GMC Terrain brake problems, 2016–2027
245 of the 1,149 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the GMC Terrain 2016–2027 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). The loudest years: 2018 (83), 2020 (72), 2019 (72). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
GMC Terrain brake problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the brakes | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 4 | 12% | — | 1 TSB | the year → |
| 2025 | 3 | 23% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 3 | 6% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 8 | 22% | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 72 | 37% | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 72 | 39% | — | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 83 | 37% | 60k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2017 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2016 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the brakes. Nothing here is a rate.
When the brake complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 50 · 2025: 61 · 2026: 55
Across the model years, half of the 53 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 34,000 and 95,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My 2018 Gmc Terrain brakes did not work when coming to a stop at stop lights which caused me to rear end the car in front of me. There was no warning on my SUV nor did I receive a recall on this matter. This happened twice to me in this same vehicle where the brakes did not respond at a low speed causing an accident.
The vacuum pump failed for the second time in less than twelve months. Both times there was no brakes at all when they failed. Both repairs were performed by Gmc dealers. Failures happened while the Terrain was being driven
I was driving on the interstate when my brakes went out. I was able to get off at and exit and pull into a gas station but had to put on the emergency brake
While on highway service brake system warning light came on,brake became hard to apply almost causing an accident. Vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop(dealer).after paying over $1600 the problem was not resolved and found there are numerous complaints about issues with the terrain and no recall issued.are they waiting til someone…
my vacuum booster pump for my brakes keeps needing to be replaced. i had to get it replaced twice now & every single time that it stopped working i was driving on the highway at 65 mph and my brakes just suddenly wouldn’t work and we’re very hard to push down. this has happened twice now
What is on file about the brakes, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 18V576000 HighAug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles
- 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.
Other systems with a record on the GMC Terrain
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: GMC Terrain problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich GMC Terrain years have the most brake complaints?
2018, 83; 2020, 72; 2019, 72. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (39%).
Is there a recall for the brakes on the GMC Terrain?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 18V576000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the GMC Terrain?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 58,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 34,000 and 95,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.