NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 GMC Terrain. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE IRON BEAM HEAD-ON. VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HOOD AND FRONT OF CAR SMASHED AS VEHICLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND BEAM. ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER, AS DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED FORWARD, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HAND, NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR
I STARTED OUT DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45PM TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE, MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 30-35 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A CLUNK AND THEN ALARM DING FROM THE DASH AS WELL AS MESSAGE "SERVICE STABILTRAK" THEN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". I WAS UNABLE TO GO ANY FASTER THAN 25MPH. I DROVE IN THIS MODE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES IN TRAFFIC, WHEN REACHING OPEN HIGHWAY (NO TRAFFIC) THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BY ITSELF. I HAD TO ACCELERATE THEN LET OFF THE GAS, TAP PEDAL THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT. I WAS ABLE TO DO THIS MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL REACHING ABOUT 45MPH. I PULLED OFF INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, SHUT VEHICLE OFF TO SEE IF THIS WOULD RESET SOMETHING, IT DID NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIS STATE WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 6:05PM. DEALERSHIP LOGGED FOLLOWING ON SERVICE REQUEST: 5043 FOUND CODE P228C RAN DIAG COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM FUEL PSI AT SPEC RAISES TO SPEC TEST DROVE ON HIGHWAY DID NOT DUPLICATE CONDITION FOUND NO BULL ON CONDITION TEST DRIVE NUMEROUS TIME, COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN. MILES OUT 5067. *TR
THE DATA I ENTERED FOR "FAILURE MILEAGE" AND "SPEED AT TIME OF INCIDENT" SHOULD NOT BE USED AS CONCRETE DATA BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART FROM ROLLING UP VERY SLOW DRIVING WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE (WITHOUT GIVING GAS). I AM 47, AND DRIVING SINCE 18. I AM A MECHANIC, WORKED TELEPHONE, DATA, PRESENTLY A NURSE. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS. I HAVE OWNED, OR CO-OWNED A LEAST 15 CARS. I AM ALWAYS ON THE ROAD IN ALL CONDITIONS. ALL MY PAST PROFESSIONS REQUIRED PLENTY DRIVING. I HAVE DRIVEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE FOR LITTLE OVER 2 MONTHS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BLIND SPOT TO THE FRONT RIGHT- WHERE THE FRONT MIRROR JOIN THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR STRUCTURE. TO TURN RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN, OR A STOP LIGHT, IS DANGEROUS. THE VERTICAL SHAFT (RIGHT SIDE EDGE OF THE WIND-SHIELD VIEWED FROM DRIVERS SEAT) COUPLED WITH THE LARGE MIRROR MAKE FOR A SIGNIFICANT BLIND SPOT. I HAVE HAD TWO OCCASIONS OF NEAR MISSES (I MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM STANDING / PEDESTRIAN ON SIDEWALK TO MY RIGHT ATTEMPTING TO CROSS STREET / PEDESTRIAN CROSSING DRIVERS RIGHT TO LEFT). FINALLY IT HAPPENED; SHE WAS 71 YRS OLD. I HAVE TESTED MY THEORY OVER AND OVER. I AM CHANGING THE CAR. IT BLOCKS TOO MUCH MASS. I CAN BLOCK-OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT TIRE OF A CITY BUS IF IT IS TO MY RIGHT AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN; THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. AS THE DRIVER SCANS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BEFORE A RIGHT TURN, AND AS THE PEDESTRIAN MOVES TO CROSS, THE PEDESTRIAN CAN DISAPPEAR OUT OF VIEW- NOW THAT IS DANGEROUS (MEANWHILE THE PEDESTRIAN IS THINKING THAT THE DRIVER SEES HIM/HER AND EXPECTS THE DRIVER TO EVENTUALLY STOP). BUT, AT THE SAME TIME DRIVER NEVER SEES PEDESTRIAN DUE TO THAT FRONT BLIND SPOT. NOW,AS DRIVER LIFTS OFF BRAKES AND ROLLS FORWARD, THE DANGER COMES AS BOTH DRIVER AND PEDESTRIAN ARCH TO PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER. THE BLIND SPOT TRAVELS WITH DRIVER. *TR
WE HAVE HAD THE GMC TERRAIN SHUT DOWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING. BOTH TIME THE CAR CENTER CONSOLE GOES COMPLETELY BLACK AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AFTER THE SECOND TIME THEY STILL FOUND NOTHING WRONG BUT THEY DECIDE TO REPLACE THE CARS INTERNAL COMPUTER. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO CORPORATE GM BUT NOT MUCH WAS MADE IF IT. AFTER ALL THE NEWS WITH OTHER GM VEHICLE I'M CONCERNED THIS THAT THIS MAY BE HAPPENING WITH OTHER GMC TERRAIN VEHICLE. MY WIFE WHO IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER IS VERY FRIGHTEN TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THIS. