2017 Gmc TERRAIN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
133 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
48,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 133 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 16 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 9.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 77 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
Engine: 77; Power Train: 23; Unknown Or Other: 20; Air Bags: 11; Electrical System: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Structure:Body: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4
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 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 96 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2017: 4; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2021: 7; 2022: 23; 2023: 24; 2024: 25; 2025: 21; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10954016 · 2017-02-11 (February 11, 2017)
OUR NEW TERRAIN HAS "VEHICLE IN FRONT" VISUAL WARNING SYSTEMS. WE WERE FOLLOWING A TANKER TYPE SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED ALL THE WAY UP BEHIND THE TANKER SEMI (WITHIN 25 FT) AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. WE TESTED THIS ON ALL TYPES OF CARS AND TRUCKS AS WELL AS STANDARD BOX TYPE SEMI AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE REAR END OF THE TANKER SEMI IN WHICH IT DID NOT DETECT AT ALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10959182 · 2017-03-07 (March 7, 2017)
SIDE BLIND SPOT ALERT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN RAINING OR SNOWING WITH NOTHING THERE, THEY SHOULD TELL YOU THIS WILL HAPPEN BEFORE YOU PAY EXTRA FOR THIS PACKAGE, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT WORKS OR NOT WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10959182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000349 · 2017-06-21 (June 21, 2017)
BLIND SIDE ALERT ACTIVATES WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THERE ARE NO CARS NEARBY. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN RAINING. NO CODES ARE THROWN SO DEALER SERVICE WON'T TROUBLESHOOT. THIS CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED ON A HIGHWAY OR PARKWAY, WHEN IT IS RAINING AND NO OTHER CARS ARE NEARBY. CANNOT BE REPRODUCED ON REGULAR STREETS WITH OTHER CARS AROUND. I'VE HAD MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER SERVICE 3 TIMES, ALL WITH THE SAME RESULTS. NO CODES IN THE COMPUTER AND CANNOT REPRODUCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONLY TESTS ON THE LOCAL STREETS. THERE ARE OTHER CARS AROUND, SO HOW CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11056018 · 2017-12-22 (December 22, 2017)
I'VE HAD MY TERRAIN FOR 3 MONTHS. CAR HAD 3400 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE ISSUE. BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T GO. THE CAR WOULD REV UP BUT WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSH OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. CAR WAS STRANDED IN THE STREET FOR THREE DAYS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEING CLOSED. EACH DAY I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T GO WHEN PUT IN DRIVE OR MANUAL ONLY REVERSE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAT FOR ANOTHER DAY BEFORE THE DEALERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11056018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064325 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING AND INSIDE ALARM CAME ON SOUNDED LIKE A FIRE ALARM. HOWEVER NO LIGHTS IN THE CAR CAME ON INDICATION SOMETHING WAS WRONG, TIRE PRESSURE WAS GOOD, EVERYTHING AS FAR AS MY EYES COULD SEE IT WAS FINE EXCEPT THAT AN ALARM KEPT GOING OFF COMING THRU THE SPEAKERS. I PULLED OVER GOT OUT LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE. NOTHING! MADE SURE ALL DOORS WHERE LOCKED AND EVERYTHING GOOD ALARM STILL GOING OFF. NOT THE CAR THEFT ALARM AN INTERNAL ALARM THRU THE SPEAKERS OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP AS I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MAYBE IT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076288 · 2018-03-05 (March 5, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND MOUTH, AND SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,850.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079902 · 2018-03-17 (March 17, 2018)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. REACHED OVER FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. WAS ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE BUT UNFORTUNATELY BACKED INTO THE DOOR OF A PARKED TRUCK TURNING THE IGNITION OFF SHOULDN'T START THE VEHICLE TO MOVE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11079902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088766 · 2018-04-18 (April 18, 2018)
HEADLIGHTS, HIGH AND LOW BEANS ARE ALMOST USELESS, THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH, BARELY CAN SEE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IF RAINING, TOTALLY ALMOST LIKE BEING BLIND.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088766 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