Reliable Auto DB

2012 GMC Terrain reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 GMC Terrain has 364 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Terrain years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Headlights, Ignition, and Power adjuster.

2012 GMC Terrain
Photo by IFCAR, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

364

Per year

8

Recalls

4

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (169 of 364), then Visibility and wipers (74) and Powertrain (37). Those filings include 17 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Terrain has 364 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 GMC Terrain. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2022-03-08 · NHTSA campaign 22V137000
Summary 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."
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.
Recall electrical system, ignition 2016-07-05 · NHTSA campaign 16V502000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Recall seats, front assembly, power adjuster 2014-07-23 · NHTSA campaign 14V447000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Recall tires, tire pressure monitoring 2011-10-19 · NHTSA campaign 11V511000
Summary GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.
Remedy GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Complaints by component (364 total)

Engine
169
Visibility and wipers
74
Powertrain
37
Electrical system
32
Fuel and propulsion system
28
Air bags
25
Electronic stability control (ESC)
13
Structure
12
Speed control
11
Exterior lighting
10
Seat belts
9
Visibility
8
Steering
7
Engine and engine cooling
5
Service brakes
5
Wheels
5
Seats
4
Suspension
4
Back-over prevention
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Tires
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

17

Fire-flagged

5

Injury reports

16

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120119201282013620141420152220164720175620186720193320203320212620221620231520248202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My car has started stalling and dying when i slow down, take off or when idling. No power when accelerated, and the smell of exhaust comes into my car. I was making a turn from a red light and my car spit, sputtered,…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-02
  • "The engine blew. This was already the 2nd engine in the car. Oil consumption. Metal in the oil. No signs. Needs new engine"
    Engine · filed 2026-03-09
  • "The oil is depleting every month from the vehicle. Every 2-3 weeks I have to put oil in the vehicle because the oil is being absorbed. Is there a recall on this problem."
    Engine · filed 2026-02-25
  • "1. The engine suddenly lost power while driving during evening rush hour and the vehicle would no longer accelerate. 2. Because the vehicle could not maintain speed, I was unable to keep up with traffic, creating a…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2025-11-16
  • "Liftgate automatically closing and failure to remain open causing a safety hazard for anyone standing at the liftgate."
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-10-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 GMC Terrain SUV AWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2012 GMC Terrain SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Terrain all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Terrain all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Terrain all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Terrain all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Terrain front-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Terrain front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500
Terrain front-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Terrain front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

1st generation, 2012–2017
Body styles SUV
Oil dexos1 5W-30 (4-cylinder per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 235/55R18, 235/55R19, 235/60R17 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 3,500 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 22V137000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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.". 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. When NHTSA lists multiple GM nameplates in one campaign, the published unit count is shared across them.

Compare

Next year 2013 GMC Terrain See every GMC Terrain model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 GMC Terrain reliable?

The 2012 GMC Terrain has 364 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Terrain years here — under the median of the other years, which is 12. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Headlights, Ignition, and Power adjuster.

What are common problems with a 2012 GMC Terrain?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (169 of 364), then Visibility and wipers (74) and Powertrain (37). Those filings include 17 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 16 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 GMC Terrain more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Terrain has 364 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 GMC Terrain been recalled?

The 2012 GMC Terrain has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 GMC Terrain?

Owners have filed 364 complaints about the 2012 GMC Terrain with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 GMC Terrain get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 GMC Terrain is 22 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a GMC Terrain use?

US Terrain manuals specify dexos-approved oil for your four-cylinder engine.

What does NHTSA recall 22V-137 cover on the GMC Terrain?

NHTSA safety recall 22V137000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that general Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles.

What generation is the 2013 GMC Terrain?

1st generation (2012-2017).