2021 Gmc Terrain problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (8) · Power Train (6) · Engine (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Terrain model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Child Seat:vehicle Latch Anchor 2023-05-11 · campaign 23V339000 · 668,187 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232403240.
Tires:tread/Belt 2021-08-05 · campaign 21V612000 · 9,597 vehicles
Defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Risk: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
Service bulletins (697)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-26 · GM Update N25-250552 · Over The Air
• improvements to onstar functionality.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · PIC6551C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a mec reset for wireless projection issues
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-23 · PIT5966F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates an issue with an ota pending message still displayed after an ota event and how to reset/clear the message.
Showing the 6 most recent of 697 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-29 · Engine“i have had my check engine light come on for p0299. i've lost power while on the road. had my turbo replaced and now the same issue is starting again. i'm afraid of my car stalling out again with my child in the car. this is a definite safety issue especially since this is happening again months after getting the new turbo put in. …”
2026-09-11 · Engine“vehicle information:year/make/model: 2021 gmc terrainengine type: 1.5l turbocharged enginecurrent mileage: 155,000 miles [1]description of safety defect:i am writing to report a severe, sudden engine and turbocharger failure on my 2021 gmc terrain that presents an extreme, life-threatening safety hazard. while operating the vehicle in active traf…”
2026-07-12 · Service Brakes“vacuum pump failure caused my brakes to lock up and almost caused me to wreck into another vehicle …”
2026-07-01 · Service Brakes“formal safety complaint – 2021 gmc terrain brake failure vehicle: 2021 gmc terrain incident location: garden state parkway (nj) speed: approximately 65 mph incident description while driving northbound at highway speed, i attempted to change lanes and apply my brakes. when i pressed the brake pedal, it became completely rigid (rock hard) and failed…”
2026-07-01 · Service Brakes“driving on the garden state parkway on sunday night june 28, 2026 i proceed to cross over the ratitan bridge. there was traffic as i was going down the bridge at 70 miles an hour. when i applied the brakes the car would not stop. i had two 6 years old in the backseat. i applied 2 feet to the brake pedal and it was like a rock and the car would not …”
2026-04-29 · Power Train“automatic transmission solenoid control valve body got stuck open and ruined the whole transmission. this has been a reoccurring problem with these vehicles. image is from a code read. issue was confirmed by gastorf chevrolet, and an independent transmission shop.…”
2026-03-16 · Engine“the contact owns a 2021 gmc terrain. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with a misfire coming from the engine. during the failure, the message "engine power reduced" was displayed on the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was …”
2026-03-16 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/Supercharger“ vehicle went into reduce engine power mode and check engine light came on. vehicle has just over 60,000 miles. code is telling me i need a new turbo and being quoted $1,500-$3,000. i have read so many people having the same issue with needing a new turbo just after 60,000 miles…”
2026-01-26 · Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection“the engine light came on while driving, saying “engine power reduced”. it barely accelerates, rpms go over 5, it chugs when driving. taken to an independent service center. …”
2026-01-22 · Engine“around chirstmas, was driving on the highway and the car threw a "reduced engine power" warning and went into limp mode. check engine light came on. car asymptomatic prior. got the code pulled and it said turbocharger under boost. the next day the check engine light went out and car was running appropriately. took the car on the highway again and t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.