2018 GMC Terrain
Common Problems
Ranked from 85 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
15 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Brake Pedal Becomes Hard to Depress
15complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake pedal becomes hard to depress, indicating a brake vacuum pump failure.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 2
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
14complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalled at idle, likely due to a malfunction in the stop-start system.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
10complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake vacuum pump failed, leading to a complete loss of braking power.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 4
Transmission Failure Causing Vehicle to Suddenly Shut Down
10complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission fails, causing the vehicle to suddenly shut down in traffic, risking accidents.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 20V668000
- 5
Unintended Deceleration and Stalling
9complaintsSafety riskEngineThe vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and stalled, often without warning.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Brake Assist System Malfunction Leading to Complete Loss of Braking
8complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake assist system malfunctions, causing the brakes to fail completely without any warning, posing a significant safety risk.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 7
Air Bag System Malfunction
7complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe air bag system failed to deploy during a collision, posing a safety risk.
- 8
Electrical System Failure Causing Multiple Malfunctions
7complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe electrical system fails, causing multiple malfunctions such as brake assist, engine power, and door lock issues.
- 9
Transmission Failure
7complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission failed to shift gears, causing the vehicle to stall or not move.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 20V668000
- 10
Check Engine Light Illumination Without Warning
5complaintsLow severityEngineThe check engine light illuminated without any prior warning, indicating an underlying issue.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Infotainment System Malfunction
5complaintsLow severityElectricalThe infotainment system experienced random malfunctions, such as screen freezing or incorrect station switching.
$200–$1,500est. infotainment unit service · 0.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Vacuum Pump Failure Causing Engine and Brake Issues
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe vacuum pump fails, leading to engine power reduction and brake system malfunction, often requiring extensive repairs.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Brake System Malfunction Causing Hard Braking and Loss of Control
4complaintsSafety riskBrakesThe brake system malfunctions, causing the brakes to become hard and lose control, increasing the risk of accidents.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 14
Engine Power Reduction During Acceleration
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine experiences power reduction during acceleration, affecting performance and potentially causing accidents.
- 15
Steering Assist Malfunction
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering assist system malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to snatch back and the power steering to fail temporarily.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.