Head-to-head reliability
GMC Sierra vs GMC Terrain
How the GMC Sierra and GMC Terrain compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
GMC Sierra vs GMC Terrain: The Sierra has 4,345 complaints over 10 years (about 435 per year) and 86 recalls, while the Terrain has 999 complaints (about 100 per year) and 19 recalls. Both have 0 deaths, but the Sierra has more crash-related complaints (107 vs. 49). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Sierra or GMC Terrain more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Sierra
The GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup that sees heavy use, and its 4,345 complaints over 10 years (about 435 per year) reflect that. Owners frequently report engine and transmission problems that can cause shaking, stalling, and power loss, plus electrical glitches and brake issues. With 86 recalls and 107 crash-related complaints, it's a truck that demands diligent maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is a compact SUV with far fewer complaints—999 over 10 years (about 100 per year). However, the complaints it does have often describe serious sudden failures, such as engine/turbo failure, brake loss, and transmission problems that cause shaking or power loss. With 19 recalls and 49 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle where individual incidents can be severe despite lower overall numbers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Sierra | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,345 | 999 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 86 | 19 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 107 | 49 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 434.5 | 99.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 68 | 45 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
GMC Sierra
- 01ENGINE1,552
- 02POWER TRAIN949
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM665
- 04SERVICE BRAKES576
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER439
Owners report glow plug failures, fuel rail and fuel pressure failures, and diesel injector connector issues that can cause extreme shaking, emissions warnings, and speed limiting. These problems often require repeated dealer visits and can leave the truck undrivable.
Complaints describe abnormal shaking at speeds over 30 mph, stalling, and sudden power loss while merging, which can lead to dangerous situations like nearly being rear-ended. Some owners report ongoing issues even after dealership reflashes.
Owners report persistent 'Service Trailer Brake System' warnings that recur constantly, and in one case a fire started while the truck was parked and unattended. Electrical faults can be annoying or, in rare cases, a fire risk.
Complaints include brake failure while towing or driving downhill, where the pedal goes to the floor without response. This is a critical safety concern, especially for owners who tow or drive in hilly terrain.
“Constant issues with glow plug failures, fuel rail failure, fuel pressure failure. Truck has been in the Gmc service regarding these issues constantly for the last year with a total of five repairs and replacement of glow plugs with releaning learning new plu…”
“GM Duramax L5P diesel engine electrical connector for #4 fuel injector. This failure caused the Diesel exhaust brake, which controls downhill speed, to disengage, extreme shaking of the vehicle, emissions system warning and speed limiting. This occurred while…”
GMC Terrain
- 01ENGINE311
- 02SERVICE BRAKES248
- 03POWER TRAIN201
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER155
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM149
Owners report sudden engine and turbocharger failure, often preceded by a 'reduced engine power' warning and limp mode. These failures can happen without warning and may require expensive repairs.
Complaints describe brake failure at highway speeds or on steep downhill grades, where the brake pedal does not respond at all. This is a severe safety issue that could lead to a crash.
Owners report extreme shaking during acceleration, transmission fluid leaks, and complete loss of motive power while driving. These issues can create serious risks in traffic and lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle not going into park when the ignition is turned off, causing it to roll, and drive shaft vibrations that require repair. These problems can lead to property damage or injury.
“Vehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2021 GMC TerrainEngine Type: 1.5L Turbocharged EngineCurrent Mileage: 155,000 miles [1]Description of Safety Defect:I am writing to report a severe, sudden engine and turbocharger failure on my 2021 GMC Terrain that presen…”
“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 engin…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
GMC Sierra — 86 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
The risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" ti…
The risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame…
The risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC cus…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly cr…
The risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or…
GMC Terrain — 19 recalls
The defect: 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…
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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…
The defect: 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…
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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…
The defect: 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.
The risk: Tread separation can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles equipped with ventilated front passenger seats. The Occupant Classification System may not properly disable the front passenger air bag when there is a small child or child restraint detected in the seat.
The risk: In the event of a crash, a front passenger air bag that deploys with a child or infant in the front passenger seat can increase their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger presence system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's nu…
Buyer analysis
GMC Sierra or GMC Terrain: which should you buy?
The GMC Terrain has far fewer complaints per year (about 100 vs. 435 for the Sierra), but its reported issues are often sudden and severe, such as brake loss and engine failure. The Sierra's higher complaint volume reflects its popularity and heavy use, with more frequent but sometimes less catastrophic problems. In practice, the Terrain may have fewer overall trips to the shop, but when something goes wrong, it can be dangerous.
Key differences
- The Sierra has about 4.3 times more complaints per year than the Terrain, but the Terrain's complaints more often involve sudden, severe failures like brake loss and engine failure.
- Sierra owners frequently report diesel engine issues (glow plugs, fuel rail) and transmission shaking, while Terrain owners report turbocharger failure and transmission fluid leaks.
- The Sierra has 86 recalls versus 19 for the Terrain, covering items like hood latches, air bags, and seat belts, while Terrain recalls include child seat anchors and air bag sensors.
- Both vehicles have 0 deaths reported, but the Sierra has more crash-related complaints (107 vs. 49) and injuries (68 vs. 45).
- Check for any signs of engine misfire, rough idle, or glow plug issues, especially on diesel models—ask for service records related to fuel rail and injector repairs.
- Test drive at highway speeds and during braking to feel for abnormal shaking, hesitation, or brake pedal fade, which owners report.
- Listen for turbo whine or loss of power during acceleration, and check for any 'reduced engine power' warnings—turbo failure is a common complaint.
- Test the brakes on a downhill grade if possible, and check for transmission fluid leaks or shuddering during acceleration.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and all available service records, focusing on engine, transmission, and brake repairs.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, including a scan for stored trouble codes and a check of the brake system.
- Test drive the vehicle in conditions that mimic your daily driving, including highway merging, braking from speed, and if possible, towing (for the Sierra).
- Verify that all recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA recall database using the VIN.
- For the Sierra, pay special attention to diesel-specific components if equipped; for the Terrain, check the turbocharger and transmission operation.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | GMC Sierra | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 84 | 33 |
| 2025 | 152 | 13 |
| 2024 | 525 | 50 |
| 2023 | 545 | 40 |
| 2022 | 1250 | 88 |
| 2021 | 0 | 36 |
| 2020 | 0 | 197 |
| 2019 | 1122 | 185 |
| 2018 | 66 | 223 |
| 2017 | 601 | 134 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific GMC Sierra or GMC Terrain in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Sierra vs GMC Terrain
- GMC Sierra total complaints
- 4,345
- GMC Terrain total complaints
- 999
- GMC Sierra total recalls
- 86
- GMC Terrain total recalls
- 19
- GMC Sierra avg complaints/year
- 434.5
- GMC Terrain avg complaints/year
- 99.9
- More reliable overall
- GMC Terrain
- GMC Sierra top complaint area
- ENGINE
- GMC Terrain top complaint area
- ENGINE