2019 GMC Terrain
Common Problems
Ranked from 75 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 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
Engine Power Reduction and Check Engine Light
20complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine experiences reduced power and the check engine light illuminates, indicating potential issues with the engine management system.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Vacuum Pump Failure Causing Brake Assist Malfunction
19complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe vacuum pump failure leads to a hard brake pedal and loss of brake assist, increasing the risk of accidents.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 3
Transmission Issues Leading to Random Neutral Shifts
15complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission randomly shifts into neutral, causing the vehicle to lose power and potentially stall.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 20V668000
- 4
Severe Engine Stall During Operation
12complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine suddenly stalls during operation, potentially leading to loss of control and collision risk.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Back Over Prevention System Failure
11complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe back over prevention system intermittently fails, causing the backup camera to display a blue screen or not function properly.
- 6
Brake Booster Failure
8complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake booster repeatedly fails, causing a loss of braking power with no warning.
$500–$1,300est. brake booster replacement · 2–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 7
Transmission Slipping or Stalling
8complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission slips or stalls, especially during acceleration, causing the engine to rev up and the vehicle to lose power.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 20V668000
- 8
Brake Pedal Becomes Hard and Inoperable
5complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake pedal becomes extremely hard to press and inoperable, posing a significant safety risk.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recall: 18V576000
- 9
Steering Assist Malfunction
5complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering assist system intermittently malfunctions, causing the steering wheel to lock up or become unresponsive.
- 10
Engine Stalling During Normal Driving Conditions
4complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stutters and stalls during normal driving conditions, often without warning lights.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Power train system failures
4complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe power train system experiences multiple failures, including transmission issues and engine performance problems, leading to dangerous driving conditions.
Related recall: 20V668000
- 12
Engine Overheating
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine overheats, with coolant contaminated by engine oil, leading to performance issues and potential engine failure.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes
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.