Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 GMC Terrain problems
Owners filed 397 complaints about the 2011 GMC Terrain with NHTSA between Dec 2010 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is engine (178).
Complaints
397
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine178
- Power train76
- Fuel/propulsion system31
- Air bags30
- Electrical system29
- Visibility/wiper28
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Electronic stability control (esc)21
- Vehicle speed control18
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Steering15
- Structure11
- Seats10
- Exterior lighting7
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
29
18
12
23
33
30
42
36
57
42
24
26
13
5
4
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 29 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 42 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 42 |
| 2021 | 24 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
178 reports1 crash8 fires
“We have 2011 GMC Terrain. We bought it used so we have only had it a couple years. We noticed it seemed to be using a little more oil but then we were told to keep watch on it. My husband did. Then one day while I was driving it I thought I had heard a faint clicking noise. I said that car isn’t going anywhere until it’s fixed. Little did we know it wouldn’t ever start again. We didn’t know about a so call recall or not a recall. Still until we had to have it towed in to be fixed, I heard it mentioned. By then the car was repaired at our expense of $8000+. We are retired and don’t have or didn’t have money for that repair. The only reason we had a little money was because my husband got paid for back (lump sum) payment just a couple of days before this. We still owe on the car. Without it we only have an old 2001GMC SIERRA 1500. We live paycheck to paycheck. I called one of GMC’s phone numbers today and I was told if we didn’t have it done at a GMC FACILITY we get NO reimbursement. I cried. My husband is a real stickler when it comes to our vehicles and maintenance and logs and also keeps receipts.Please tell me there is some to help us.”
Power train
76 reports
“I bought this vehicle and NHTSA made GM release an extended warranty on this vehicle for excessive loss of engine oil. In 2019 I had to take this vehicle and pay several thousand dollars for the pistons to be replaced in my engine because I was 1 year past the extended warranty. Now 3 years after spending thousands of dollars through a certified GM store I am having the same problem excessive loss of engine oil. I have zero leaks and I have to put oil in my engine every other day. If I do not by the end of the week I will have an empty engine.”
Fuel/propulsion system
31 reports
“SUV gets a slow down warning and it stops shuts off , it’s happened several times now I’m scared!!you wait few minutes it turns back on , mechanic said this a complain about this vehicle all the time , it has not been repaired I’m disabled with no money , I was on the highway and thank God I was on the slow lane if not I would have been killed by an eighteen wheeler. GMC is waiting for someone to die and probably address this issue”
Air bags
30 reports10 crashes1 fire
“The service airbag warning light came on in the vehicle last week. I took the car to be serviced. Per service advisor, the passenger side seat air bag was out of spec. Air bag wire had to be repaired. The new wire would be available for inspection upon request. The safety of passengers in the car were at risk since the air bag had to be fixed.”
Electrical system
29 reports1 fire1 related recall
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 87,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 200,000.”
Visibility/wiper
28 reports
“The windshield wiper blades stopped working while driving at night in the rain. This was a dangerous situation as i had a hard time seeing where i was driving.”
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.