2020 GMC Terrain problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 196 owner complaints on file for the 2020 GMC Terrain, filed between 2019-11-02 and 2026-09-23. The most common problem areas are the service brakes (64, 33%), engine (58, 30%) and power train (28, 14%). Owners reported 7 crashes, 2 fires and 5 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2020 GMC Terrain complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 64 | 33% | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 58 | 30% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown or other | 34 | 17% | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 28 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 14% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 13% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 6% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 7 | 4% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back over prevention | 6 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 6 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Service brakes: 64 complaints
- 64 complaints of 196 (33%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 19 of them also name the engine; owners reported 5 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain covers this system.
Engine: 58 complaints
- 58 complaints of 196 (30%) name the engine.
- 19 of them also name the service brakes; owners reported 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain covers this system.
Power train: 28 complaints
- 28 complaints of 196 (14%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 13 of them also name the engine; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2020 GMC Terrain; the recall, campaign 20V668000, says: “The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.”
Electrical system: 27 complaints
- 27 complaints of 196 (14%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 9 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 fire in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain covers this system.
Fuel/propulsion system: 25 complaints
- 25 complaints of 196 (13%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 13 of them also name the engine; none of these complaints reports a crash, fire or injury.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain covers this system.
Vehicle speed control: 11 complaints
- 11 complaints of 196 (6%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
- 5 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 63 |
| 2026 | 41 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names TERRAIN, model year 2020. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2020 GMC Terrain recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 GMC Terrain?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2020 GMC Terrain's most common problem areas are the service brakes (64 of 196 complaints), engine (58 of 196 complaints) and power train (28 of 196 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2020 GMC Terrain have?
NHTSA has 196 owner complaints on file for the 2020 GMC Terrain, including 7 reported crashes and 2 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2020 GMC Terrain's problems?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2020 GMC Terrain; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.