2019 GMC Terrain transmission and drivetrain problems
51 of the 185 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 GMC Terrain name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 110 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 6
Half of the 14 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 6,000 and 45,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
185 complaints in all about the 2019 GMC Terrain, 6 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: GMC Terrain transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I bought this car a couple of months ago. This problem didn't happen when I took it on a test drive from dealership. It happened after I bought it. Specifically when I start driving it more often. Sometimes a slipping occurs when shifting between gears 5-6. This happens intermittently on internal roads, not at high speed.
Transmission slips from cold start No. Have not taken to Dealer No. No. Warning lights or messages
Transmission would rev up between 4th and 5th gear only in the on the first drive. After that it would shift normally . Went into dekalb Gmc illinois and was told it was some pistons and other parts. They had it for a week or two because of other trans jobs ahead on mine.
When I shift it from reverse to drive on a very slight incline, the engine will rev and not accelerate after I initially start moving forward. It actually almost comes to a stop before finally accelerating. It has now started doing it while driving and stalled in the highway on 2/13.
The contact owns a 2019 Gmc Terrain. While driving, the transmission kept slipping between second and third gear and a grinding noise was heard. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash and the engine was replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer because the transmission continued to slip.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 20V668000 HighOct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles
- 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.
110 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0299 P1101 P0101 P0172 P0506 P0747 B3055 B3060
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 GMC Terrain names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 GMC Terrain
Source: the same files- brake problems 72 complaints
- engine problems 69 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 GMC Terrain?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 110 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2019 GMC Terrain?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 20V668000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 GMC Terrain?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 11,000 miles; half of them between 6,000 and 45,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.