2019 Gmc Terrain Safety Report
2019 GMC TERRAIN Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2019 Gmc Terrain. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (167) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 10 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Service Brakes | Compare service brakes issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Gmc Terrain with 30 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 Gmc Terrain before buying across this generation. |
Gmc Terrain Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Gmc Terrain years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Gmc Terrain | 164 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Gmc Terrain | 208 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Gmc Terrain | 30 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Gmc Terrain | 131 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Gmc Terrain | 67 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Gmc Terrain | 144 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2019 Gmc Terrain Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2019 Gmc Terrain, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Service Brakes
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Gmc onlyPower Train
17 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Gmc onlyEngine
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Gmc onlyService Brakes,Engine
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Engine issues Gmc onlyUnknown Or Other
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Gmc onlyPower Train,Electrical System,Engine
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Electrical System,Engine issues Gmc onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
Reliability Score
The 2019 Gmc Terrain receives a reliability score of 70 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2019 Gmc Terrain:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Slippage Transmission slippage has been reported, causing the vehicle to lose power and potentially leading to accidents. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Brake Failure Brake failure due to vacuum pump failure has been reported, increasing the risk of a crash. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Check Engine Light Random flickering of the check engine light and reduced engine power have been reported, potentially leading to accidents. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Limp Mode Limp mode has been reported, causing the vehicle to run poorly and potentially leading to accidents. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2019 Gmc Terrain:
Transmission issues, including unexpected shifts and slippage, have been reported.
Brake issues, including hard brake pedal and brake failure, have been reported.
Random flickering of the check engine light and reduced engine power have been reported.
Limp mode has been reported, causing the vehicle to run poorly.
Recall Details for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2019 Gmc Terrain by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Consequence: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this r...
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192209550.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2019 Gmc Terrain
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2019 Gmc Terrain with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
My Transmission went out of my truck. I was told this has happened to others of the same make and model, so this is a known issue with this transmission. I was driving down the road and the car completely stopped in moving traffic. I was almost hit by other vehicles and then had to take my truck to get it repaired. I was told it was not able to be rebuilt that it had to be completely replaced. Thi...
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). There was transmission fluid on the ground, and the vehicle became disabled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a transmission accumulator leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fail...
Vacuum pump exploded into camshaft and engine area, causing me to lose brakes completely on the highway. Costly repairs to clear out metal shrapnel and replace camshaft.
The backup camera in our 2019 GMC Terrain stopped working one day - has blue screen and says Service Rear Vision System - so we’ve been driving a year with no backup camera. The dealership wants almost $1000 to fix this issue. And this issue seems to be very common in 2018-2020 Terrains. We bought the vehicle in December 2023
I am driving a 2019 GMC Terrain SLT, and I have a serious concern regarding a recent service experience. On 02/10/2026, I had an oil change and a complete vehicle inspection performed at Kunes GMC Greenfield, Wisconsin. After the service was completed and I returned home, I noticed an unusual noise coming from under the engine hood. I immediately went back to the dealership and informed them of t...
My family and I were returning home from vacation in another state, and while we were driving on the interstate, an alarm popped up on the DTC stating ruduced engine power. I tried to start slowing down so I could take the next off ramp and could not push the brake pedal in. I had absolutely no brakes trying to slow down from interstate speed. I was able to pull into a gas station parking lot whil...
Vehicle was started for the second time that day on 1/5/26 and the engine light was on. I drove the vehicle to an auto parts store to have them check it with an OBD-II scanner. It had code P050F. I had no idea how serious this issue could be at the time. I made an appt with the GMC dealership and dropped it off the evening of 1/6/26. They said there was a software anomaly in the engine control mod...
Drove car approximately 15 miles. Parked car. Car would not turn off. Message- Transmission/Park. Wouldn't Car stayed neutral. Had to call wecker to take dealership. ... Diagnostic Solenoid Valve Body faulty.... 2019 Terrain Miles 91669. Is there recall. Have more reports of issue. Should this happen with a well maintained vehicle All maintenance updated to date.
Failure of the cam driven vacuum pump causing brake failure. Leading to a hard brake pedal which increases risk of a crash. Debris from the broken vacuum pump can fall down into the engine causing a catastrophic failure of the engine needing a replacement. This happens with little to no warning. Warranty companies will not pay to repair the known issue. A recall needs to be issued for this to prov...
I bought this Terrain brand new from Betten Baker Chevrolet in Muskegon Mi in 2019 with 500 miles. That same year we had transmission Slippage causing it to slip out of gear then slam back into gear while driving. I took it to the dealer to have it looked at. They did nothing and informed me it was known by the manufacturer that this was an issue. I then had to bring it back for electrical issues ...
Vehicle has had check engine light and engine reduced power flicking on and off for months, randomly reducing power on highway or nearly causing accidents. Brought car to GMC dealer, they said it was underboost code and needed new turbo. Paid over 7,000$ for repair. Next morning, same issue still was happening. I believe my vehicle has EMISSIONS recall issue “N192271200 Charge Air Cooler Disconnec...
When approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal became extremely hard I was unable to stop, and rolled through the intersection avoiding collision. I was able to slow down enough to engage the emergency brake. There are no lights on the dash.
I was driving home from vacation the vehicle went into limp mode and started to run very poorly with a brake pedal that was almost impossible to push. I limped the vehicle a couple of miles to the next exit. I had the car trailered home and taken to a service center the following Monday. They inspected the vehicle and found the vacuum pump had failed and caused what was described as “catastrophic ...
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the warning light turned off after approximately three miles of driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced abnormal RPM fluctuations while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independe...
Driving approximately 70mph on interstate. Came to a slight hill, gently applied brake pressure, brakes become hard to apply/would not apply. After diagnostics, found Brake Vacuum Pump with damaged fins.
We have been having varying issues with this GMC, and have found numerous others with the same issue. Vacuum pump went out while driving. Thankfully I was not going very fast and it stopped prior to hitting someone. This is a known issue, yet no recall from GMC. Vacuum pump is said to have been failing causing other engine and transmission issues that can never be "re-created" for the vehicle t...
I was backing out of the driveway, and it was extremely hard to brake enough to stop the car. I immediately parked back into the driveway. I had to stand on the brake to completely stop. Vacuum pump was completely busted and in many pieces.
Recently experience rear differential binding with vehicle resulting in an accident.
Vehicle struggles to shift from low gears; seems to completely miss 3rd gear. Codes from maintenance indicate TCC slip
While working out of town for work my engine light started flashing and the dash lights went nuts. My brakes were nonexistent and were hard as a rock. I had zero warning as to what happened. Working 3 hours away from home the car had to be towed and I was informed the engine code came back as my cam shaft. Took it to the dealer as Gm has a bulletin put out. I didn’t know what that meant. Long stor...
Showing 20 of 167 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2019 Gmc Terrain
Has the 2019 GMC TERRAIN been recalled?
Yes, the 2019 GMC TERRAIN has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2019 GMC TERRAIN have?
The 2019 GMC TERRAIN has 167 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 7 involved crashes. 12 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
The 2019 GMC TERRAIN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2019 GMC TERRAIN involve service brakes (19 complaints), power train (17 complaints), engine (15 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes,engine, unknown or other, power train,electrical system,engine.
How many crash reports does the 2019 GMC TERRAIN have?
There are 7 crash reports associated with the 2019 GMC TERRAIN out of 167 total complaints (4.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2019 GMC TERRAIN have?
There are 3 fire reports for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN out of 167 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN.
How many injuries are reported for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
12 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2019 GMC TERRAIN. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2019 GMC TERRAIN is acceptable with caveats. It has 167 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
The components with the most failures on the 2019 GMC TERRAIN are: 1. SERVICE BRAKES (19 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (17 complaints), 3. ENGINE (15 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE (12 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (9 complaints). SERVICE BRAKES is the single most-reported problem area with 19 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
Be cautious of transmission and brake issues, as they can lead to loss of control and accidents. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2019 GMC TERRAIN has 167 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
The 2019 GMC TERRAIN receives a reliability score of 70/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 167 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 10 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Slippage and Brake Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2019 GMC TERRAIN?
Known issues with the 2019 GMC TERRAIN include: Transmission Slippage, Brake Failure, Check Engine Light, Limp Mode. These are based on patterns found across 167 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2019 GMC Terrain?
The most common issues are transmission problems and brake failures.
Can you tell me more about the transmission problems?
Transmission slippage and unexpected shifts have been reported, causing the vehicle to lose power.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 GMC Terrain?
Yes, there are recalls for automatic transmission issues and rear seats.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of transmission and brake issues, as they can lead to loss of control and accidents. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2019 Gmc Terrain
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2019 Gmc Terrain. The data includes 167 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 7 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 12 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2019 Gmc Terrain an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16