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The 2013 GMC Terrain has 364 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2013 GMC Terrain has 364 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 152 complaints (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Terrain | 290 | 3 |
| 2011 Terrain | 386 | 4 |
| 2012 Terrain | 364 | 4 |
| 2013 Terrain (this page) | 364 | 3 |
| 2014 Terrain | 296 | 2 |
| 2015 Terrain | 297 | 3 |
| 2016 Terrain | 152 | 2 |
The problems owners report most, open recalls, and the mileage where failures cluster — straight from the NHTSA record, in seconds.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2013 GMC Terrain SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When driving in the rain going through puddles power steering will intermittently stop working.
Driving my 2013 GMC terrein (2.4l) it was about 20 degrees out, a warning light came on that oil pressure is low "stop engine immediately. I pulled over at a gas station and as got out of the car I could see a oil spilling from below the engine. I had it towed to my mechanic and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 GMC terrain. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine oil pressure was low and the timing chain had failed. The…
The electrical system has failed to work on a number of occasions. During this time, I have had the user interface screen freeze, not power off and lose services during usage. The electrical panel issues will lead to further complications moving forward. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Inoperative windshield wipers may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 364 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 GMC Terrain has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2013 GMC Terrain is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 152 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 364 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 152 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 364 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.