Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2024 GMC Terrain: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2024's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 GMC Terrain. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 25–26 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Transmission failure and power loss
3,800–18,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 GMC Terrain, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission failure is the dominant problem, mostly within the first 18,000 miles. The car suddenly loses power, slips, or revs without engaging a gear, and some shift themselves into Park while moving. Warning lights call for transmission service, and reverse may not engage. Dealers cite internal failure or a defective valve body, and replacement parts are often back-ordered for weeks. Stalls in traffic and near rear-end collisions are reported, with some cars stuck in Park on the road. Isolated reports describe the throttle hanging after release and a fractured driveshaft at 1,200 miles.
Problems vary rather than forming one pattern. Water can get into the cabin and soak the driver's floor, with fog coming from the vents and later failures of the speakers and turn-signal sounds. A brake system failure warning can appear with a 43 mph top speed limit and an ESC service message, followed by a vibrating pedal and long stopping distances, a serious stopping risk. Blind spot assist error messages keep coming back, and dealers cannot reproduce them.
The engine quits while driving. The car stalls and sometimes will not restart or shift into Neutral, which can leave it stranded in highway traffic. Dealers trace the failures to the fuel module or fuel pump. Reported failures come at 25,423 and 42K miles, later than most transmission complaints. With only two reports, this is not yet a broad pattern, but a highway stall carries real collision risk.
Excerpts from complaints Terrain owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Transmission dropped complete out of gear while driving. Got vehicle moving again. Took to dealership. Found complete internal transmission failure at 6779 miles. Transmission replaced with new unit. New transmission has erratic / hard shifts. Found replacement transmission leaking fluid due to front pump / porous case at 14800 miles. Customer Satisfaction Program N232433890 issued May 16, 2024
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Vehicle every other morning shows issue with blind spot assist. It keeps popping an error message and it has happened since I purchased it new. Took it multiple times to dealership and they cannot recreate issue. So it's been an issue since I bought it now.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
car quit while driving could not control stopped across 2 lanes of highway almost was hit by big truck. Car would not start or go into neutral. When car almost started i put it into neutral and was pushed off of highway. dealer towed car and replaced fuel module at 25423 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 8 Terrain years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2024 is the seventh model year of the Terrain's second generation (2018–2024).
It includes the 2022 update.
What changed for 2022
Recall repairs are free at any GMC dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, Blazer EV, Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The door strikers may fracture, resulting in the door opening unexpectedly.
Risk: A door opening while the vehicle is being driven can increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace all four door strikers and attaching bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. 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 N232429911.
Cars shoppers compare with the GMC Terrain, with their own 2024 checklists.
2024 owner complaints, side by side
