Short answer
Among GMC Terrain model years through 2024, 2017 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2018 has the most (5). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
GMC Terrain: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 17 (2010–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 23
- Fewest recalls
- 2017 and 2024 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2018 (5)
- Most recalled system
- Exterior lighting (8)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2019, 2020, 2021 and 3 more years
GMC Terrain Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 stars | Structure |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Child seat |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 stars | Child seat, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Child seat, Tires |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 stars | Child seat, Power train |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 stars | Power train, Seats, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2018 | 5 | 4–5 stars | Power train, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 1 | 4 stars | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 stars | Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Visibility |
| 2014 | 2 | 4 stars | Exterior lighting, Visibility |
| 2013 | 3 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seats |
| 2011 | 4 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Seats, Visibility |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20250 recalls
- 20241 recall
- 20232 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20185 recalls
- 20171 recall
- 20162 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20103 recalls
GMC Terrain: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in GMC Terrain recalls are exterior lighting (8), seats (5), child seat (4), power train (4) and visibility (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 14 of these 17 model years, and 2019, 2020, 2021 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: GMC Terrain Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the GMC Terrain?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2017 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which GMC Terrain model years have the most recalls?
2018 has the most, with 5 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Terrain", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy