Reliable Auto DB

2014 GMC Terrain reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 GMC Terrain holds 296 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 12 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Terrain years here — over the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Motor and Headlights.

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

296

Per year

12

Recalls

2

Years on the road

13

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (123 of 296), then Visibility and wipers (74) and Powertrain (33). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Terrain has 364 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2015 has 297 complaints, 9 per year. The 2014 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

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 2014 GMC Terrain. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2022-03-17 · NHTSA campaign 22V165000
Summary 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.
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.
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.

Complaints by component (296 total)

Engine
123
Visibility and wipers
74
Powertrain
33
Electrical system
31
Exterior lighting
17
Fuel and propulsion system
15
Visibility
15
Air bags
11
Service brakes
9
Electronic stability control (ESC)
8
Engine and engine cooling
6
Steering
5
Structure
5
Seats
3
Speed control
3
Lane departure
2
Seat belts
2
Wheels
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Suspension
1
Show 13 more Show less
Crash-flagged

7

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

13201410201512201613201724201844201944202041202141202221202321202411202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2026-02-18
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2025-08-21
  • "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…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-07-21
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2025-07-15
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2025-07-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2014 GMC Terrain SUV AWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2014 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 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 16 23 19 MPG $3400
Terrain all-wheel drive 3.6L, 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 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed All-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Terrain front-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 26 MPG $2500
Terrain front-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Terrain front-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 17 24 19 MPG $3400
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

Previous year 2013 GMC Terrain Next year 2015 GMC Terrain See every GMC Terrain model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 GMC Terrain reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 GMC Terrain holds 296 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 12 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Terrain years here — over the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Motor and Headlights.

What are common problems with a 2014 GMC Terrain?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (123 of 296), then Visibility and wipers (74) and Powertrain (33). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2014 GMC Terrain more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Terrain has 364 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2015 has 297 complaints, 9 per year. The 2014 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

Has the 2014 GMC Terrain been recalled?

The 2014 GMC Terrain has 2 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 2014 GMC Terrain?

Owners have filed 296 complaints about the 2014 GMC Terrain with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 GMC Terrain get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 GMC Terrain is 21.9 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).