Most common 2014 GMC Terrain problems
Share of the 297 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Terrain complaints by model year
Best Terrain years: 2021, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2024. Compare all years →
2014 GMC Terrain recalls (2)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 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.
Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2014 GMC Terrain:
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis.
What 2014 GMC Terrain owners say
Engine & cooling all 130 →
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed to overtake another vehicle in the right lane and the RPM raised up 8,000 RPM. The contact stated that there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that smoke started coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine and check oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and the contact pulled off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that a rod bearing had fractured and pierced the cylinder into the engine block. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the oil reservoir was constantly needing to be refilled. The contact stated that he had to have the oil changed and added every 4 weeks. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed due to engine oil deposits and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, he saw the check engine warning light was illuminated and was again having to add oil due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic who advised that the catalytic converter was going to fail again due to oil deposits. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 89 →
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving in the rain, the driver's side windshield wiper failed to operate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and waited for a couple of hours until the rain eased to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and provided a temporary solution for the driver's side windshield wiper to function properly. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he then became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V165000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH in a snowstorm, the windshield wipers became inoperable. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V165000 (Visibility). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed due to a Salvage Title. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that the repair could be covered because the Salvage Title was not related to the windshield wipers; however, the manufacturer called the contact and informed the contact that the repair could no longer be covered due to the Salvage Title. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 33 →
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, an abnormal popping sound was coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. As the noise continued, the vehicle began to hesitate and jerk upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. Despite the failures, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with a catastrophic transmission failure. The contact was provided an estimate for a new transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered financial assistance for the cost of a new transmission. The contact then spoke with a service director who offered no financial assistance and informed him that he was unaware of when the parts for a new transmission would be available. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain was faulty. The failure caused the engine to consume an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
2014 GMC Terrain engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 GMC Terrain a good car?
Based on 297 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Terrain rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Terrain at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 GMC Terrain?
The engine & cooling — 130 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (89) and transmission & drivetrain (33).
How many recalls does the 2014 GMC Terrain have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2014 GMC Terrain, the most recent from March 17, 2022 (motor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Terrain?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2016 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024. See the full GMC Terrain years comparison.
At what mileage do 2014 GMC Terrain problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.