The Lemon Index2018 GMC Terrain.
The 2018 GMC Terrain is better than average by owner complaints: 82 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 71, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 23 to 32 mpg combined. The best GMC Terrain year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 224 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every GMC Terrain year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 65K miles on the car (91 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 10K–51K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 2K–78K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 2K–65K miles
Recalls 5
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- brakes 2018
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 2018
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2017
The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Terrain SUV FWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Terrain SUV AWD Later Release | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Terrain SUV AWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Terrain SUV FWD Early Release | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2300–3450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My auto started leaking some kind of oil.not sure what kind but I can see accumulation on driveway concrete pad. Had motor oil & filter changed in case it was a o-ring or not tight enough. It continues to leak.
2018 GMC Terrain owner · NHTSA complaint 11405404
More owner reports
Transmission fails to down shift after accelerating in traffic. Rpm legal 2200 rpm at 40 mph for over a mile before dropping to correct 1200 rpm for that speed.
NHTSA complaint 11197047
Car shuts off completely at a stop and no power at all untill it is jump started.
NHTSA complaint 11386188
Quick answers
Is the 2018 GMC Terrain reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 71; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Terrain year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2018 GMC Terrain problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (26%), transmission & drivetrain (23%) and brakes (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 GMC Terrain have?
5 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 GMC Terrain get?
23 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 GMC Terrain safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 GMC Terrain problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,500 and 65,000 miles. The middle report was at 18,500 miles, from 91 complaints.
Does the 2018 GMC Terrain have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 GMC Terrain cost in fuel a year?
About $2300 to $3450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 GMC Terrain have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What GMC Terrain year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2021 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works