Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 12% | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 23% | 1,000 miles |
| 2024 | 3 | 6% | 0 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 8 | 22% | 79,000 miles |
| 2020 | 72 | 37% | 92,000 miles |
| 2019 | 72 | 39% | 76,000 miles |
| 2018 | 83 | 37% | 60,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% | 50,000 miles |
| 2016 | 6 | 4% | 36,000 miles |
| 2015 | 9 | 3% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 9 | 3% | 66,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 2% | 52,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% | 59,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 2% | 77,000 miles |
| 2010 | 8 | 3% | 129,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The system that failed was the brakes, The car is availble for inspection. My saftey and others was put at risk due to not having brakes to stop. The problem has been confirmed by a dealer as a master brake cylinder failer The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. There were warning lamps, message and other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. They first appearead on December 4 2025
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 40 MPH on wet roads, the brake pedal was depressed, but the brake pedal was stiff, preventing the vehicle from slowing down as intended. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated during the failure. The accelerator pedal was released, and the vehicle rolled to a stop. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, but the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the brake control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately 7 months and 2 weeks later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,126.
My SUV pulls hard to the right when braking at speeds above 50 mph and much more on the interstates at 65 mph and above. I first experienced this after three weeks of ownership on a drive up I-95 on a trip to NC. It has happened numerous times while traveling on the interstates and has almost caused loss of control when having to brake hard when cut off by another driver or traffic suddenly coming to a stop. The vehicle has been to the service department numerous times....at first they suspected a braking issue and have had both calipers replaced, all brake lines replaced, lower control arms replaced and the right side strut replaced. None of these repairs have solved the problem. The factory service rep who took over the situation tested 3 other GMC 2025 Terrain suvs and all had the same problem. …
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating while accelerating. The contact stated that the vehicle was stalling, and the brake pedal was spongy. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 10.
This is a continuation for NHTSA campaign number 11711615. While an additional NHTSA complaint has been filed for the power train, this focuses specifically on design failures in the braking system. Our vehicle experienced a highway failure of the fuel pump, but due to the nature of a powertrain failure the car could not be put into neutral, only remain in park. The car was stranded in the middle of the road. As a AWD vehicle it similarly could not be towed as both wheels were fully locked. Tow informed us that there should be a manual release under the shifting column, however, this design safety feature had been removed in the 2024 iteration. The car was stuck on the road behind a blind turn on a somewhat busy road with vehicles typically traveling between 25-50 mph. …
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving approximately 15-20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond for approximately 1 minute. The vehicle was taken to the Nissan dealer it was purchased several times. The dealer retrieved diagnostic trouble codes: P057C and P057E, and the brake pedal position sensor was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The Nissan dealer took the vehicle to a GM dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: PIT5994 (Diagnostic Tip for Reduced or Low Engine Power on Acceleration). …
The contact owned a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while the brake pedal was depressed, it was released and the vehicle suddenly accelerated aggressively. The contact attempted to avoid crashing into the vehicle in front and swerved however the front of the vehicle still impacted the vehicle in front. The air bags deployed upon impact. A police report was filed. The contact stated no medical attention was provided, but did suffer bruises from the air bag and seat belt. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost braking power. The driver was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had shattered. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact reached out to a GMC engineer, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the camshaft reluctor. While driving, the vehicle lost engine power. The vehicle was towed to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the turbo code had a mass air flow sensor failure. The vehicle was repaired. …
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Terrain years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2018 (83), 2019 (72), 2020 (72), 2014 (9) and 2015 (9) model years. Brake complaints make up 37% of all complaints for the 2018.
Is there a recall for GMC Terrain brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 18V-576 (caliper, Aug 30, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Terrain brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the power assist › vacuum (3 mentions), followed by the antilock › abs warning light (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.