Most common 2023 GMC Terrain problems
Share of the 41 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 →
2023 GMC Terrain recalls (2)
Child seat › Vehicle latch anchor
General 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.
Remedy: Owners 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.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger presence system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2023.
What 2023 GMC Terrain owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 22 →
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the engine stalled. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, the engine seized. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel injector. The contact was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed Number 3 fuel injector. …
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, and entering the roadway from the driveway, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost electrical power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle used a push-button gear shift PRNDL, and the contact was unable to set the vehicle into park(P) to restart the engine. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts and drove the vehicle to a dealer. The contact stated that on the drive to the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated, but they kept driving. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the fuel module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,825.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the engine stalled. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, the engine seized. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel injector. The contact was informed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed Number 3 fuel injector. …
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate. The service transmission and service fuel management system messages were displayed, and the check engine warning light was flashing with several other unknown warnings illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and while test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an engineer was sent to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. No further information was available. The contact stated that the transmission module was previously replaced, but the failure persisted. The failure mileage was 27,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, and entering the roadway from the driveway, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost electrical power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle used a push-button gear shift PRNDL, and the contact was unable to set the vehicle into park(P) to restart the engine. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts and drove the vehicle to a dealer. The contact stated that on the drive to the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated, but they kept driving. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the fuel module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 12,825.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate. The service transmission and service fuel management system messages were displayed, and the check engine warning light was flashing with several other unknown warnings illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and while test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an engineer was sent to the dealer to inspect the vehicle. No further information was available. The contact stated that the transmission module was previously replaced, but the failure persisted. The failure mileage was 27,000.
2023 GMC Terrain engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | AWD | 24 / 28 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2023 GMC Terrain a good car?
Based on 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 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 2023 GMC Terrain?
The fuel & propulsion system — 22 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about fuel injection system › injectors. Next are the engine & cooling (15) and transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many recalls does the 2023 GMC Terrain have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2023 GMC Terrain, the most recent from May 11, 2023 (vehicle latch anchor). 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 2023 GMC Terrain problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 27,000 miles; 100% 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.