2019 GMC Terrain
Gas Diesel Compact SUV
The 2019 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 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 182 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrain FWD | Gas | FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 26 | 30 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Terrain AWD | Gas | AWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 28 | 26 | $2,400 |
| Terrain FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 28 | 24 | $3,250 |
| Terrain AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 26 | 23 | $3,350 |
| Terrain AWD | Diesel | AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 38 | 32 | $2,800 |
| Terrain FWD | Diesel | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 28 | 39 | 32 | $2,800 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
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Recalls (3)
Power Train
criticalProblem: 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.
Seats
highProblem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. 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 N192209550.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
highProblem: 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.
Owner complaints
182 complaints filed
7 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 12 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2018: 5 · 2019: 20 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 18 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2025: 37 · 2026: 23
Most-cited components
- Engine — 67
- Service Brakes — 62
- Power Train — 50
- Electrical System — 38
- Unknown Or Other — 21
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.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 18% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Terrain model years
2027 Terrain
0 recalls · 0 complaints
A2026 Terrain
1 recalls · 27 complaints
A2025 Terrain
0 recalls · 13 complaints
A2024 Terrain
1 recalls · 49 complaints
B2023 Terrain
2 recalls · 38 complaints
D2022 Terrain
4 recalls · 85 complaints
B2021 Terrain
2 recalls · 34 complaints
C2020 Terrain
2 recalls · 195 complaints
F2018 Terrain
5 recalls · 219 complaints
A2017 Terrain
1 recalls · 133 complaints
B2016 Terrain
2 recalls · 152 complaints
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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 40269, 40282, 40268, 40283, 40284, 40354). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.