Most common 2019 GMC Terrain problems
Share of the 186 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 →
2019 GMC Terrain recalls (3)
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020.
Seats
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018.
What 2019 GMC Terrain owners say
Brakes all 72 →
The contact owned a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while the wife was driving at approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and it felt stiff. The vehicle failed to decrease in speed and as a result, the driver merged to the shoulder of the road however another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the vehicle. The driver was able to merge to the shoulder of the road where the road bumps were able to decrease the speed of the vehicle. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The driver, front passenger, and rear driver's side passenger all sustained headaches and received medical attention via an ambulance on the scene. No occupants in the second vehicle were reported injured. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. …
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 10-12 MPH and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond and went down to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she continuously pumped the brake pedal until the vehicle stopped. The contact veered to the side of the road. The "Low Brake Fluid" message was displayed, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact added brake fluid to the vehicle. The contact stated that she turned off and restarted the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for a diagnostic test. A tow truck driver informed the contact that the brake caliper was fractured and there was a puddle of brake fluid on the ground. …
Engine & cooling all 70 →
I bought a car from Boone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership in North Carolina on [redacted] and by [redacted] my engine was out before I purchase my car I made sure they serviced my vehicle at a GMC Dealership and there's a warranty on the service of my engine I did not buy the warranty on my car because they couldn't guarantee that the warranty transferred over to West Virginia shop's and that they would cover issues they stated they could deny service cuz it was out of state. So my car went to Moses Cadillac GMC in downtown Charleston on [redacted] they literally just randomly dropped it back off to me two Wednesdays ago. …
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while stopped and attempting to turn to exit a highway ramp, he observed a loud banging noise emanating from the engine compartment. An "engine reduced power" message appeared. The vehicle then went into limp mode, and when the brake pedal was depressed, it was stiff as a rock. The vehicle coasted while he continued attempting to depress the brake pedal, and it eventually slowed down. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. When the vehicle was turned back on and he attempted to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle did not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to his mother's residence approximately 100 miles away in limp mode and parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 52 →
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator was depressed to overtake a vehicle; however, the vehicle hesitated, and RPM revved to 4,000 RPM. The vehicle then shifted into gear with a jerk, causing the vehicle to shake abnormally. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while accelerating from a stop. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle but was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but persistent. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(N) and the vehicle lost motive power while the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle had shifted from park(P) to drive(D) and into neutral(N). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not identified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
2019 GMC Terrain engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 28 / 38 / 32 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 28 / 39 / 32 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 30 / 28 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 28 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 GMC Terrain a good car?
Based on 186 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 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 2019 GMC Terrain?
The brakes — 72 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about power assist › vacuum. Next are the engine & cooling (70) and transmission & drivetrain (52).
How many recalls does the 2019 GMC Terrain have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2019 GMC Terrain, the most recent from October 29, 2020 (automatic transmission). 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 2019 GMC Terrain problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 69% 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.