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Your vehicleHome›GMC›Terrain› 2018
GMC · Compact SUV

2018 GMC Terrain

Gas Diesel
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5
Complaints14 crash · 1 fire · 12 injured reported 225
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 GMC Terrain is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Terrain AWD, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 225 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

GMC Terrain — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
GMC Terrain · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Terrain FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo263028$2,400
Terrain AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo242826$2,600
Terrain FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222824$3,400
Terrain AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212623$3,550
Terrain AWDDieselAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo283832$3,000
Terrain FWDDieselFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo283932$3,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39267, 39091, 38686, 38691, 39315, 39313.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Terrain AWD, Terrain FWD5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Terrain AWD, Terrain FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Terrain AWD3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Terrain FWD3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds9

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control

Optional: Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Denali, SLE, SLT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length183.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.4 in
Height65.4 in
Wheelbase107.5 in
Track, front62.2 in
Track, rear62.2 in
Curb weight3,327–3,483 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43 to 58/42

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2018 Terrain
Other years The 2027 Terrain Recalls GMC recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 GMC Terrain is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

N202313440
194,105 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts. Risk Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
NHTSA campaign 20V668000 reported Oct 29, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

18279
210,628 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Mar 19, 2018 – Jun 15, 2018
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance. Risk A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V576000 reported Aug 30, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

18188 18268
895 vehicles 97% reported repaired built Oct 23, 2017 – Apr 18, 2018
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line. Risk A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V358000 reported May 31, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

18179
88,503 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Mar 14, 2017 – May 22, 2018
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted. Risk If the SDM becomes inoperative, it will not detect a crash or command the necessary air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18179.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V340000 reported May 24, 2018 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

17329
2,905 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jun 27, 2017 – Aug 17, 2017
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles and 2017-2018 GMC Acadia vehicles. The right front intermediate driveshaft may fracture and separate while driving. Risk If the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a vehicle roll-away. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17329.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V516000 reported Aug 22, 2017 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Terrain

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. GMC publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →GMC’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 GMC Terrain, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 GMC Terrain

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Terrain →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
225complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 12 injuries · 0 deaths reported

23 per 10,000 built · GMC reported 96,446 Terrain built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 24 · 2019: 28 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 25 · 2026: 27

Most-cited components

Service Brakes → 84
Engine → 56
Power Train 42
Electrical System 35
Unspecified 35
Fuel/Propulsion System 16

In depth: brake problems → · engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The navigation/media center will either go completely black or completely white screen even when backing up you lose the camera and can't shut off the radio. If the screen goes white during evening driving the reflection of the windshield is so severe I can't drive and the system will not shut off when the power button is depressed.
Electrical System at 22,000 miles Jan 28, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11172503
My vehicle is stalling and stuttering while trying to accelerate. It also does the same when decelerating. The truck will jerk and stutter. Also making noise like a vacuum cleaner while this is going on. I just purchased this vehicle in september 2018 and it has been going on since november 2018
Engine at 2,500 miles Jan 14, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11169853
At night while stopped, as you shift the car into reverse, the rear view camera display is blinding bright. Its bright light is being reflected by the windows back into the car, making it impossible to see out the windows of the vehicle.
Visibility/Wiper Dec 19, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11162530
In 25 MPH residential areas transmission doesnt feel like it is shifting right, you can feel the change and hear it while driving, then get transmission hot idle engine alert. Took to dealer no codes shown, happens consistently
Power Train at 6,000 miles Nov 26, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11153741
Driving on a downslope heading north on 65 going into tennessee from alabama I experienced a loss of power system lights went off along with gauges going off and on. At which time stabiatrak and transmission lights came on saying to pull over immediately.
Electronic Stability Control at 752 miles Nov 25, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11153652
This is a complaint against recall n182155400. My husband a cpd police sergeant was driving home from work on june 17, 2018 nb on 111th street (public street) when he was hit going 30 MPH by an unlicensed driver hitting him on the front driver side: bumper/tire/door. To his dismay the air bags did not deploy.
Air Bags at 3,500 miles Jun 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11103351

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by GMC itself: 63 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 78 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 65 per 100,000 built. Every Terrain model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 22k

miles, typically

Half the 87 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 4,000 and 65,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 29
10k–20k 14
20k–30k 5
30k–40k 5
40k–50k 3
50k–60k 7
60k–70k 4
70k–80k 2
80k–90k 1
90k–100k 5
100k–150k 7
150k + 5

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Service Brakes2860,0002.11×
Power Train2310,3000.3×
Engine1825,0000.5×
Electrical System1627,0001.2×
Unspecified149,000—

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: power train (0.3×), engine (0.5×); later: service brakes (2.11×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the GMC Terrain ranks 57 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.48× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 30,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,345
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1340 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion System.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIT5992B Service bulletin
    2026-03-27 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information discusses a condition that may arise from the drivers window switch sending an errant message causing the vehicle to enter manual fob learn mode.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIP4902U Service bulletin
    2026-01-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0300
P0300 on GMC →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →34 bulletins
P0299
P0299 on GMC →		The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.Engine31 bulletins
P2227
P2227 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine19 bulletins
P1101
P1101 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine15 bulletins · 1 owner report
P050D
P050D on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine11 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
C0010
C0010 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Service Brakes · Brake pads →8 bulletins
P0747
P0747 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train8 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on GMC →		Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
B3925
B3925 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine6 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 GMC Terrain failed the emissions check on 2.4% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 2.4%

failed emissions

2,945 initial inspections of 2,886 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 TerrainEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.4%3.0%2,942
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.9%2,945
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.22%2,945
Miles driven a year10,89110,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer90,29082,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Terrain by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 1 26 mpg2026 A 1 33 27 mpg2025 A 0 13 27 mpg2024 A 1 53 26 mpg2023 B 2 41 26 mpg2022 C 4 88 27 mpg2021 B 2 36 27 mpg2020 B 2 197 27 mpg2019 C 3 186 32 mpg2018 this page C 5 225 32 mpg2017 A 1 135 25 mpg2016 A 2 153 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Terrain

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 GMC Terrain have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 GMC Terrain. The most serious on file is 20V668000, covering Power Train. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 GMC Terrain?

NHTSA gave the 2018 GMC Terrain 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (70/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 GMC Terrain, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Transport Canada measured it at 183.1 in long, 72.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.4 in tall, on a 107.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,327–3,483 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Owners have filed 225 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Terrain, most often about service brakes, engine, power train. Of those, 14 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 12 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 GMC Terrain?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 GMC Terrain runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 GMC Terrain?

The manufacturer has filed 1345 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 GMC Terrain, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 GMC Terrain do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 GMC Terrain failed the emissions check on 2.4% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints225NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins1345NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Terrain The Terrain model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every GMC recall on file All campaigns filed against GMC vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Terrain by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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