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2021 GMC Terrain

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA34
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 GMC Terrain is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Terrain FWD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 34 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Terrain FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo253027$2,300
Terrain AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo252826$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43369, 43374.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 GMC Terrain is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Child Seat

N232403240
668,187 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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."RiskThe 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.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V339000reported May 11, 2023General Motors, LLC
▲high

Tires

N212343560
9,597 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskTread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V612000reported Aug 5, 2021General Motors, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
34complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 8

Most-cited components

Power Train8
Service Brakes8
Engine8
Electrical System7
Forward Collision Avoidance4
Unspecified3

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission erroneously shifted to the neutral, causing the vehicle to decelerate. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, the message " Power Reduced" was displayed. The cause of the f…”Apr 24, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was like GM Product Safety Recall: N222372310 (Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that t…”Apr 4, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I purchased the car August 2024, I have had it for 4 months and while driving down the road a large fuel tank pops up stating low fuel and the car comes to an abrupt stop.The 3x the gas tank was never low. Parking brake comes on and car doesn't not move. All lights on dash come one. It has done it 4 times and thankful …”Jan 14, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

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

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

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Terrain model years

A

2027 GMC Terrain

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2025 GMC Terrain

0 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2024 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 49 complaints

B

2023 GMC Terrain

2 recalls · 38 complaints

D

2022 GMC Terrain

4 recalls · 85 complaints

C

2020 GMC Terrain

2 recalls · 195 complaints

D

2019 GMC Terrain

3 recalls · 182 complaints

F

2018 GMC Terrain

5 recalls · 219 complaints

A

2017 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 133 complaints

B

2016 GMC 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. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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