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2020 GMC Terrain

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA195
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 GMC Terrain is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Terrain FWD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 195 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Terrain FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo263027$2,300
Terrain AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo252826$2,400
Terrain FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222824$3,250
Terrain AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212623$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41501, 41506, 41753, 41507.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 GMC Terrain is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Child Seat

N232403240
668,187 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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."RiskThe 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.FixOwners 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 this recall is N232403240.
NHTSA campaign 23V339000reported May 11, 2023General Motors, LLC
!critical

Power Train

N202313440
194,105 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskMissing 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.FixGM 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 recall is N202313440.
NHTSA campaign 20V668000reported Oct 29, 2020General Motors LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
195complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 25 · 2025: 63 · 2026: 40

Most-cited components

Service Brakes63
Engine57
Unspecified34
Electrical System27
Power Train27
Fuel/Propulsion System25

What owners describe

“Driver seat belt exhibits signs of fraying in area of belt hidden from view when not in use. When extended, hair-like fibers extend out, primarily from the car-forward side of the belt in the area coming out of the B-pillar and from behind the trim. It is available for inspection. Concerned that this may continue to de…”Jan 12, 2023 · Seat Belts · NHTSA owner report
“I just purchased this vehicle about 2 weeks ago, and was driving through the fog/cold weather and my check engine light came on. Went to O'Reillys and had them check the code. Came up as P0299 (My car was telling me that the engine power was decreased) I had a loss of power I could feel while driving as well. The code …”Jan 4, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“My service brake assist light came on and then within seconds my vehicle then said engine power has been lowered and my vehicle pretty much shut down no steering no brakes couldn't do anything. Took it into the repair shop and my vacuum pump has shattered and now damaged my camshaft. I am aware there's been many other …”Dec 31, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Other Terrain model years

A

2027 GMC Terrain

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2025 GMC Terrain

0 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2024 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 49 complaints

B

2023 GMC Terrain

2 recalls · 38 complaints

D

2022 GMC Terrain

4 recalls · 85 complaints

B

2021 GMC Terrain

2 recalls · 34 complaints

D

2019 GMC Terrain

3 recalls · 182 complaints

F

2018 GMC Terrain

5 recalls · 219 complaints

A

2017 GMC Terrain

1 recalls · 133 complaints

B

2016 GMC Terrain

2 recalls · 152 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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