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U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Gmc TERRAIN: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

34 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

57,422 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 34 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1338.2%
Transmission and shifting823.5%
Fuel system concerns38.8%
Engine operation25.9%
Steering behavior25.9%
Electrical and battery issues12.9%

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.

Engine
8
Power Train
8
Service Brakes
8
Electrical System
7
Unknown Or Other
3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine8
Power Train8
Service Brakes8
Electrical System7
Unknown Or Other3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection2

Engine: 8; Power Train: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 30 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.

2021
4
2022
4
2023
5
2024
4
2025
9
2026
8
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20214
20224
20235
20244
20259
20268

2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 9; 2026: 8

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 11425716 · 2021-07-20 (July 20, 2021)

When driving car starting from a red light/getting on freeway or after making turn from a stop light when accelerating between 45 and 60 car shakes when shifting. Problem is getting worse. Car only has 6000 miles on it. I reported it to local gmc dealer and I was told GM is aware of the problem and they do not have a solution. They mentioned there is a TB out for several models that customers have reported same problem

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11425716 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11431951 · 2021-09-07 (September 7, 2021)

i WAS GOING TO MY SONS HOME WHICH IS LOCATED ON A STEEP DOWHILL STREET WITH SEVERAL TURNS, ONE OF THER ALMOST 90 DEGREES.aS i STARTED TO DESEND THE HILL AND GAIN SPEED, I DEPRESSED THE FOOT BRAKE. iT DID NOT RESPOND AT ALL. AS I CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED AND COMING UP ON THE SHARP CURVE, I CONTINUED TO PUMP AND APPLY BRAKE . tHE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. i CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED AND GO AROUND 2 OTHER TURNS. AT THE END OF THE STREET i HAD A CHOICE TO CONTINE STRAIGHT AHEAD AND HIT A HOUSE, TURN RIGHT AND CONTINUE DOWN ANOTHER STEEP…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431951 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11434563 · 2021-09-27 (September 27, 2021)

My 2021 gmc terrain with 6000 miles on odometer. When driving up hill or going around corner transmission shudders so bad that it feels like front tires are coming off. I contacted the dealer and gm and was told there is a tsb for this complaint. GM and dealer acknowledged there was a problem but they didn't have a fix or known cause of problem

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434563 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11442208 · 2021-12-01 (December 1, 2021)

I dropped my son off at school and he mistakenly took my car keys into school with him, and somehow I was able to drive all the way home, 4.5 miles, with no key in the car and no warning to stating the remote wasn't in the car. The issue with this is if I'd driven further, perhaps to another state, or even driven somewhere at night, I would have been stranded once I turned the car off. There was no indication that the remote wasn't in the car, and the car never cut off. I only knew the remote was gone once I arrived home and turned off the igni…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442208 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11447976 · 2022-01-18 (January 18, 2022)

While driving my vehicle and talking on the phone, the radio screen went black. Bluetooth or nothing in connection to it was working. After about 2 hours it came back on. I was told to bring to dealership to be checkout, but it came back on. I'm going to take it to the dealership. My vehicle has 13,000 miles on it.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11457737 · 2022-03-21 (March 21, 2022)

The contact owns 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle and attempting to shift the vehicle to drive, the vehicle inadvertently reversed. The contact depressed the brake pedal. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shift selector was stuck in park(P) position while the instrument panel was displaying that the vehicle was in neutral. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not replicate the failure; however, the vehicle remained under observation at…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11457737 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11478411 · 2022-08-09 (August 9, 2022)

There is a rattle in the b pillar/roof area. They have attempted to fix it 4 or more times by adding adhesive between layers of metal. The fix that other dealerships have done per reading online involves cutting through metal. This would affect the integrity of the body/ frame of the car.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11478411 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11490163 · 2022-10-20 (October 20, 2022)

Recently I have noticed that the back brakes squeak and sound like they are grinding when backing up. Also every now and then the information screen will go black for a while then turn back on could be a few seconds or several minutes. 23,900 on car

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490163 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.

21V612000 · Tires:Tread/Belt | Tires

Reported: 2021-08-05 (August 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.

Consequence: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.

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 ↗