The Lemon Index2020 GMC Terrain.
The 2020 GMC Terrain is better than average by owner complaints: 67 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 83, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 23 to 27 mpg combined. The best GMC Terrain year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 197 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every GMC Terrain year. 2020 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 6K to 91K miles on the car (40 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 2
- child seat 2023
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.
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 846 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- This informational bulletin provides instruction on what may be the cause of the oil leak…
- This informational bulletin provides information on Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Terrain SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| GMC Terrain SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2400–3450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Brakes hard to press. Almost cause an accident on interstate. Was able to contain vehicle. Took to autozone to assessed and it said Powertrain System. Brake Booster Senor Circuit.
2020 GMC Terrain owner · NHTSA complaint 11452898
More owner reports
I was driving on the interstate when my brakes went out. I was able to get off at and exit and pull into a gas station but had to put on the emergency brake.
NHTSA complaint 11543728
The engine will never go into 9th gear! What's the point of GMC doing a 9 gear transmission to help with fuel, if it never actually goes into the 9th gear?
NHTSA complaint 11483380
Quick answers
Is the 2020 GMC Terrain reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 83; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Terrain year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2020 GMC Terrain problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (28%), brakes (19%) and transmission & drivetrain (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 GMC Terrain have?
2 safety recalls (latest: child seat). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 GMC Terrain get?
23 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 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 2020 GMC Terrain problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,300 and 91,000 miles. The middle report was at 47,700 miles, from 40 complaints.
Does the 2020 GMC Terrain have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 GMC Terrain cost in fuel a year?
About $2400 to $3450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 GMC Terrain have?
1.5L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What GMC Terrain year is better than the 2020?
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