2020 Gmc TERRAIN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
195 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
47,735 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 63 of 195 complaints (32.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 75 | 38.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 9.2% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 8.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 63 |
| Engine | 57 |
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Service Brakes: 63; Engine: 57; Unknown Or Other: 34; Electrical System: 26; Power Train: 26; Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 155 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 63 |
| 2026 | 40 |
2019: 1; 2020: 10; 2021: 14; 2022: 13; 2023: 29; 2024: 25; 2025: 63; 2026: 40
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 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 11277648 · 2019-11-02 (November 2, 2019)
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT 71MPH, HOLDING +RES BUTTON TO INCREASE SPEED AND RELEASING IT AT 77MPH SETS CRUISE SPEED TOO HIGH. CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. CRUISE GETS SET AT 100MPH AND ACCELERATES MORE THEN DESIRED. SEE LINK WITH VIDEO OF EVENT HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/O7ZGEQWCSU7KYCV58 SEE ATTACHED PICTURE OF OWNERS MANUAL
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316405 · 2020-03-05 (March 5, 2020)
THE COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE INSIDE FRONT OF THE CAR IS TOO SMALL AND I CANT REACH THE GAS PEDAL EXCEPT WITH MY TOE. MY FOOT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF AS I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO HAVE THE SEAT WAY UP OR I CANT REACH. I AM 5 FOOT TALL WOMAN. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS THING THAT I HAVE TO PUT UP. I DROVE IT FOR 10 MINUTES AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT. I ASKED FOR A PEDAL THAT IS LONGER AND CLOSER TO THE FLOOR AFTER I HAD BOUGHT IT AND SERVICE PEOPLE TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO TO FIX IT. THEY ASKED IF I HAD A BUTTON TO ADJUST IT AND I DON'T. ITS ON TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11316405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11341949 · 2020-07-28 (July 28, 2020)
EVERY WEEK IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IN MOTION... NO CRUZE CONTROL. NO AUDIO. DON'T DRIVE OVER 50MPH BRAKE PROBLEM. PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT USER ENGAGEMENT. NO AWD. NO STABILITY TRACTION. THIS HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY THE DASH INDICATORS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO 'IDIOT LIGHTS'. AT WHAT POINT DO I BECOME CONCERNED? THINGS APPEAR TO RESOLVE WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, SOMETIMES....I COMPARE IT TO OTHER GLITCHY TECHNOLOGY. HOWEVER I POTENTIALLY COULD BE AT AN 80MPH CRAZING SPEED WHEN I DECIDE TO IGNORE THE IDIOT LIGHTS..…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11341949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11343583 · 2020-08-05 (August 5, 2020)
THE AC SYSTEM PRODUCES A TOXIC CHEMICAL SMELL CAUSING THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER TO OPEN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE TOXIC ODOR. THE SMELL IS INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE MODERATE TO EXTREMELY POTENT.THE VEHICLE IS USUALLY IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS AND CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS AUG. 1, 2020. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SEEN AT A LOCAL GMC DEALER 3 TIME SINCE JUNE, 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN BETWEEN MARCH AND EARLY JUNE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11343583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352161 · 2020-08-30 (August 30, 2020)
WE DROVE TO A FARM WITH A FAMILY OF 5M KIDS AND AN ELDERLY, AND PARKED MY CAR FOR 2-3 HOURS IN THE FARM'S OPEN AREA PARKING LOT. VEHICLE SHOWED NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO PROBLEMS, NO ISSUES DURING OUR DRIVE TO THE FARM AND PRIOR TO THIS TRIP. EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN WE GO THERE AND PARKED. WE WERE READY TO LEAVE THE FARM TO DRIVE BACK HOME, BUT THE CAR SIMPLY WOULDN'T START.THE NEUTRAL GEAR DIDN'T WORK, I ATTEMPTED MANY TIMES IN 30 MINUTES TO START THE CAR, BUT IT DIDN'T START, CONTINUED MAKING THE SOUND OF ENGINE ATTEMPTING TO START BUT NOT SUCEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11352161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11359950 · 2020-09-19 (September 19, 2020)
WHEN REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, BRAKES FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO BRAKING. HIT A PARKED CAR. AFTER SHUTTING CAR OFF AND ATTEMPTING TO MOVE VEHICLE BRAKES DID ENGAGE AND RESPOND CORRECTLY. REAR DAMAGE TO TERRAIN OCCURRED REQUIRING TOWING.
Owner-reported narrative. 457 miles reported. Look up ODI 11359950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11373835 · 2020-11-09 (November 9, 2020)
PURCHASED NEW 2020 GMC TERRAIN W/7MILES. LEFT DEALERSHIP ON MY WAY HOME, AND WITHIN 20 MILES, RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON DASH-> SERVICE - ESC - DISMISS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE SUV SLOWED DOWN AT LEAST 10 MILES FROM 65MILES PER HOUR. AFTER ENGINE LIGHT STOPPED BLINKING, I CONTINUES HOME AROUND 30 MILES MORE WITH NO MORE PROBLEMS. CALLED MY SALES PERSON THE NEXT DAY, AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT ESC WAS. (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) HE CALLED ME BACK AND INDICTED THE VEHICLE MAY NEED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I TOLD MY WIFE, WHY …
Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 11373835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374234 · 2020-11-12 (November 12, 2020)
TWICE WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS MY ENTIRE RADIO SHUT OFF, MY SCREEN WENT BLACK AND SO DID MY GAUGES FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS. THEN THEY JUST CAME BACK ON AND PICKED UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374234 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.
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 ↗23V339000 · Child Seat:Vehicle Latch Anchor
Reported: 2023-05-11 (May 11, 2023)
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 anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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 necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. 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 N232403240.
NHTSA campaign record ↗