NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 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
ON OR ABOUT MAY 22ND, I LEASED A NEW GMC TERRAIN FROM LAMBERT GMC IN CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO. ON JULY 2 WITH LESS THAN 1900 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ENACTING FULL EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 LANE ROAD CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE OR ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RON MARHOFER IN NORTH CANTON OHIO. FINALLY AFTER A WEEK DELAY ON 7/8 I RECEIVED A CALL THAT THE VALUE CASE WAS DAMAGED FROM MANUFACTURING. AS OF THIS COMPLAINT, NO RESOLVE TO THE REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING/DEMANDING UNDER GOOD FAITH THAT GM PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK.
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE STREET. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT.
JUST OVER 5200 MILES STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHEN STOPPING OR STARTING. AROUND 5500 MILES STARTED HEARING LOUD CLICKING ROARING SOUND. WAS RETURNING HOME FROM VACATION ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND KNEW ALL SERVICE AREAS OF ALL GM DEALERSHIPS WOULD BE CLOSED BUT HEADED TO A NEARBY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN BOSSIER CITY, LA TO LEAVE CAR TO BE LOOKED AT ON MONDAY. NEVER MADE IT. CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I LEFT CAR AND RETURNED HOME TO MCKINNEY TX. FOLLOWING TUESDAY RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGE FROM DEALERSHIP THAT THE PLANETARY GEAR AND SOME OTHER PARTS WENT OUT. PARTS ON ORDER BUT NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FOLLOWING FRIDAY. SEARCHING INTERNET FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF 2017, 2018, 2019 GMC TERRAINS HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SEEMS GM HAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE TERRAIN TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING, SLIPPING, AND FAILING.
I PURCHASED A 2019 GMC TERRAIN VIN: [XXX] ON JAN 17, 2019 AT RIZZA BUICK GMC 8415 W. 159TH STREET, TINLEY PARK IL, 60487, ON JANUARY 17, 2019. THIS WAS MY FIRST BRAND NEW CAR AND I WAS EXCITED. I TRADED IN A 2014 GMC TERRAIN IN THE PROCESS, KNOWING I WOULD BE UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LOAN. I HAD THE FIRST SERVICE DONE ON APRIL 23, 2019 AT SAID DEALERSHIP. AT THAT VISIT I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS HEARING A NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT EVEN WHEN THE HVAC WAS NOT RUNNING. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS DETECTED AND MY VEHICLE WAS FINE ON MAY 24, 2019, I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO MEMPHIS TENNESSEE WITH MY FAMILY FOR MEMORIAL DAY. ON MAY 25, 2019 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS LOSING POWER TO THE ENGINE. THAT SAME NIGHT CUSTOMER SERVICE TOWED MY VEHICLE TO SUNRISE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1800 COVINGTON PIKE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38128, A NEARBY GMC DEALERSHIP AND SET UP A RENTAL CAR IN THE AREA FOR ME TO DRIVE. BECAUSE IT WAS THE HOLIDAY, ENTERPRISE WAS CLOSED, AND I HAD NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE FOR TWO DAYS. THIS WAS AN INCONVENIENCE TO ME AND MY FAMILY, I HAD TO ALTER MY TRIP PLANS THAT WERE MADE BACK IN FEBRUARY 2019. ON MAY 27, 2019 I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] THE TECHNICIAN AT SUNRISE CHEVROLET THAT AIR BOX TUBE WAS LOOSE AND NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DURING MY SERVICE I HAD DONE APRIL 23RD. I WAS ASSURED EVERYTHING WAS OKAY AND I WAS GOOD TO GO. ON MAY 31, WHILE TRAVELING BACK HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SAME MESSAGE ON THE DASH AND IT WAS RAINING AT 3AM. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE MAY 31, 2019 AND I AM JUST FINDING OUT THAT I HAVE A PART THAT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH MY EXPERIENCE AN I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHAMALEY BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 955 CROCKETT ST, EL PASO, TX 79922, (915) 231-4000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 95389790118. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
LEASING A 2019 GMC TERRAIN TECHNICAL, WITHIN A FEW DAYS CLIMATE OFF ERROR CAME ON WHILE TRYING TO TURN ON THE AC OR HEAT. CAR SAFETY FEATURES NEVER ALERTED WITH SOUNDS. SERVICE BULLETINS PIT 5663 AND PIC 6365A, GMC KNOWN PROBLEMS BEFORE I SIGNED MY LEASE. CONTACTED GMC AFTER PENSKE BUICK GMC, SHILLINGTON PA, TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE CLIMATE OFF ERROR. PUSHED AN UPDATE THROUGH TO FIX THE SAFETY NO ALERT SOUNDS. AT THIS POINT PENSKE AS WELL AS GMC HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE CLIMATE OFF ERRORS WILL BE FIXED. I CONTINUE TO PAY MY FULL LEASE RATE FOR A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT FULLY WORK.
I HAVE A 2019 GMC TERRIAN WITH 2500 MILES. I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE CAR FLASHED LOW FUEL, CHECK TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING AND SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS AS A HIGHWAY SPEED. I WAS FORTUNATELY OK, HOWEVER IT STRANDED ME AT A SPOT WITH MERGING TRAFFIC, NO SHOULDER AND NO POWER TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START UP SHORTLY, THEN I HAD TO DEAL WITH GETTING GOING AGAIN IN THIS PRECARIOUS SPOT.
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE GPS NAVIGATION SHUTS OFF AND GIVES AN SD CARD ERROR MESSAGE. NOTHING ON THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS ON OR FUNCTIONING, INCLUDING SENSORS.
STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-75. THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. DRIVER TRYING TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WAS NOT WORKING, AUTO SENSORING HAD TAKEN OVER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REARENDED THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT PUSHING THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF THAT ONE.
Carfax report showed that Air bag deployed in the accident on 3/22/2019. Which is wrong information. The car was repaired through state farm authorize body shop. The effect part was front bumper, grill , left side head ligh and left fender.
CAR HAS LESS THAT 1000 MILES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON 3 TIMES WITH A P0442
I PURCHASED MY 2019 TERRAIN DENALI ON 2/27/19. I BEGAN MY DRIVE INTO WORK THIS MORNING (3/4/19) AND MERGED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND SECONDS LATER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND, ONLY TO REALIZE THE FIRST HALF OF MY PANORAMIC MOONROOF WAS SHATTERED (SEE INSIDE PHOTO). SHARDS OF GLASS WERE FALLING INTO THE VEHICLE BUT IT HAD NOT COLLAPSED COMPLETELY AT THIS POINT. I DID NOT DRIVE UNDER ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN, THERE WERE NO OBJECTS IN THE ROAD THAT CAME UP TO HIT MY VEHICLE, THE GLASS JUST SHATTERED OUT OF NOWHERE. AFTER CALLS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE INSIDE COVER FOR THE MOONROOF AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS ABLE TO DO SO SUCCESSFULLY BUT AS SOON AS I MOVED THE VEHICLE, YOU COULD HEAR THE GLASS COLLAPSE (SEE PICTURE).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED AND THE SPEED DECELERATED TO 45 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO CRUISE CONTROL MODE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALL BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 3010 S SW LOOP 323, TYLER, TX 75701, (903) 771-2886) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5110159147. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,473.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS DEFECTS RELATED TO THE STEERING, THE LOW SPEED FORWARD AUTOMATIC BRAKING DOESNT WORK AND THE FRONT PEDESTRIAN BRAKING DOESNT WORK. THE LANE KEEP ASSIST WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING NEVER WORKS. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIM EIM TOLD THAT SINCE THERE ARE NO COMPUTER ERROR CODES IT HAS TO BE WORKING. THEY EVEN GAVE ME PAPERWORK WHERE GM TELLS THE MECHANIC WHAT TO TELL THE CUSTOMERS WHO COMPLAIN THAT THESE FEATURES AREN'T WORKING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM THE PARKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BRICKELL BUICK & GMC (665 SW 8TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33130, 786-504-1353), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO SHIFT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEHMAN BUICK GMC (21200 NW 2ND AVE, MIAMI, FL 33169, (305) 356-7579). THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS CURRENTLY DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
LIFT GATE ON THIS VEHICLE OPENS TO A HEIGHT OF 69 INCHES . AT 74 INCHES I AM CONSTANTLY BANGING MY HEAD ON THE LIFT GATE. MY 2017 MODEL OPENED TO AT LEAST 76 INCHES WHICH IS MORE REASONABLE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MODEL THAT HAS A POWER LIFT GATE OPENS TO AROUND 76 INCHES.. A FULL 7 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE MANUAL ONE.. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER POINTED OUT THIS PROBLEM TO ME SEEING THAT I AM 74 INCHES TALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION KEPT SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PERUZZI BUICK GMC (156 LINCOLN AVE, FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030, (866) 526-8445) WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SLIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE 02 SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE WITH PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND ERROR MESSAGES SUCH AS LOW BATTERY CAME UP ON DASH DISPLAY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 11/17/18. TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS OCCURRED WHERE THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMPED. ONE ON 11/21/18 AND 11/22/18. UNSURE IF AN ELECTRICAL WIRING ISSUE OR BATTERY ISSUE?
NEED THE OPTION TO DISABLE THE AUTO START FEATURE.
THE SHIFTER IS DANGEROUS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. IN A CAR WITH A NORMAL SHIFTER, THE SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE PUSHED WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO MOVE IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE RESULTING THUNK WILL LET YOU KNOW IT HAPPENED. IN THIS CAR, SINCE IT IS AN ELECTRONIC BUTTON THAT CAN BE EASILY PRESSED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS IN A LOCATION WHERE IT MIGHT GET HIT BY AN OBJECT LIKE A PURSE. THE DRIVER MAY WIND UP WITHOUT POWER AND THEN NOT HAVE AN EASY WAY TO REINGAGE DRIVE. ALSO, THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE, WHICH CAN CAUSE CONFUSION IN LOW SPEED DRIVING INTERACTIONS IF A DRIVER DOES NOT LOOK AT THE BUTTONS. VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO INDICATE WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL ABOVE A CERTAIN SPEED AS WELL AS HAVING THE PHYSICAL BUTTONS REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT OFFERS A TACTILE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE.
VEHICLE CAN BE INADVERTENTLY BY EITHER A PASSENGER OR AN OBJECT PUT INTO NEUTRAL. NO ALERT OR CHIME IS MADE TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, ONLY THE GEAR SELECTOR ON THE DASH OR THE LIGHT ON THE BUTTON INDICATES THAT IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IF SOMETHING IS COVERING THE SHIFTER, SUCH AS A BAG OR OTHER ITEM, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AN ACCCIDENT MIGHT OCCUR BECUASE THE BAG OR ITEM MAY PRESS THE BUTTON, SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE CONFUSED AND NOT HAVE POWER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. A CHIME SHOULD ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PUT IN NEUTRAL SO IT DRAWS ATTENTION TO THAT FACT. IN ANOTHER SCENARIO A SMALL CHILD THAT IS OLD ENOUGH TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT NOT OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTROLS MIGHT PRESS THE BUTTON, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO MANEUVER OUT OF THE WAY OF AN IMPENDING COLLISION. I HAVE VERIFIED THIS POSSIBILITY BY PRESSING THE NEUTRAL BUTTON AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IT IS VERY POSSIBLE FOR IT TO HAPPEN UNINTENTIONALLY. OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR SYSTEMS HAVE THE BUTTONS AND OR SHIFTER IN A PLACE WHERE INADVERTENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUTTON IS UNLIKELY. OTHER SCENARIOS - PEOPLE PLACING PHONES, BAGS ETC DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING, AS ON A HIGHWAY MAY INTERFERE WITH SHIFTING IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR MAY CAUSE ONE BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. AS IN AN HOUR IN ON A LONG DRIVE, SOMEONE BLOCKS THE SHIFTER BECAUSE THEY AREN'T IN NEED OF IT AT THE MOMENT AS THEY MIGHT BE WHILE PARKING OR MANEUVERING IN CITY TRAFFIC.