2021 GMC Terrain Problems

34 owner complaints filed with the United States safety regulator · top issue: Service Brakes · verdict BUY 87/100

Source NHTSA public complaint and recall record · methodology

What breaks, by owner reports

Service Brakes8
Power Train8
Engine8
Electrical System7
Unknown Or Other3
Forward Collision Avoidance3

In the owners’ words

“Driving on the Garden state parkway on Sunday night June 28, 2026 I proceed to cross over the ratitan bridge. There was traffic as I was going down the bridge at 70 miles an hour. When I applied the brakes the car would not stop. I had two 6 years old in the backseat. I applied 2 feet to the brake pedal and it was like a rock and the car would not slow down. I thought I was going to crash. I had to steer and lane cha”NHTSA complaint, 2021 GMC Terrain owner
“Automatic transmission solenoid control valve body got stuck open and ruined the whole transmission. This has been a reoccurring problem with these vehicles. Image is from a code read. Issue was confirmed by Gastorf Chevrolet, and an independent transmission shop.”NHTSA complaint, 2021 GMC Terrain owner
“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with a misfire coming from the engine. During the failure, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact declined. The ”NHTSA complaint, 2021 GMC Terrain owner

Recall campaigns

ReportedComponentSummary
05/08/2021TiresGeneral 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,
11/05/2023Child Seat:Vehicle Latch AnchorGeneral 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

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 GMC Terrain reliable?

On the federal record it scores 87/100: 34 owner complaints (6.8 per year on the road) and 2 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems.

What is the most common problem with the 2021 GMC Terrain?

The most-reported component in NHTSA complaints is Service Brakes, with 8 of 37 categorised reports.

Share this verdict

The 2021 GMC Terrain scored 87/100 on the federal record.

Full 2021 data pagecosts, verdict, every numberAll Terrain yearswhich year to avoid Most complained-about carsthe national ranking