Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 GMC Terrain problems

Owners filed 295 complaints about the 2010 GMC Terrain with NHTSA between Feb 2010 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is engine (107).

Complaints
295
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine107
  2. Power train51
  3. Electrical system48
  4. Visibility/wiper40
  5. Air bags25
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)21
  7. Vehicle speed control17
  8. Visibility14
  9. Fuel/propulsion system14
  10. Steering12
  11. Structure11
  12. Engine and engine cooling10
  13. Exterior lighting8
  14. Service brakes8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201015
201113
20126
201316
201432
201529
201645
201733
201834
201924
202013
202110
202213
20234
20243
20252
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

107 reports4 crashes
“I bought this car and the mileage said 120K, but the title says when it was tagged 157K. the car has been tampered with and the some of the lights for the car on the dash are missing, such as the check engine light. Also, it misses so bad that it will die at times”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2026EngineODI 11732619

Power train

51 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2023Power trainODI 11521137

Electrical system

48 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2010 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the center console display intermittently malfunctioned and became inoperable. During the failure, the HVAC system was no longer blowing hot air, and the front windshield could not be defrosted, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. Additionally, the radio had become inoperable, and the audible clicking from the turn signal was muted. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V489000 (VISIBILITY). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 114,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2025Electrical system, VisibilityODI 11706578

Visibility/wiper

40 reports1 crash
“My defrost system doesn't work. As I drive down the road my windshield fogs up andni can't get it to un fog at all or fast enough. Almost caused me to have an accident before Christmas”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2022Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11499345

Air bags

25 reports5 crashes
“I ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR JUST ABOUT ONE YEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ENDED UP COMING ON AND I FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CULPRIT. NO MATTER WHAT I DO THIS SENSOR COMES ON. NOW HERE RECENTLY, THE LIGHT TO CHECK THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS COME ON. I HAVE ONCE BEFORE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT THERE SUPPOSEDLY WERE NONE, YET I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES THAT I AM HAVING ON TOP OF THE DEFROST SYSTEM BEING NO GOOD. THIS CAR HAS COST ME MORE THAN IT IS WORTH AND SELLING IT WOULD JUST LEAVE ME WITH NOTHING BECAUSE I STILL OWE ON IT. I NEED FIXES AND ANSWERS BEFORE THIS THING ENDS UP IN FLAMES WHICH IS WHAT I FEAR EACH DAY I DRIVE IT. THIS BEGAN IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND NOW I AM GETTING SCARED FOR MY LIFE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2020Air bags, EngineODI 11306362

Electronic stability control (esc)

21 reports
“SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPED AS WELL AS ON CLEAR DRY ROADS. HAVE TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART CAR MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET FULL ENGINE POWER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2019Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11182666
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.