2012 GMC Terrain problems and complaints
Owners have filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 GMC Terrain. The most-reported areas: Engine (170), Visibility/Wiper (74), Unknown Or Other (40).
Key takeaways
- 370 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 17 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 19 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 170 | 46% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 74 | 20% |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 | 11% |
| Power Train | 37 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 33 | 9% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 27 | 7% |
| Structure | 14 | 4% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 13 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 3% |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 GMC Terrain SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 GMC Terrain SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-06-02
My car has started stalling and dying when i slow down, take off or when idling. No power when accelerated, and the smell of exhaust comes into my car. I was making a turn from a red light and my car spit, sputtered, and died right in the middle of the busy intersection. I was almost hit from the rear and another car ...
Engine - filed 2026-03-09
The engine blew. This was already the 2nd engine in the car. Oil consumption. Metal in the oil. No signs. Needs new engine
Engine - filed 2026-02-25
The oil is depleting every month from the vehicle. Every 2-3 weeks I have to put oil in the vehicle because the oil is being absorbed. Is there a recall on this problem.
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More for the 2012 GMC Terrain
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.