2017 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability

181 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 GMC Terrain, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 39/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 82,500 miles.

181Complaints
39/100Trouble index
1Recalls
46,580Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2017 sits among all Terrain years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 79 complaints (44%) · typically ~82,500 miles
“Rear oil seal failed resulting in engine oil pressure loss and vehicle was stopped in middle of roadway”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Terrain
Other 23 complaints (13%) · typically ~9,250 miles
Transmission & drivetrain 23 complaints (13%)
Electrical 16 complaints (9%)
Airbags 13 complaints (7%) · typically ~39,500 miles
Body & structure 7 complaints (4%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 50 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 46,580 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 63,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 22V137000 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail…

Fix: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this…

Technical service bulletins

1,061 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2017 GMC Terrain. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2017 Terrain TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2017peak 34 in 20242026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2017 GMC Terrain reliable?

The 2017 GMC Terrain drew 181 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 39/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2017 GMC Terrain problems?

The top reported problems for the 2017 GMC Terrain are engine (79 complaints), other (23), and transmission & drivetrain (23).

At what mileage do 2017 GMC Terrain problems show up?

Owners most often report 2017 GMC Terrain problems around 46,580 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 63,000 miles.

Does the 2017 GMC Terrain have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2017 GMC Terrain. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.