Head-to-head reliability
GMC Terrain vs FORD F 150
How the GMC Terrain and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
GMC Terrain vs FORD F 150: The Terrain averages 97 complaints per year with 19 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131 complaints and 145 recalls. Both have serious transmission and brake issues, but the F-150's higher volume means more potential problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Terrain or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is a compact SUV that averages about 97 complaints per year over the past decade, with 19 recalls. Owner reports frequently mention engine problems like reduced power and limp mode, brake failures where the pedal goes to the floor, and transmission issues causing shaking or fluid leaks. These patterns suggest that while the Terrain may be affordable, it can demand attention to major systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—about 1,131 per year—and 145 recalls over 10 years. Power train complaints dominate, especially hard shifting and sudden loss of power from the 10-speed transmission, along with electrical glitches like camera malfunctions. Buyers should expect that many F-150s have had multiple repair visits for transmission and electrical issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Terrain | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 973 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 49 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 97.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 45 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
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 Terrain
- 01ENGINE301
- 02SERVICE BRAKES240
- 03POWER TRAIN195
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER151
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145
Owners report sudden 'reduced engine power' warnings and limp mode, often linked to turbocharger underboost. This can leave you stranded or unable to accelerate safely on the highway.
Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor without stopping the vehicle, especially on downhill grades or at highway speeds. This is a critical safety concern that could lead to a crash.
Transmission problems include severe shaking during acceleration, delayed engagement, and fluid leaks. Some owners have needed transmission replacements, which are costly and can recur.
Electrical issues often appear as warning lights or intermittent failures, though specific symptoms are less detailed in the sample. These can be frustrating to diagnose and may affect other systems.
“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…”
“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 co…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major pain point: owners report hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. These failures can happen at low mileage and may require expensive repairs.
Common complaints include 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' warnings that appear every time the truck starts. These electronic glitches can disable safety features and are often difficult to fix.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent than transmission issues but still notable, with some owners reporting loud bangs or popping sounds from the drivetrain. These noises may indicate internal damage or exhaust problems.
Headlight issues are common enough to rank as a top complaint area, with recalls for headlights. Poor visibility at night is a safety risk, especially if lights fail intermittently.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 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 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…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
GMC Terrain or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The GMC Terrain has far fewer complaints per year (about 97 vs. 1,131 for the F-150), but both have serious reported issues. The F-150's higher volume means you're more likely to encounter transmission and electrical problems, while the Terrain's lower rate still includes critical brake and engine failures. In practice, the Terrain may have fewer overall trips to the shop, but each reported issue can be severe.
Key differences
- The F-150 has over 11 times more complaints per year than the Terrain, with power train issues being the most common.
- Terrain owners frequently report brake failure (pedal to the floor) and engine limp mode, while F-150 owners report transmission jerking and sudden power loss.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls vs. 19 for the Terrain, including headlight and battery cable recalls.
- Both vehicles have electrical complaints, but the F-150's are often about driver-assist warnings, while the Terrain's are less specific.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope or at highway speed; if the pedal feels soft or goes to the floor, walk away.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for transmission shaking or delayed engagement, and listen for turbo whine or loss of power.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerking from the 10-speed transmission, especially between gears 4-5 and 7-8.
- Start the truck and check for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if the transmission or engine has been replaced or repaired.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN, and confirm they have been addressed.
- During the test drive, deliberately test the brakes, accelerate hard, and try all electronic features.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake service.
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 Terrain | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 24 |
| 2025 | 13 | 329 |
| 2024 | 49 | 617 |
| 2023 | 38 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 85 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 34 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 194 | 33 |
| 2019 | 181 | 36 |
| 2018 | 219 | 56 |
| 2017 | 133 | 43 |
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 Terrain or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Terrain vs FORD F 150
- GMC Terrain total complaints
- 973
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- GMC Terrain total recalls
- 19
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- GMC Terrain avg complaints/year
- 97.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- GMC Terrain
- GMC Terrain top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN