain have?

39 safety recalls across the 16 model years we track. Most: 2018 (5), 2011 (4), 2012 (4). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common GMC Terrain problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, transmission & drivetrain and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2010751.3× fewer complaints than average50engine (20%)3—20–26
2011871.1× fewer complaints than average84transmission & drivetrain (19%)4★★★★☆19–26
2012362.8× fewer complaints than average38airbags (24%)4★★★★☆19–26
2013551.8× fewer complaints than average68wipers & visibility (34%)3★★★★☆19–26
2014422.4× fewer complaints than average48electrical (21%)2★★★★☆19–26
2015482.1× fewer complaints than average52wipers & visibility (29%)3★★★★☆19–26
2016323.1× fewer complaints than average31wipers & visibility (23%)2★★★★☆18–26
2017234.3× fewer complaints than average21airbags (33%)1★★★★☆18–25
2018711.4× fewer complaints than average82electrical (26%)5★★★★★23–32
2019681.5× fewer complaints than average73engine (32%)3★★★★★23–32
2020831.2× fewer complaints than average67engine (28%)2★★★★★23–27
2021293.4× fewer complaints than average17electrical (29%)2★★★★★26–27
2022333× fewer complaints than average35fuel or EV drive system (43%)2★★★★★26–27
2023432.3× fewer complaints than average41fuel or EV drive system (39%)2★★★★★26
2024741.4× fewer complaints than average52transmission & drivetrain (42%)1★★★★★25–26
2025–too few complaints to score13electrical (31%)0—25–27

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

GMC Terrain transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data