2019 Gmc TERRAIN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
182 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
19,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 182 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 78 | 42.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 19.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 67 |
| Service Brakes | 62 |
| Power Train | 50 |
| Electrical System | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Engine: 67; Service Brakes: 62; Power Train: 50; Electrical System: 38; Unknown Or Other: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 6; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 132 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2018: 5; 2019: 20; 2020: 7; 2021: 18; 2022: 23; 2023: 22; 2024: 27; 2025: 37; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11153254 · 2018-11-22 (November 22, 2018)
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?
Owner-reported narrative. 130 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186778 · 2019-03-14 (March 14, 2019)
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, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,473 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120137 · 2018-08-15 (August 15, 2018)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 636 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11149558 · 2018-11-05 (November 5, 2018)
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 DIFFERENTIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11149558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383273 · 2020-12-14 (December 14, 2020)
BOUGHT THE TERRAIN IN NOV 22ND 2020 AT COVINA CHEVROLET, CALIFORNIA. ON NOV 25TH WANTED TO RESTORE THE CAR STEREO BECAUSE THE SETTINGS WOULD NOT DELETE DATA SAVED AND IT WOULDN'T CONNECT TO MY IPHONE VIA USB. SO I DECIDED TO DISCONNECT THE POSTS FROM THE BATTERY TERMINALS FOR 30 MINUTES. CONNECT BACK THE POSTS TO BATTERY AND CHECK IF THAT DELETE EVERYTHING AND IT DID BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T CONNECT TO MY IPHONE. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THAT SRS AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE CAME ON. THE ABS, AIRBAGS AND STABILITY LIGHTS WERE ON, TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 39,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222812 · 2019-06-26 (June 26, 2019)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11396389 · 2021-02-15 (February 15, 2021)
WHEN I SHIFT IT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE, THE ENGINE WILL REV AND NOT ACCELERATE AFTER I INITIALLY START MOVING FORWARD. IT ACTUALLY ALMOST COMES TO A STOP BEFORE FINALLY ACCELERATING. IT HAS NOW STARTED DOING IT WHILE DRIVING AND STALLED IN THE HIGHWAY ON 2/13. I CARRIED IT LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT. TODAY, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ON-STAR TOLD ME TO CARRY IT TO A …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11396389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207012 · 2019-05-11 (May 11, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11268428 · 2019-10-15 (October 15, 2019)
ON AUGUST 23, 2019, MY VEHICLE INCURRED AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE REPORTED BY GMC ONSTAR APPLICATION. THE SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE ARE REPEATED ACCELERATION SPEED CONTROL CAUSING SPEED LIMIT VIOLATIONS, INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER MOVING TRAFFIC, SPOUSAL TRAUMA, AND ILLUMINATION OF MULTIPLE DISPLAY WINDOW LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. ON OCTOBER 14, 2019, THERE WAS A REOCCURRENCE OF THE SAME ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS REPORT IS TO GET AHEAD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE TAKING VEHICLE FOR SERVICE THIS MORNING, OCTOBER 15, 2019, AT SEWELL BUI…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,697 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447797 · 2022-01-17 (January 17, 2022)
GMC Corporate Office General Motors Company300 Renaissance Center Detroit, MI 48265 To Whom it May Concern, Been a customer with GMC for a good while despite the issues and troubles we were still loyal to the company. October 31,2021 Sunday, I had sudden lost of my brakes/stalled on my 2019 Terrain SLE while driving to the store close to my area on top of that having less than 30,000 miles in it. Despite the horrible and devastating event I was able to have the truck without any scratch , hit , or had any accident on this event but instead…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11517816 · 2023-04-19 (April 19, 2023)
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while approaching an intersection, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a friend jump started the vehicle, and she was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an Auto Zone and was informed the fuel pump control module, enable circuit performance, and the passenger’s side seat belt switch circuit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicl…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11517816 at NHTSA ↗