There are 3 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2012 GMC Terrainin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
GMC Consumer Relations Subject: Structural Undercarriage Safety Defect – 2012 GMC Terrain SLE Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model: 2012 GMC Terrain SLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Purchase: 148,305 Date of Purchase: [XXX] Location: Rochester, New York I am filing a complaint regarding a severe undercarriage safety defect in my 2012 GMC Terrain SLE. The rear undercarriage of this vehicle shows heavy structural corrosion on suspension brackets and mounts. The condition produces clanging noises during normal driving, and an independent licensed mechanic has refused to work on the vehicle because the suspension integrity is unsafe. When I returned the vehicle to the dealer, I observed additional brackets being attached under the rear subframe area, suggesting reinforcement of compromised structural points. This confirms that the corrosion directly affects suspension geometry, alignment, and stability. This corrosion is not cosmetic. It is advanced structural deterioration affecting the mounting points for trailing arms and lateral links. These components are critical to safe turning, stability, and control. The corrosion compromises the ability of the suspension to keep the wheels aligned, creating serious risks of loss of control or wheel separation. What makes this more alarming is that the vehicle passed a New York State safety inspection on 07/13/2025, yet within days a mechanic refused to perform unrelated service because of the undercarriage condition. This raises questions not only about inspection validity, but also about the underlying durability and corrosion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WE HAD BEGUN TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION AND, WHILE OUR SPEED WAS FROM A DEAD STOP, THE OTHER DRIVER BLEW THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND HIT US AT WHAT WAS PROBABLY THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40MPH. HER CAR STRUCK US IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND AGAIN ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. WE, MYSELF WHO WAS DRIVING, AND MY WIFE, WHO WAS THE PASSENGER ON THE SIDE HIT, WERE BOTH THROWN HARD TO THE RIGHT AT IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES TO US BOTH, MOST NOTABLY, MY WIFE. SHE HIT HER HEAD VERY HARD ON EITHER THE PASSENGER DOOR FRAME OR THE PASSENGER WINDOW. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO SIDE AIRBAGS, NO FRONT AIRBAGS. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! *TR
?ON APRIL 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING ON FAIRVIEW RD. AND TRAVELING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A CAR THAT RAN A RED LIGHT HIT HIM. ?HIS CAR ? A GMC 2012 TERRAIN WAS HIT MULTIPLE TIMES ? DRIVER'S FRONT END, FRONT END AND SPUN AROUND FROM THE FORCE AND HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ?[XXX] WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED BY ON STAR, THEY CALLED POLICE, HIS CAR WAS TOTALED ?ON 4/21 I EMAILED GMC AND ASKED WHAT DEPARTMENT I WOULD CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING CALL FROM GMC 866-790-5700 EXT. 22745 SAID ON VOICE MAIL ? THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD HAVE? HE MADE A CASE NUMBER [XXX] GMC HAS SINCE DECLARED THIS WAS A LOW THRESHOLD EVENT - NO NEED FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT - YET THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND OUR SON HAS WHIPLASH AND CONTUSIONS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026