2022 GMC Terrain Problems And Complaints

GMC Terrain Issues

The GMC Terrain is a superb vehicle and has had many happy faces since its launch in 2018. The SUV gets all the bells and whistles in its segment and also is a superb family hauler for the weekend getaways. The story, although, isn’t all a fairytale and has also seen a lot of issues and problems reported on the NHTSA’s website. Some of the most common issues are:

Electrical issues:

1. Infotainment issues: The infotainment system issues have been the most prominent issues in the SUV. Owners are still facing issues despite several communications to the manufacturer. People have reported the screen to freeze even after input. Along with the screen, people have regularly faced connectivity issues with their smartphones. 
2. Remote key-sensing malfunction: Many Terrain owners have complained of the system not alerting to the absence of the remote. Complainants have reported that the Terrain drove hassle-free for miles at a stretch without the keyfob inside. The affected owners have also raised concerns about the anti-theft mechanism of the SUV.
3. Lock actuator malfunction: Some 2018 Terrain owners have complained about the lock actuators in their car malfunctioning. These actuators locked the door after the car is washed. The locks wouldn’t de-activate and leave the owner stranded outside the vehicle.
4. Wiring harness issues: There are a couple of complaints with the wiring harness of the Terrain. The harness is prone to rodent attacks due to the soy-based covering it has. These attacks cause the electricals to short circuit. People have reported poor weather sealing that let water enter the harness and caused a short circuit.

Mechanical issues:

1. Overheating issues: The 2018 and the 2019 Terrain were notorious for overheating due to leakage of fluids. In some cases, the transmission fluid leaked and overheated the car. Many people have also reported the radiator to leak coolant and overheat the car. Either way, the car overheated and stalled while moving. This has also caused fires in the engine compartment of some Terrain vehicles.
2. Turbo issues: The 2018 and the 2019 Terrain also had issues with the turbo body tube. The turbo tube flew off and cut the engine power to half. This power-cut has resulted in many rear-end collisions due to the sudden slowing down of the Terrain. 
3. Auto-start issues: The 2018 Terrain exhibited a lot of issues with the auto-start feature which was embedded to save fuel. The feature caused a lot of jerkiness and often stalled the Terrain while moving from a standstill. In many cases it caused the transmission to jerk violently at low speeds.
4. Transmission issues: Owners of the Terrain have complained about inconsistencies in gear shifting. Complainants have reported a huge delay in upshifts, which makes overtaking dangerous. People have also reported the transmission to slip into neutral while moving. This issue has caused collisions because the car would slow down.
5. Powertrain shudders: Scores of owners have reported powertrain and the transmission to shudder while accelerating. These shudders are prominent and cause a violent jerk to the car while moving. The issue has been communicated to GMC but the carmaker has issued no solution yet.
6. Brake failure: A handful of Terrain owners have reported the scary incidence of brake failure. The complainants claim that the brakes did not have pressure and would not slow the SUV down despite multiple attempts. In some cases, the brakes worked after a few tries but some other cases ended in a collision. 

Interior issues: 

1. Seat derailment: Many 2018 and 2019 Terrain owners have reported the seat assembly bolts to snap. This causes the seat to unsettle from its rail. The issue had also resulted in some injuries wherein the seat detached from the assembly in a collision, pushing the occupant forward. 
2. Seatbelt buckle issues: Some 2019 Terrain owners have reported the seatbelt buckle to break in normal usage. The buckles break while driving, causing the person to get unstrapped and increasing the chances of an injury. The complainants had to get the buckle replaced and pay $80 out of their pocket.

Exterior issues: 

1. Backup camera visibility issues: The camera unit located in the rear of the Terrain is reported to be too bright for dark environments. People have reported issues in reversing because nothing was visible in the infotainment system due to the camera’s brightness. 
2. Exploding moonroof/sunroof: People have reported spontaneous shattering of the moonroof/sunroof, causing the glass to enter the cabin. There have been glass cuts reported because of the shattered glass making its way inside the cabin. 

Safety features issues:

1. Premature airbag deployment: People reported injuries and burns due to the airbag deploying while moving. Complainants reported collisions due to the distraction caused by such premature deployment.
2. Failure to deploy airbags: Complainants have reported major accidents where the Terrain was a total loss but the airbags didn't deploy. This caused grievous injuries to the occupants inside the SUV.
3. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) issues: Some reports have claimed the AEB in the SUV malfunctioned and stomp the brakes without anything in proximity. This sudden stoppage had resulted in rear-end collisions in some cases. 

GMC Terrain Recalls

The GMC Terrain’s current generation spans over 5 model years with a total of 7 new recalls being issued. The SUV gets the most recalls in its debut model year, followed by one recall in the 2019 and the 2021 model year as well. The latest recall for the Terrain was made on August 5, 2021 with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V612000.

General Motors recalled 9,597 units of the GMC Terrain and the Chevrolet Equinox equipped with Hankook tires. These tires may have an insufficient amount of curative agent that could cause tire separation. This affects handling and increases the risk of a crash. The dealers inspected the DOT numbers and replaced the affected tires. A summary of the other recalls is given below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	August 22, 2017	17V516000	Powertrain	Fracture and separation of the right front intermediate driveshaft causes loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
2.	May 24, 2018	18V340000	Airbags	Malfunctioning of the sensing diagnostic module (SDM) responsible for airbag deployment may remain off when the car is started, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
3.	May 31, 2018	18V358000	Fuel System	Detachment of the high-pressure fuel pump from its mounting flange may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
4.	August 30, 2018	18V576000	Service Brakes	Insufficient coating in the rear brake caliper pistons may form gas pockets, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
5.	March 7, 2019	19V184000	Seats	Insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket increase the risk of injury in a crash.
6.	October 29, 2020	20V668000	Powertrain	Missing bolts in the start/stop accumulator endcap may leak transmission oil, causing loss of propulsion. Leakage in presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
7.	August 5, 2021	21V612000	Tires	Insufficient curative agent could cause tread separation, causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Model Years	Powertrain	Airbags	Fuel System	Service Brakes	Seats	Tires
2018	2	1	1	1	0	0
2019	1	0	0	1	1	0
2020	1	0	0	0	0	0
2021	0	0	0	0	0	1
2022	0	0	0	0	0	1

What model year of the GMC Terrain to avoid?

Considering all the complaints and seeing the recall history, we’d avoid both the 2018 and the 2019 model years. Our main concern in these model years is the reliability of the SUV as a product. Most of the complaints were from these two model years and also entailed some major problems as well. The American carmaker had improved multifold for the 2020 Terrain but the harm done by the previous model years is still at large. 

Should you buy the 2022 GMC Terrain?

The 2022 GMC Terrain has been worked upon quite a lot after how unreliable the debut model years had been. The SUV now gets updated everything including the overall safety and reliability. The one niggle people still face is the stuttering and freezing of the infotainment display. That said, if you’re looking for a used GMC Terrain, look no earlier than the 2020 model year due to the reasons mentioned earlier.