2014 GMC Terrain problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 GMC Terrain, most often about engine. There are 2 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 181
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Median mileage
- 92,000 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 97 of 181 complaints (54%).
- Visibility & Wipers (55) and transmission & drivetrain (17) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 92,000 mi.
- Owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries.
- The 2014 GMC Terrain has 2 recalls on file.
- NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
- It ranks 5th of 17 GMC Terrain model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 15% more complaints than the 2013 model year (157).
2014 GMC Terrain problems by category
- 97 complaints
- 55 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain17 complaints
- Lighting12 complaints
- Electrical System12 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion10 complaints
- Other / Unknown8 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech6 complaints
- Brakes4 complaints
- Airbags · 3 crashes3 complaints
- Acceleration & Cruise Control2 complaints
- Body & Structure2 complaints
- Steering1 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts · 1 crash1 complaints
- Wheels & Tires1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 92 |
| Visibility/wiper | 41 |
| Power train | 15 |
| Electrical system | 12 |
| Visibility | 10 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 |
| Unknown or other | 8 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2014 GMC Terrain recalls (2)
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The ball joints in the windshield wiper module may corrode, causing one or both windshield wipers to fail.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the wiper module, and repair or replace it as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 21, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212352530.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.
NHTSA defect investigations
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, ODI had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper f…
- RQ18002Opened Nov 2, 2018Closed Dec 19, 2019
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installati…
NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 GMC Terrain SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2014 GMC Terrain SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Recent 2014 GMC Terrain complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Oct 5, 202665,000 miFLTowedEngine
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the exhaust manifold was previously replaced due to an exhaust leak and the vehicle was towed. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption, and a quart of oil was added every 500 to 1,000 miles, causing an abnormal engine ticking sound and timing chain sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact retrieved DTC: P0420. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
NHTSA complaint #11768922 · source - Filed Feb 18, 2026MIEngine
My husband just did an at home oil change on the car not long before the incident. Unfortunately my car was barely under 3,000 miles since the oil change and we were going to change the oil again when my engine died mid drive on the way home. There was no oil in the car due to high oil consumption and no coolant either. High oil consumption was not reported and not disclosed to me before and a broken guide for my timing chain leading to total engine failure just after I…
NHTSA complaint #11718808 · source - Filed Aug 21, 2025TNBrakesElectrical System
ABS Brake problem and have tried to get it repaired for over 3 months and cannot seem to be able to get the part and call GM with no help. Can not tell me when or where to buy the part. Nobody seems to be able to get a new part and no help from GM. If there is this many problems that there is no part left available it should be a national recall.
NHTSA complaint #11682242 · source - Filed Jul 21, 2025MOEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
I purchased this in March of 2025. 2 or 3 weeks after I bought this I took it to an oil lube shop and they said there was not any oil on the.dip stick. Also I started noticing the car being jerky while driving and when shutting it off it sputters. I took it to Max motors, a GMC dealer for a diagnostic check because it uses a quart of oil a week. They told me the high pressure fuel pump is bad and the piston rings were no good. This was on the 18th of June. I had taken it to…
NHTSA complaint #11675197 · source - Filed Jul 15, 2025130,000 miMOTowedEngine
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and hesitating abnormally. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the piston rings were damaged, the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11673778 · source - Filed Jul 8, 2025125,000 miMNEngine
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormal odor coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine failed due to excessive oil consumption. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted.…
NHTSA complaint #11671932 · source - Filed Jul 1, 2025INElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
Tensioner issues keeps breaking the timing chain. . Replaced twice at own cost. Fuel pump/ loss of power while driving. Back up camera doesn't work sometimes. Screen goes black. If key is left in the ignition it starts itself. If you try to use a car charger for a phone the AC shuts off and a "systems error" message pops up. This happens alot. It's an ongoing issue since I bought the car in Feburary this year.
NHTSA complaint #11670432 · source - Filed May 15, 202571,000 miNYBody & StructureEngine
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil; however, there were no oil leaks evident. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who informed the contact that the frame near the rear wheel on the driver's side was completely rusted. The mechanic stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed for the oil consumption failure. The…
NHTSA complaint #11661246 · source
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Other 2014 GMC models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology