2016 Gmc TERRAIN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
152 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 152 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.3% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 4.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
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 | 46 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 46 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Steering | 6 |
Engine: 46; Visibility/Wiper: 46; Unknown Or Other: 13; Power Train: 11; Exterior Lighting: 10; Air Bags: 9; Electrical System: 9; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 89 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 9; 2019: 16; 2020: 17; 2021: 22; 2022: 23; 2023: 17; 2024: 14; 2025: 16; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10876065 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY AND FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHE …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915108 · 2016-10-10 (October 10, 2016)
THE DIGITAL CLOCK DOES NOT KEEP ACCURATE TIME, EVEN WHEN IT IS RESET. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE CLOCK IS SEVERAL HOURS OFF. THE DEALER THAT SOLD US THE VEHICLE CLAIMS THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT WE DO NOT HAVE AN ONSTAR SUBSCRIPTION. I CONTACTED BOTH GM AND ONSTAR, AND BOTH STATED THE CLOCK ISSUE IS NOT RELATED IN ANY WAY TO ONSTAR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916114 · 2016-10-14 (October 14, 2016)
WE OWN A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. MY WIFE REAR ENDED A FORD EXPEDITIONS. THIS LOW SPEED IMPACT CAUSED ALMOST 17000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE AND THE SEAT BELT OR AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS NORMAL OR IS GM COVERING UP FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001596 · 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SELLER GMC DEALER LOCATED AT 3800 GRAND RIVER AVENUE FARMINGTON HILL, MI 48335, PHONE NUMBER: [phone removed]. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH INDICATED THAT RODENTS WERE ATTRACTED TO THE WIRING COLORS AND WAS ABLE ACCESS AND DESTROYED ALL THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11012860 · 2017-08-04 (August 4, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (SULLER GMC LOCATED IN FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RODENTS HAD EATEN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PRODUCED USING SOY BASED MATERIALS, WHICH ATTRACTED RODENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 09/06/17*LJ *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015898 · 2017-08-17 (August 17, 2017)
NOTICED BLACK FLUID ON LIFTGATE FRAME. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY RAISING THE HATCH. WHEN I RELEASED IT THE GATE FELL VIOLENTELY INJURING MY HAND. IT APPEARS BOTH PISTONS FAILED. MY CONCERN IS THAT HAD THE GATE BEEN IN THE RAISED POSITION AND IT FELL, MYSELF OR A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE GATE IS EXTREMELY HEAVY. MY DEALER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY OF THIS PROBLEM NOW MAKING ME WAIT NEARLY A WEEK FOR REPAIR. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE AT THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083133 · 2018-04-03 (April 3, 2018)
STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. TESTED CHEVEY EQUINOX WITH V-6 AND HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEM PRODUCED THE SAME RESULTS. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER OPERATES VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. THESE VEHICLES ARE VERY QUICK ADD CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLES/PEDESTRIANS IF NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AT PRESENT DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED/SOLVED PROBLEM AND STATED IT IS NOT THAT SEVERE.OF A PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100255 · 2018-06-06 (June 6, 2018)
2016 GMC TERRAIN WILL SHOW THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS AFTER GAUGES JUMP UP AND DOWN. VEHICLE WILL THEN GO INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SUDDENLY SLAM INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS OCCURS AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, AS WELL AS, NORMAL ROADS. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN STAY IN 2ND GEAR AND WILL NOT GO INTO ANOTHER GEAR WHEN IT IS PLACED IN MANUAL EITHER. SOMETIMES, AFTER RESTARTING SEVERAL TIMES, IT WILL DRIVE NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL NOT START ONCE IT IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE GARAGE FIVE TIME…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100255 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V449000 · Equipment:Other:Labels | Tires
Reported: 2016-06-21 (June 21, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles manufactured October 16, 2015. The certification labels may have incorrect tire/rim size and cold tire pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence: If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1050, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 46600.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V137000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2022-03-08 (March 8, 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 to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 recall is N222363740.
NHTSA campaign record ↗