2018 GMC Terrain: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
219 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Terrain's record is one of the more consistent in the dataset. The first generation (2010–2017) carries the 2.4-litre oil-consumption and timing-chain complaints shared with the Equinox, but at a moderate level, and the 2016–2017 years score above 90. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 219 complaints, score 71/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 219 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 27.38
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Approximately 3 miles from my residence my car display flashed "Reduced Engine Power" and slowed down. When I reached a stop sign and tried to stop, my brakes were stiff and I was unable to stop. I went through the stop sign. I continued to my residence at 10mph and backed into a parking space with a curb to help stop my vehicle. I turned the car off and called a mechanic to come look at my car. I explained the event…
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while her son was driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was firm while depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive force was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The following day, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the …
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was abnormally firm. The brake pedal was depressed to the floor, and the vehicle came to a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was no…
Recalls: 5 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 17V516000 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving. |
| 18V340000 | Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted. |
| 20V668000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 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. |
| 18V576000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 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… |
| 18V358000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 32 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,500
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Service Brakes81 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine53 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train41 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System35 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other34 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Air Bags14 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other GMC Terrain years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 GMC Terrain?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Service Brakes (81 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 GMC Terrain a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 71/100, computed from 219 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 GMC Terrain's most common problem?
81 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 GMC Terrain sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $580–$1,140 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 GMC Terrain cost to run per year?
About $4,809 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,048 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 GMC Terrain have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 GMC Terrain, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 22/08/2017. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2018 GMC Terrain really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 219 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 219 NHTSA complaints on record (27.4/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (25.1/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems