Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
If the SDM becomes inoperative, it will not detect a crash or command the necessary air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2018 GMC Terrain owners report airbags failing to deploy in serious collisions and intermittent warning-light issues that even dealerships struggle to diagnose; one owner also reported airbag burn injury. A recall exists for some models, but coverage and effectiveness remain unclear.
Owners describe two main patterns: airbags that don't deploy when they should, and warning lights that won't stay off.
In collision reports, airbags remained inactive during rear-end impacts at highway speed, frontal crashes at 30 mph, side-impact T-bones, and even a head-on collision with a deer. One owner suffered a concussion, fractured nose, severe whiplash, and multiple lacerations after a rear-impact crash; another reported their vehicle was hit while stopped and the airbag system did not activate. A third owner was struck on the driver side in a multi-vehicle collision with no airbag deployment, and a fourth hit a deer head-on with the same result.
Warning-light issues plague other owners: the Service Safety Restraint System message and airbag light illuminate, sometimes with audible chimes, often intermittently over months. Dealership scans have returned no fault codes in some cases, leaving owners confused about whether their restraint system is truly safe. One owner reported a failed driver's side front impact sensor at 55,705 miles. Another disabled owner on a tight budget reported the dealership could not pinpoint the malfunction without expensive trial-and-error diagnostics.
A separate incident involved a side curtain airbag deploying and burning through an occupant's clothing, causing second- to third-degree burns.
Recall N182155400 is mentioned by multiple owners as addressing these issues, but coverage appears inconsistent—some owners found the recall in the system only after an accident, while another reported GMC said no recall existed on their vehicle.
Same GMC Terrain airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017
Airbags failed to deploy during multiple types of impact collisions—rear-end, frontal, side-impact, and vehicle-to-animal—despite sufficient force to trigger deployment.
When: At time of collision; one case at 55,705 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on rear-end collision at 40–50 mph; No airbag deployment on frontal collision at 30 mph; No airbag deployment on side-impact (T-bone) collision; No airbag deployment on head-on collision with deer; Vehicle moved after collision but airbags remained inactive
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported driver's side front impact sensor failure requiring replacement; other repairs unknown. Vehicle totaled in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N182155400 issued for some 2018 Terrains; one owner reported the recall was identified post-accident via OnStar diagnostic. Another owner stated no recall appeared in the system despite matching symptoms.
Warning light and chimes activate intermittently or persistently on the dashboard, indicating a restraint system malfunction. Diagnostic scans have returned no fault codes in some cases.
When: Months after purchase or upon startup; varies by vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Service Safety Restraint System warning message displayed; Airbag warning light illuminated; Warning chimes sound continually; Warnings come and go intermittently over months; All seatbelts checked but no faults found on scan
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership diagnosed a failed driver's side front impact sensor needing replacement but vehicle not yet repaired. Other owners unable to identify root cause; one disabled owner on limited income reported dealership unable to pinpoint issue without costly trial-and-error repairs at $150/hour.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N182155400 mentioned by multiple owners as applicable to 2018 models, but one owner reported the recall did not appear in GMC's system despite having the exact symptoms. Another owner reported GMC said no recalls exist on their 2021-purchased used vehicle.
Airbag deployment caused thermal burn injury to occupant, with the airbag material burning through clothing.
When: Upon airbag deployment (timing and mileage not stated)
Symptoms owners cite: Side curtain airbag deployed; Burned hole through passenger's coat and shirt; Second- to third-degree burns sustained
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Head on collision with a deer destroying the front head light and severely damaging the drivers side door. No airbags were deployed.
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Based on the 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 24,786 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.