Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 4% | 55,000 miles |
| 2023 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% | 9,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2018 | 14 | 6% | 38,000 miles |
| 2017 | 12 | 9% | 42,000 miles |
| 2016 | 10 | 7% | 46,000 miles |
| 2015 | 16 | 5% | 55,000 miles |
| 2014 | 11 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
| 2013 | 19 | 5% | 45,000 miles |
| 2012 | 25 | 7% | 99,000 miles |
| 2011 | 25 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 2010 | 24 | 8% | 44,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The airbag system on my 2020 GMC Terrain has an intermittent malfunction. The airbag warning light turns on and off and the diagnostic code B0014 has been identified by a dealership. When the warning light is on, the airbag system may not deploy properly in a crash, creating a safety risk. The vehicle has approximately 49,000 miles. The problem has occurred for about three years. The dealership repaired the issue when the vehicle was first purchased and the light went off temporarily, but it returned a few months later. A second dealership attempted a repair and again the light went off temporarily before returning. The issue continues to occur intermittently. The warning lamp for the airbag system appears on the dashboard. The vehicle has been inspected by dealerships but the problem has not been permanently fixed.
My air bag warning light/dashboard message has come on 7 times in the last 3 weeks, along with 4 other times in the 2 months prior, but the GMC dealership will not investigate since it does not stay on. At the most recent event this weekend, I pressed OnStar, and they ran diagnostics and emailed me the "b0085" detected error code, but my dealership will still not investigate, since the light went out. The light has come on at startup and while driving. Warnings have come on 8/27/20, 10/5, 10/8, 10/12, 111/28, 12/2, 12/8(x2), 12/11, 12/14, and 12/19/20.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with air bag failure. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the VIN. In addition, the contact was informed that once a recall repair was completed, it would not be performed a second time free of charge. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,100.
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the service restraint system message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the driver's side front impact sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,705. The contact stated that the dealership suggested that the issue be addressed right away since it involves the airbags.
The air bags will show that they are shut off while we are driving down the road with my wife sitting in the seat and they will also does it if we are just sitting in the drive way. Also they had a recall in the older models of this car for the pvc valve getting clogged and building pressure and causing the lower seal to bust and that happed to my car but they never gave a low oil light when it happed. All that happed was my wife was driving and the lower engine power came on while she was driving in traffic causing her to freak out and feel unsafe with my kids in the car as well. I contacted them about and they said there is no recall for the car at all about it. They clearly still had the same issues in my car because the pvc valve was clogged and then now I'm loosing all of the oil from my motor. …
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated, and an audible sound was heard. The contact stated that the failure occurred whether or not a passenger was seated in the seat. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag warning was also activated while the driver was seated in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a defective air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer informed her that the failure was not covered under the warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owned a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while at a red light, the vehicle was struck from the rear which resulted in the vehicle being pushed forward and crashing into the vehicle in front. None of the air bags deployed. The front driver side seatbelt did not retract however the front passenger side did function as designed during the impact. In addition, the driver hit their head on the steering wheel during the impact. After the impact, the "reset airbag" warning message was displayed. The contact and his wife sustained bruising and contusions. Both injured sought medical treatment and went to the Emergency Room. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow lot, then the following day the insurance towed it to an insurance lot where it was determined to be destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, a second vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe damage to the front passenger side, but no air bags inside the cabin of the vehicle deployed. The driver of the other vehicle reported no injuries, and the air bags in her vehicle did deploy. The contact was transported from the scene of the crash to the local hospital with multiple injuries that included a head contusion and burn, left knee contusion, right hand, and right foot contusions. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed to the local collision center. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 129,000.
Related recalls (3)
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.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Terrain vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) that senses a crash and deploys the necessary air bags may not power down correctly when the vehicle is shut off, causing it to be inoperative when the vehicle is restarted.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Terrain years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (25), 2012 (25), 2010 (24), 2013 (19) and 2015 (16) model years. Airbag complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for GMC Terrain airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 22V-929 (front passenger, Dec 15, 2022); 18V-340 (air bag/restraint control module, May 24, 2018); 15V-666 (side/window, Oct 16, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Terrain airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles; 48% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (2 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (1).
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.