Home › Reliability › GMC › Terrain › 2021

2021 GMC Terrain Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 36 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

✅
This is one of the better years for the GMC Terrain

The 2021 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

B
76/100

Moderate Reported Activity — 2021 GMC Terrain

The 2021 GMC Terrain shows moderate recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the recall campaigns and common complaints below before buying.

Own or buying a 2021 GMC Terrain?

Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
36
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
4
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2021 GMC Terrain (2)

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

🔧 Tires
Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service…
NHTSA #21V612000
🔧 Child Seat: Vehicle Latch Anchor
The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the…
NHTSA #23V339000
💬

Most Common Problems — 2021 GMC Terrain

Based on 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
7
Engine
6
Service Brakes
6
Electrical System
5
Unknown Or Other
3
Suspension
2
Fuel System
2
Child Seat
1
📊

GMC Terrain — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 316 complaints 2016 152 complaints 2017 135 complaints 2018 224 complaints 2019 186 complaints 2020 197 complaints 2021 36 complaints 2022 88 complaints 2023 41 complaints 2024 52 complaints 2025 13 complaints

→ Recently checked GMC Terrain VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a GMC VIN — free GMC VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2021, 2023, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 GMC Terrain

Is the 2021 GMC Terrain reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 GMC Terrain has 2 recall campaigns and 36 owner complaints. This model year shows relatively low recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Terrain have?
The 2021 GMC Terrain has 2 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 2021 GMC Terrain?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 GMC Terrain are: Power Train, Engine, Service Brakes, Electrical System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 GMC Terrain safe to buy?
The 2021 GMC Terrain has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 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: 2021, 2023, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
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.