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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2018 GMC Terrain is associated with 218 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 5 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Service Brakes, accounting for 41 reports (19% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 6 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.6l 4-cyl, 1.5l 4-cyl, and 2l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 23 to 32 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 218 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 5 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Service Brakes (41 / 19%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 14 crash / 1 fire / 7 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 23–32 MPG across 6 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Terrain FWD Diesel 1.6L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd 28 MPG 39 MPG 32 MPG — $2,500 / yr
Terrain AWD Diesel 1.6L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic 6-spd 28 MPG 38 MPG 32 MPG — $2,500 / yr
Terrain FWD 1.5L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 9-spd 26 MPG 30 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Terrain AWD 1.5L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic 9-spd 24 MPG 28 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Terrain FWD 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 9-spd 22 MPG 28 MPG 24 MPG — $3,150 / yr
Terrain AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic 9-spd 21 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $3,300 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD Later Release 18.5%
SUV FWD Early Release 18.8%
SUV AWD Later Release 16.400000000000002%
SUV AWD Early Release 16.5%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 GMC Terrain models.
View complete 2018 GMC Terrain crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Summary of 218 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
218
Crash Reports
14
Fire Reports
1
Complaints w/ Injury
7
Total Injuries
12

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Service Brakes 41 complaints (1 crash)
Powertrain 17 complaints
Engine 16 complaints
Electrical System 13 complaints
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 11 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2018 GMC Terrain problems & component breakdown (67 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #20V668000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
NHTSA Campaign #18V576000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Defect Summary: 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. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA Campaign #18V358000 Active Recall
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Defect Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
View all 2018 GMC Terrain recalls & campaign history (5 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2018 GMC Terrain

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2018 GMC Terrain

How many safety recalls does the 2018 GMC Terrain have?

The 2018 GMC Terrain is associated with 5 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 5 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2018 GMC Terrain?

NHTSA records list 218 consumer defect complaints for the 2018 GMC Terrain. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Service Brakes, appearing in 41 filings (19% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2018 GMC Terrain defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 GMC Terrain?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2018 GMC Terrain earned Overall Safety Ratings ranging from 4 to 5 stars depending on tested variant across 4 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2018 GMC Terrain get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2018 GMC Terrain range from 23 to 32 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.