2021 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability
53 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 GMC Terrain, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2021 GMC Terrain has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2021 sits among all Terrain years
What owners report
Recalls (2)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the…
Fix: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as…
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at…
Technical service bulletins
693 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2021 GMC Terrain. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 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 2021 GMC Terrain reliable?
The 2021 GMC Terrain drew 53 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2021 GMC Terrain problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 GMC Terrain are engine (10 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (8), and brakes & stability (8).
Does the 2021 GMC Terrain have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 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.