2021 Gmc Terrain Safety Report
2021 GMC Terrain Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Gmc Terrain
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (30) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 4 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Gmc Terrain with 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Gmc Terrain | 67 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Gmc Terrain | 164 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Gmc Terrain | 24 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Gmc Terrain | 167 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Gmc Terrain | 35 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Gmc Terrain | 208 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Gmc Terrain Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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.
Power Train
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Gmc onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Gmc onlyService Brakes
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Gmc onlyEngine
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Gmc onlyElectrical System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Gmc onlyEngine,Engine And Engine Cooling
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine,Engine And Engine Cooling issues Gmc onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Gmc Terrain
Reliability Score
The 2021 Gmc Terrain receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 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 2021 Gmc Terrain
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Gmc Terrain:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Power Reduction The engine power can be reduced, causing the check engine light to come on. This issue is common in vehicles with around 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Child Seat Anchor Recall Certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled due to a child seat anchor issue. Check for recalls and ensure safety. |
High | Common | 0-60k miles |
| Transmission Issues Transmission problems have been reported, including erroneous shifting and stalling. These issues can affect driving safety and performance. |
Medium | Common | 0-60k miles |
| Tire Recall Certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled due to tire issues. Check for recalls and ensure safety. |
Medium | Common | 2021-2022 miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Gmc Terrain:
Engine power can be reduced, causing the check engine light to come on. This issue is common in vehicles with around 60,000 miles.
Transmission problems have been reported, including erroneous shifting and stalling. These issues can affect driving safety and performance.
Certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled due to a child seat anchor issue. Check for recalls and ensure safety.
Certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles are being recalled due to tire issues. Check for recalls and ensure safety.
Recall Details for the 2021 Gmc Terrain
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Gmc Terrain by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The four rear-seat lower child seat LATCH anchorage bars may have excessive powder coating, which could prevent a child seat from being installed with the anchorage bars. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: The inability to install a child seat with the LATCH anchorage bars could result in an unsecured child seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to install child seats using the vehicle's rear seat belts until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect the latch anchorage bars, and remove and replace the finish, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for ...
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with certain Hankook tires. The tires may have been manufactured with an insufficient amount of curative agent, which could cause tread separation.
Consequence: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tire DOT numbers, and replace any affected tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782; and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212343560.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Gmc Terrain
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Gmc Terrain with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 4 reported injuries or fatalities.
Vehicle went into reduce engine power mode and check engine light came on. Vehicle has just over 60,000 miles. Code is telling me I need a new turbo and being quoted 1,500-3,000. I have read so many people having the same issue with needing a new turbo just after 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with a misfire coming from the engine. During the failure, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The co...
The engine light came on while driving, saying “engine power reduced”. It barely accelerates, RPMs go over 5, it chugs when driving. Taken to an independent service center.
around chirstmas, Was driving on the highway and the car threw a "reduced engine power" warning and went into limp mode. Check engine light came on. Car asymptomatic prior. got the code pulled and it said turbocharger under boost. The next day the check engine light went out and car was running appropriately. Took the car on the highway again and the car threw the "reduced engine power" warning an...
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V339000 (Child Seat); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle would not be inspected or repaired. The manufact...
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure had occurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving approximately 15-20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond for approximately...
Constantly have water leaking into spare tire compartment, back seat floors and passenger floor. Mold/mildew smell coming through vents. Have had drains lines cleaned out, and still recurring having this issue. Unknown where leak is coming from. This is a serious health risk.
Driving my vehicle with no warnings, messages, or symptoms on adaptive cruise control Sunday [XXX] on [XXX] in Michigan. I changed lanes into the right lane when the vehicle abruptly, without notification, and with force, caused braking that unexpectedly and dangerously slowed the vehicle then released braking before doing the same a moment later. Vehicle was pulled off the road onto the shoulder...
First time I had problems with my 2021 Terrain I took it to victory GMC on 9/20/24. At the it had 45,000 miles. Every time I would drive and accelerate it would shake extremely bad in the floorboard. There was also transmission fluid leaking. I picked the car up on 9/27/2024 and was advised that both front axles were replaced, which corrected the shaking and the driver side axle seal was replaced,...
