2019 Gmc TERRAIN: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 11150222 · 2018-11-08 (November 8, 2018)
NEED THE OPTION TO DISABLE THE AUTO START FEATURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11150222 at NHTSA ↗
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 11163864 · 2018-12-28 (December 28, 2018)
LIFT GATE ON THIS VEHICLE OPENS TO A HEIGHT OF 69 INCHES . AT 74 INCHES I AM CONSTANTLY BANGING MY HEAD ON THE LIFT GATE. MY 2017 MODEL OPENED TO AT LEAST 76 INCHES WHICH IS MORE REASONABLE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE MODEL THAT HAS A POWER LIFT GATE OPENS TO AROUND 76 INCHES.. A FULL 7 INCHES HIGHER THAN THE MANUAL ONE.. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER POINTED OUT THIS PROBLEM TO ME SEEING THAT I AM 74 INCHES TALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184155 · 2019-03-04 (March 4, 2019)
I PURCHASED MY 2019 TERRAIN DENALI ON 2/27/19. I BEGAN MY DRIVE INTO WORK THIS MORNING (3/4/19) AND MERGED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND SECONDS LATER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND, ONLY TO REALIZE THE FIRST HALF OF MY PANORAMIC MOONROOF WAS SHATTERED (SEE INSIDE PHOTO). SHARDS OF GLASS WERE FALLING INTO THE VEHICLE BUT IT HAD NOT COLLAPSED COMPLETELY AT THIS POINT. I DID NOT DRIVE UNDER ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN, THERE WERE NO OBJECTS IN THE ROAD THAT CAME UP TO HIT MY VEHICLE, THE GLASS JUST SHATTERED OUT OF NOWHERE. AFTER CALLS WITH THE DEALERSHIP…
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184155 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 11193889 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-75. THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. DRIVER TRYING TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WAS NOT WORKING, AUTO SENSORING HAD TAKEN OVER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REARENDED THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT PUSHING THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF THAT ONE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11193889 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-08-30 (August 30, 2018)
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 rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V184000 · Seats
Reported: 2019-03-07 (March 7, 2019)
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.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
Remedy: 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 GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192209550.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V668000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
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 Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: 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 contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
NHTSA campaign record ↗