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 10 TO 12 TIMES DUE TO FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS AND STABILITY TRAC AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TELL ME THEY CAN FIND OR MAKE THE PROBLEM REAPPEAR. BUT HAVE SHOWN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT VIDEO AND HAVE HAD 3 GENERAL MOTOR TECHS THAT THEY HIRED FROM HP AND BEEN TOLD THE VEHICLE IS SAFE AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE PROBLEMS BUT HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED AND HAVE IT ON VIDEO TO THE POINT WHERE I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE YESTERDAY NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP AND MANY CUSTOMERS INCLUDING MYSELF ON GMC TERRAIN FORUM AS WELL AS ONLINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING THAT IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT IT IS. PLEASE HELP HAVE BEEN TOLD BY GM TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT THEY WOULD OFFER ME 5,000 DOLLARS FOR MY TROUBLES AND THAT MY KIDS ARE WORTH THAT MUCH FROM A LEGAL ADVISOR AT GENERAL MOTORS LEGAL. HAVE ASK TO BE TAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR SOMETHING SAFE AND STILL I'M BEING TOLD NO......PLEASE HELP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-70 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND ALL OF THE GASOLINE SPILLED OUT FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
WON'T START, GET A "CHECK POWER STEERING"LIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A PIECE OF A TIRE IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE STRUCK THE FUEL LINE AND CAUSED THE FUEL LINE TO BECOME DETACHED. AS A RESULT, GASOLINE FUEL BEGAN TO SPILL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO PROTECT THE FUEL LINE FROM SUBSEQUENT CONTACT WITH ROAD DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WENT AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET, LANDING ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE VEHICLE THEN TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK AS A RESULT. A POLICE OFFICER WITNESSED THE INCIDENT AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAULTY AIR BAGS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 10/16/12*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. ON A LATER DATE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TPMS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO MADE AN UNKNOWN ADJUSTMENT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY; THEREFORE, THERE ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VIBRATION. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS THE VIBRATION DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DECIDED TO LIFT THE HEADLIGHT HIGHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ
?ON APRIL 16TH OUR SON WAS DRIVING ON FAIRVIEW RD. AND TRAVELING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A CAR THAT RAN A RED LIGHT HIT HIM. ?HIS CAR ? A GMC 2012 TERRAIN WAS HIT MULTIPLE TIMES ? DRIVER'S FRONT END, FRONT END AND SPUN AROUND FROM THE FORCE AND HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ?[XXX] WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED BY ON STAR, THEY CALLED POLICE, HIS CAR WAS TOTALED ?ON 4/21 I EMAILED GMC AND ASKED WHAT DEPARTMENT I WOULD CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING CALL FROM GMC 866-790-5700 EXT. 22745 SAID ON VOICE MAIL ? THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD HAVE? HE MADE A CASE NUMBER [XXX] GMC HAS SINCE DECLARED THIS WAS A LOW THRESHOLD EVENT - NO NEED FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT - YET THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND OUR SON HAS WHIPLASH AND CONTUSIONS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VEILED SOMEHOW SO THAT THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION ABOVE THE HEADLIGHTS WITH LOW BEAM. WHEN DRIVING IN HILLY AREAS, THE FORWARD PROJECTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS VERY LIMITED WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL. THE HI BEAMS ILLUMINATE WELL, BUT WHEN DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND LOW BEAMS IN HILLY AREAS, THE VIEW OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AHEAD IS VERY RESTRICTED. IF I HAD DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, I DOUBT THAT I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT, IT'S THAT BAD. *TR
2012 GMC TERRAIN. CONSUMER STATES THE PASSENGER SEATS AIR BAG SYSTEM AND CONSTRUCTION MAKE THE VEHICLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND INITIALLY UNSAFE FOR HIS WIFE *TGW A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER'S WIFE USED A SEAT CUSHION TO CONFORM TO THE SEAT AND THE THEY SOON DISCOVERED THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ENGAGE. *JB
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,600.
PURCHASED 2012 GMC TERRAIN IN JUNE 2012. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF AND MAKES GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. HAD TO DEALER SINCE AND THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE TIRES PRESSURE. THEY SAID THEY PUT IN CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE AND SAID IT SHOULD CORRECT PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T SO I TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THEY NOTICED ALSO HOW STIFF THE STEERING IS. WAS TOLD THAT OTHER MODELS SAME YEAR AND MODE STEERING WERE STIFF. DID NOTHING AT THAT TIME AND TOLD TO KEEP DRIVING AND SEE IF IT CORRECTS ITSELF. IT HASN'T. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THOSE PROBLEMS RESOLVED? *TR