Drive shaft on my GMC Terrain needs to be repaired according to my repair shop. I brought it in as it was vibrating on acceleration and other times frequently. I was told it was the “drive shaft” and the mechanic states they have had Equinox and GMC Terrains coming in for same issue. (Specifically my year Terrain) I looked up and found this recall # for this issue: N212343560. I was never notified...
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission erroneously shifted to the neutral, causing the vehicle to decelerate. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, the message " Power Reduced" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The...
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was like GM Product Safety Recall: N222372310 (Inadequate Fuel Pump Flow). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the fuel pump had malfunctioned and damaged the camshaft. The local dealer was no...
I purchased the car August 2024, I have had it for 4 months and while driving down the road a large fuel tank pops up stating low fuel and the car comes to an abrupt stop.The 3x the gas tank was never low. Parking brake comes on and car doesn't not move. All lights on dash come one. It has done it 4 times and thankful each time I was in a 30 mph zone. If I was going 55 I am sure the result would h...
The contact owned a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while the brake pedal was depressed, it was released and the vehicle suddenly accelerated aggressively. The contact attempted to avoid crashing into the vehicle in front and swerved however the front of the vehicle still impacted the vehicle in front. The air bags deployed upon impact. A police report was filed. The contact stated no medical...
When car has been unused for a period of time, the right rear brake makes noise when the car is moved. This happend in either forward or reverse. Even after driving for a short period of time, the noise is still evident. Under warrenty, I asked the dealership to resolve. They indicate this is an ongoing investigation by GM. I purchased the car new in July 2021. This problem has persisted since pur...
The car has revved high rpm's since purchase, with multiple attempts to get it resolved . Since then, the steering wheel has jerked out of my hand's multiple times, unexpecting, causing the car to jerk while being stopped. The car has also not budged in the middle of traffic while being in drive and the pedal down to the floor until at least a 10 second delay and when doing so the screen that incl...
I was in a in a 70 miles an hour highway accident and was hit in front driver side door, went up embankment and hit a tree then rolled backwards onto the highway. No airbags deployed.
When accelerating from a stop between 35-45 mph the steering wheel shakes and you feel a vibration coming from the front wheels. I thought the wheels were loose and were about to come off.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Terrain. The contact stated upon pressing the Push to Start button, the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, and the battery drained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted after a while. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recu...
Automatic Emergency brakes have unnecessarily or prematurely activated on 2 separate occasions causing my car to stop very abruptly which has resulted in Neck, Shoulder and back pain. I have been very lucky in the recent past and today that a vehicle was not directly behind me. The seat vibrated first when it sensed the car ahead was breaking. When I started to break, the emergency break kicked i...
Showing 20 of 30 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Gmc Terrain
Has the 2021 GMC TERRAIN been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 GMC TERRAIN has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 GMC TERRAIN have?
The 2021 GMC TERRAIN has 30 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 4 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
The 2021 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 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 GMC TERRAIN involve power train (4 complaints), unknown or other (3 complaints), service brakes (3 complaints). Other affected components include engine, electrical system, engine,engine and engine cooling.
How many crash reports does the 2021 GMC TERRAIN have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2021 GMC TERRAIN out of 30 total complaints (13.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 GMC TERRAIN have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
4 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 GMC TERRAIN. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 GMC TERRAIN is generally recommended. It has 30 complaints, 2 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 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 GMC TERRAIN are: 1. POWER TRAIN (4 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 3. SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints), 4. ENGINE (2 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 4 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
Ensure all safety features are functioning properly and check for any outstanding recalls. Regular maintenance can help prevent issues. The 2021 GMC TERRAIN has 30 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
The 2021 GMC TERRAIN receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 30 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 4 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Power Reduction and Child Seat Anchor Recall.
What are the known issues with the 2021 GMC TERRAIN?
Known issues with the 2021 GMC TERRAIN include: Engine Power Reduction, Child Seat Anchor Recall, Transmission Issues, Tire Recall. These are based on patterns found across 30 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2021 GMC Terrain?
Common issues include engine power reduction, transmission problems, and recalls related to child seat anchors and tires.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 GMC Terrain?
Yes, there are recalls for child seat anchors and tires. Check for recalls and ensure safety.
What should I do if I experience engine power reduction?
If you experience engine power reduction, have the vehicle checked by a professional to diagnose and address the issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Ensure all safety features are functioning properly and check for any outstanding recalls. Regular maintenance can help prevent issues.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Gmc Terrain
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Gmc Terrain. The data includes 30 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 4 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 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