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2012 GMC Terrain Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 370 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
30/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 GMC Terrain

The 2012 GMC Terrain is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
370
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
17
Crashes + Injuries
5 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 GMC Terrain?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 GMC Terrain (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized GMC dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V502000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V447000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #11V511000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #22V137000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 GMC Terrain

Based on 370 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
109
Visibility/wiper
70
Power Train
36
Unknown Or Other
33
Electrical System
29
Air Bags
23
Structure
10
Visibility
8
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GMC Terrain — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 295 complaints 2011 397 complaints 2012 370 complaints 2013 367 complaints 2014 301 complaints 2015 311 complaints 2016 148 complaints

✅ Best model years: 2016 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 GMC Terrain

Is the 2012 GMC Terrain reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 GMC Terrain has 4 recalls and 370 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 GMC Terrain have?
The 2012 GMC Terrain has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Terrain?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 GMC Terrain are: Engine, Visibility/wiper, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 GMC Terrain safe to buy?
The 2012 GMC Terrain has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year GMC Terrain should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the GMC Terrain are: 2016. These show the lowest complaint rates.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.