There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2013 GMC Terrainin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
PURCHASED 2013 GMC TERRAIN DENALI BRAND NEW; VEHICLE HAD APPROX 5000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. WHILE OUT TO MOUNTAINS AND JUST STARTING TO HEADING DOWN A STEEP GRADE ON A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD (JUST STARTED MOVING AND WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5MPH), ABS KICKED IN AND WOULDN'T STOP, PREVENTING THE BREAK FROM BEING PRESSED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE DOWN THIS STEEP GRADE ROAD WITH A CLIFF ON ONE SIDE AND A MOUNTAIN FACE ON THE OTHER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PICKING UP SPEED THE ENTIRE TIME. I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO GET THE ABS TO RELEASE THE BREAKS SO THAT I COULD USE THEM AGAIN. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BREAKS, SHIFTED FROM M1 TO DRIVE, THEN TO NEUTRAL, THEN TO REVERSE, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO TRIED TO JUST NOT DO ANYTHING, NOT TOUCH THE BREAKS, AND SEE IF THE BREAKS WOULD RELEASE AND I STILL CONTINUED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO STOP. AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 1/2 MILE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN I HIT THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WHICH DID STOP THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP DID THE BREAKS BECOME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE RAPID DECENT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. MY FAMILY AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO DEATH THAT DAY AND ALL COULD'VE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT. BUYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2013 GMC TERRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AT STOP SIGN I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY BADLY PLACED SO MY FOOT MISSED THE BRAKE AND I WENT THRU THE STOP SIGN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. (FORTUNATELY,I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE ONCOMING LANE) OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MY FOOT HAD TO RELEARN THE POSITION OF THE PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026