NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 GMC Terrain. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER DRIVER RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT TERRAIN CAUSING SEVERE FRONT END AND ENGINE DAMAGE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURES INCLUDED WERE NECK AND BACK. DAMAGE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY BUT NEVER DID . HAVING AN INDEPT INSPECTION CONDUCTED AS TO WHY THEY NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
A SECOND MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR TIRE ON 2013 GMC TERRAIN (PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2013) HAD REPETITIVE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SHOWING ON THE TPMS. AFTER 1 WEEK OF INFLATING TO SPEC PRESSURE AND ONLY HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN, REMOVED THE WHEEL AND TIRE TO INSPECT FOR AN EMBEDDED OBJECT (E.G. NAIL) IN THE ENTIRE TREAD AREA AND SIDEWALL. NOTHING VISIBLE. REPLACED AND INFLATED TO SPEC AGAIN. 2 DAYS LATER LOW PRESSURE AGAIN. REMOVED THE WHEEL/TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND MIXED A SOAP SOLUTION TO INSPECT THE TREAD AREA FOR A LEAK. AFTER THOROUGHLY INSPECTING THE ENTIRE TREAD AREA TWICE, NOTICED A SLOW LEAK BUBBLING ON THE SIDEWALL AT THE TREAD-SIDEWALL INTERFACE (TIRE MOLD SEAM?). PROBED THE LEAK SITE FOR EMBEDDED GLASS OR OBJECT AND FOUND NOTHING REPRESENTATIVE OF A ROAD HAZARD EVENT EXCEPT THE AIR LEAK IN THE SIDEWALL. PLUGGED THE LEAK WITH A TIRE PLUG TO SHOW LOCATION AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. A TIRE WITH LEAK IN THE SIDEWALL EVEN PLUGGED IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. I AM WAITING FOR A NEW TIRE. *TR
WAS DRIVING TOWARDS A ON RAMP TO A HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SERVICE LIGHT CAME (SERVICE POWER STEELING). COULD STILL STEER, BUT VERY DIFFICULT. DROVE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. THEY EXAMINED IT THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. STEERING WAS NOW FINE! TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME INCIDENCE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A 4 LANE CITY ROAD. VEHICLE IS TO BE TAKEN IN THIS WEEK FOR MORE TESTING OF ELECTRONIC ECM BOARD. EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS STILL DRIVABLE, IT STARTLES THE DRIVER AND IS VERY UNSAFE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVE VEHICLE OR SAFE FOR TRIPS. *TR
DEAR SAFETY OFFICER, THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT I WISH TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GMC. MY LIFE WAS AT RISK IN AN ACCIDENT. AS IT IS ACCIDENTS ARE UN-WELCOMED, TO ADD TO IT THE SAFETY FEATURE (AIRBAGS) FROM MY GMC VEHICLE CHASIS NO [XXX],ORIGIN CANADA,REGISTER IN UAE DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. A DEPLOY SIGN APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONED AS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW LESS THAN A YEAR AGO UNDER WARRANTY WITH COMPLETE SERVICE HISTORY. THE DAMAGE WAS SO MUCH TO THE VEHICLE THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT AS TOTAL LOSS AND ARE SETTLING WITH ME FOR THE AMOUNT THEY HAD INSURED THE VEHICLE FOR (OR A SUITABLE SUM). DESPITE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT FUNCTION, PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. A GMC REPLY WHICH PUTS SERIOUS QUESTIONS ON THE REAR IMPACT TEST PRACTICED IN DESIGN .A AIRBAG SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH SEAT BELT AND WARNING SIGN, UPON CRASH FULLY EXTENDED BUT DID NOT ROLL BACK TO FACTORY SETTING IS CLEAR SIGN FOR VISUAL EVIDENCE.A EDR(EVIDENT DATA RECORDER)WILL NOT BE ACCESSED BY THE CUSTOMER DUE TO RIGHTS HELD BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. AS SAFETY IS THE NORMS FOR US VEHICLES,A COMPLETE FAILURE OF MULTIPLE COLLISION RAISES THE DOUBT OF GMC COMPLYING WITH SAFETY DURING DESIGN AND TEST EXECUTION.WHAT WOULD BE THE MALFUNCTION OF SAFETY SYSTEM COULD BE INVESTIGATED IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE FATALITY IN THE DESIGN FEATURES.A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED AFTER THE FINDING OF EDR RECORDINGS.I WILL BE RELIEVED IF THE FUTURE DESIGN IMPROVEMENT WILL SAVE MANY LIVES FROM SIMILAR CRASHES. IT WOULD BE MERCY OF GOD NOT BECAUSE OF AIRBAGS TWO LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. AT NIGHT THE TOP 3/4 OF MY WINDSHIELD GOES DARK. I CANNOT SEE ONCOMING CARS, ROAD LANES, OR SIDE LINES. THIS IS LIKE DRIVING THROUGH OVERLY TINTED WINDOWS....WHEN TURNING ON UNLIT ROADS CANNOT SEE A THING. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR AFTER DARK..PRISONER OF THE CLOCK. MY DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS HIS FIFTH COMPLAINT RE THIS MATTER. HELP!!!! *TR
WHEN THE GMC TERRAIN IS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNINGS THE VEHICLE "MISSES" FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS CONDENSATION IN THE FUEL LINE. AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE SMOOTHES OUT AND RUNS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EACH AND EVERY MORNING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ANY OTHER TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT COLLISION ALERT SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,033. UPDATED 8/22/14*CN
