2012 Gmc Terrain: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 370 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
370
Complaints
4
Recalls
17
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
19
Injuries
67.6
Severity index
Severity index 67.6 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 129 2012 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2012 Gmc Terrain ranks 59 of 129 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 54% of its model-year peers. See the full 2012 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 170 | 45.9% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 74 | 20.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 40 | 10.8% |
| POWER TRAIN | 37 | 10.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 33 | 8.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 29 | 7.8% |
| AIR BAGS | 27 | 7.3% |
| STRUCTURE | 14 | 3.8% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 170 of 370 complaints (45.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 49 |
| 2018 | 58 |
| 2019 | 68 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 3 |
Complaint volume is declining, consistent with a defect that was addressed by recall or that affected early builds.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V502000 | 05/07/2016 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-20 |
| 14V447000 | 23/07/2014 | SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected |
| 11V511000 | 19/10/2011 | TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITO |
| 22V137000 | 08/03/2022 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the req |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.