RoadVitals

2026 GMC Terrain

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
+8 complaints in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 26, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2026 GMC Terrain, most frequently naming the driver assistance, powertrain (other) and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 166 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)512.8%
  • Suspension512.8%
  • Electrical512.8%
  • Brakes410.3%
  • Other / unspecified410.3%
  • Steering37.7%
  • Interior & seats25.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Feb 26, 2026
5,861 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
General Motors, LLCManufacturer number N252540430View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Sep 23, 2026

On the evening ofXXX, at approximately 6:00 PM, I was driving this Avis rental vehicle on a highway in [XXX] at normal highway speed, below the posted limit, with my foot on the accelerator. The forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system activated and applied the brakes hard. There was no vehicle, pedestrian, obstacle, or hazard ahead of me, and no vehicle behind me or beside me. The roadway was clear and dry. The sun was low in the sky, and the vehicle was crossing a metal expansion joint on an overpass at the moment of activation. I believe the low sun angle, the expansion joint, or both caused a false object detection by the forward-facing camera or radar. The service brakes themselves functioned correctly. The failure is in the forward sensing and decision logic, which commanded a braking event with no object present. The deceleration was severe and unexpected. I sustained sharp pain in my neck and shoulder. Had any vehicle been following me, this would have caused a rear-end collision at highway speed. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the event, and none afterward. I had driven the vehicle for seven days with no prior indication of a fault. I exited the highway immediately and drove back to the rental location on local streets at low speed because I no longer trusted the vehicle. I returned it the following morning when the Avis office opened, more than a day early, and reported the defect. Being a rental vehicle it was not available to me for inspection. The rental company has advised that it was taken out of fleet for inspection after my return, that there are no open recalls on it, and that it will not release internal service records to me. I do not know the outcome of that inspection. To my knowledge the fault has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, independent service center, or manufacturer representative. No police report was filed because no collision occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S

NHTSA ID
11766350
Incident
Aug 29, 2026
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 21, 2026

a failing telematics module on your 2026 GMC Terrain is causing network corruption, leading to an erratic speedometer and loss of driver assistance systems while driving.

NHTSA ID
11765984
Incident
Sep 18, 2026
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 19, 2026

My vehicle is making a squeaky sound/noise when breaking and getting louder. I took it in for service and they couldn’t seem to find the issue. It’s coming from the front end of the vehicle

NHTSA ID
11765446
Incident
Jul 10, 2026
Suspension
Filed Sep 18, 2026

Shimmy, shake, wobble, after TSB 26-NA-109 repair, replace front springs, vehicle feels less stable at highway speeds. The initial condition, Shimmy, Shake, Wobble, under moderate acceleration, still exists after last repair attempt.

NHTSA ID
11765270
Incident
May 19, 2026
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle was shifted into drive(D) and the driver’s door lock unexpectedly unlocked. The contact stated that on another occasion, a passenger in the front passenger’s seat noticed the same failure with the passenger’s side door lock. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact expressed concern that the failure was hazardous and posed a safety risk because the doors could open while the vehicle was moving. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,500.

NHTSA ID
11764146
Incident
Sep 12, 2026
Mileage
2,500 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2026

Avis Rental. Vehicle simply shut down while driving and would not re-start. Vehicle could NOT be put into neutral to move from roadway. Emergency services vehicles had to remain on site awaiting tow vehicle. Very dangerous situation.

NHTSA ID
11763641
Incident
Sep 11, 2026
Filed Sep 1, 2026

I recently pulled over to help a woman driving a 2026 GMC Terrain who had run out of gas in the middle of XXX in Virginia. Obviously, the first priority was to get the vehicle out of the travel lanes and onto the shoulder. I tried to figure out how to put the Terrain into neutral so we could move it, only to discover that **the vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral if it is not running.** Since it was out of gas, it could not start, meaning we could not put it in neutral and could not move it out of the roadway. Fortunately, a VDOT Safety Service Patrol truck came by. The driver stopped to help and thankfully had gasoline. However, I was told that, according to policy, he could not put gas in the vehicle while it was still in the travel lanes. This created an extremely dangerous catch-22: **the vehicle could not be moved because it could not start, it could not start because it was out of gas, and gas could not be added because it had not been moved out of the roadway.** I believe this is a serious safety issue with the vehicle. A disabled vehicle should have a reliable way to be placed in neutral regardless of whether the engine can start. This is especially important after a breakdown or crash, when the vehicle may need to be moved quickly to protect the occupants, other drivers, or first responders. If there is a manual emergency procedure for putting a completely disabled Terrain into neutral, it should be clearly documented and readily accessible to drivers and roadside assistance personnel. If there is no practical method, I believe GMC needs to address this design. A modern vehicle should not become an immovable roadblock simply because it ran out of fuel. Please investigate this issue and take whatever action is necessary to ensure disabled vehicles can be safely moved out of active traffic lanes.

NHTSA ID
11761336
Incident
Aug 27, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 30, 2026

When starting to accelerate from a red light. The car in front of us was accelerating faster. Yet our car initiated an emergency braking action at around 15 MPH. It was very jarring and I still have a headache more yhan 1 hour after the incident.

NHTSA ID
11760736
Incident
Aug 30, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIC6629F

This PI is to instruct dealer on diagnostic procedures that need to be completed prior to replacing a radio or IPC display

PIP4902W

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT6542A

This preliminary information addresses a clunk noise in the front suspension traced to the control arm bushings.

PIT6542

This preliminary information addresses a clunk noise in the front suspension traced to the control arm bushings.

PIT6541

This Preliminary information communicates to the technicians a diagnostic tip if a technician loses communication with the image processor #2 and how to restore communication

PIT6503E

This preliminary information is to inform technicians that GM is placing the B174W Front View Camera Module (ACP2) on part restriction due to elevated replacement rates and ongoing engineering investigation. Technicians must not replace the front camera module unless they have: 1.Completed the diagnostic procedure in this PI, and 2.Contacted TAC and received authorization, including the SI document number and specific step that directs camera replacement.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Terrain by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026Viewing331048.6
2025130047.0
2024491046.9
2023392055.7
2022602055.1
2021352059.5
20201962057.4
20191853056.9
20182205058.2
20171331051.9
20161522259.5
20152973255.1
20142962250.4
20133643049.8
20123644359.6
20113864357.3
20102903356.3
2009000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.