2019 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability
294 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 GMC Terrain, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 47/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 72,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2019 sits among all Terrain years
What owners report
“My cars breaks failed by a vacuum pump failer and I almost died on the a hill going home”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Terrain
“Vacuum pump exploded into camshaft and engine area, causing me to lose brakes completely on the highway. Costly repairs to clear out metal shrapnel and replace camshaft.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Terrain
“Transmission slips from cold start No. Have not taken to Dealer No. No. Warning lights or messages”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Terrain
“The car cuts off during driving and when u crack it back up the dash light do not work. But then the dealership said its a known issues but the car just needs to be reset...... But cutting off while driving can be dangerous. It's something a car should not do”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Terrain
“Car has less that 1000 miles and the check engine light has been on 3 times with a p0442”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Terrain
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 55 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 20,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,681 and 60,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac…
Technical service bulletins
1,002 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2019 GMC Terrain. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2019 Terrain TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 GMC Terrain reliable?
The 2019 GMC Terrain drew 294 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 47/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2019 GMC Terrain problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 GMC Terrain are brakes & stability (68 complaints), engine (65), and transmission & drivetrain (50).
At what mileage do 2019 GMC Terrain problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 GMC Terrain problems around 20,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,681 and 60,000 miles.
Does the 2019 GMC Terrain have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2019 GMC Terrain. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.