PURCHASED 2013 GMC TERRAIN DENALI BRAND NEW; VEHICLE HAD APPROX 5000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. WHILE OUT TO MOUNTAINS AND JUST STARTING TO HEADING DOWN A STEEP GRADE ON A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD (JUST STARTED MOVING AND WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH), ABS KICKED IN AND WOULDN'T STOP, PREVENTING THE BREAK FROM BEING PRESSED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THIS STEEP GRADE ROAD WITH A CLIFF ON ONE SIDE AND A MOUNTAIN FACE ON THE OTHER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PICKING UP SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO GET THE ABS TO RELEASE THE BREAKS SO THAT I COULD USE THEM AGAIN. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BREAKS, SHIFTED FROM M1 TO DRIVE, THEN TO NEUTRAL, THEN TO REVERSE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO TRIED TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING, NOT TOUCH THE BREAKS, AND SEE IF THE BREAKS WOULD RELEASE AND I STILL CONTINUED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STOP. AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 1/2 MILE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN I HIT THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WHICH DID STOP THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DID THE BREAKS BECOME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE RAPID DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. MY FAMILY AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO DEATH THAT DAY AND ALL COULD'VE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT. BUYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THEN COME TO COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR END WILL START TO LOUDLY THUMP, IT STARTS OUT SLOWLY THUMPING AND BEGINS TO SPEED UP AND WHEN YOU START TO RELEASE THE BRAKE IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP ONCE ONE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. WE HAVE HAD THE ISSUE ONGOING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW, IT STARTED ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AFTER WE GOT THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 2200 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A 'LIKE NEW' LOANER VEHICLE. THE MECHANICS SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A EXHAUST, SOMETHING WITH THE REAR BRAKES, OR MAYBE A PANEL IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, THEY HAVE TIGHTENED, AND REPLACED ALMOST THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALER HAS CALLED GMC AND THE DEALER SAID GMC WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR US. *JB
ROAD DIRT, SNOW, MUD ACCUMULATES AT INSIDE BOTTOMS OF DOORS ALL THE WAY UP TO BOTTOM OF SPEAKER AREAS. I CAN SEE WHERE IT IS PULLING DOWN THE BOTTOM PANELS. CALLED DEALER AND ASKED FOR GM INFO ON THIS AND NOTHING BACK FROM DEALER. ALSO 2 WEEKS AGO ENGINE LITE CAME ON, TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF GASOLINE SENSOR? AT 10,000 MILES? ASKED IF I USED CORN GAS? NO, I USE PLUS OR PREMIUM. DOES THIS HAPPEN EVERY 10,000 MILES? ALSO I AM CONCERNED I WILL HAVE RUST ON MY DOORS VERY SOON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD METAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ
WHEN I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AT STOP SIGN I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY BADLY PLACED SO MY FOOT MISSED THE BRAKE AND I WENT THRU THE STOP SIGN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. (FORTUNATELY,I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE ONCOMING LANE) OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MY FOOT HAD TO RELEARN THE POSITION OF THE PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE LEFT WHEN THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HYDRAULIC STEERING, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PERFORM IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT DID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.
STARTED RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JAN 2013 AND CONTINUES EVERY WINTER. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 40 DEGREE'S THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD MAKES A CRACKING SOUND. I LIKE TO REFER TO IT AS MAKING "POPCORN" SAME SOUND. CONTINUES WHILE DRIVING UNTIL I HEAT UP CAR. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALER ATTENTION EVEN HAD IT IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SOUND. I HAVE VIDEO AND SENT TO GMC.
2013 TERRAIN WAS IN MOTION AND STOPPED ON AN IL HIGHWAY IN VERY COLD FEBRUARY WEATHER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO STATES PVC CRANKCASE ISSUE. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THIS ISSUE IS LISTED UNDER BULLETIN 14882. DEALERSHIP AND GM CORPORATE LINE CLAIM THAT THE BULLETIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE AND THUS NO SPECIAL COVERAGE AVAILABLE TO COVER REPAIRS. REPAIRS ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A NEW ENGINE. MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS PER GOOGLE. THE BULLETIN RECOGNIZES THE SAFETY RISK, YET THERE APPEARS TO BE NO FULL ON RECALL FOR INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL AFFECTED VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP. THIS IS UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS AND HAZARDOUS TO ALL WINTERY DRIVERS. GMC SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE BULLETIN IS "VIN SPECIFIC" WHEN THE ISSUE ARISES DUE TO COLD WEATHER--WHICH WE ALL KNOW CAN OCCUR IN MANY PLACES AT ANY TIME. THANKS,