The Lemon Index

All cars · GMC Terrain · 2010

2010 GMC Terrain. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index75100 = average car
Complaints50NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold60,519U.S. model year
Per 100K sold83complaints
Year rank#11 of 13#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 4

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.4L 4-cylAuto 6-spdFWD22 / 32 / 26Regular$2,400
2.4L 4-cylAuto 6-spdAWD20 / 29 / 23Regular$2,700
3.0L 6-cylAuto 6-spdFWD17 / 25 / 20Regular$3,100
3.0L 6-cylAuto 6-spdAWD17 / 24 / 20Regular$3,100

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 41,100 and 100,000 miles. Median 73,900, from 234 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine79,80061,500–108,50082
Transmission & drivetrain70,10048,600–95,20040
Electrical71,60043,000–111,50034
Wipers & visibility97,20070,000–114,00033
Airbags44,2009,600–86,00023

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine20%
Airbags16%
Electrical14%
Body structure14%
Transmission & drivetrain12%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
290100909

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 3

  • 22V137000 Mar 2022 Exterior Lighting / Headlights

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk. The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.

  • 14V447000 Jul 2014 Seats / Front Assembly / Power Adjust

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

    Risk. If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14

  • 09V489000 Dec 2009 Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System

    Defect. GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS". THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

    Risk. DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedMomentary increased steering effort20202022
ClosedFront wiper transmission inoperative20192022
ClosedWindshield wiper transmission failure20182019

Manufacturer communications 1653

GMC filed 1653 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Gm/hummer/saab: intermittent illumination of mil, service lamps, service messages, or dtc set…
  • Gmc/chevrolet/cadillac/buick: a door may not open, intermittently, w/the outside handle and/or…
  • Engineering information-chemical damage on inner surfaces of fuel tank

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2010755060,519Engine
2011878483,179Transmission & drivetrain
2012363897,786Airbags
2013556899,525Wipers & visibility

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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