2010 GMC Terrain Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#4 most-complained of 16 Terrain years
The 2010 GMC Terrain ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 290 NHTSA complaints. Engine problems dominate at 43% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 77,000, making this year an Avoid relative to other Terrain years.
- Complaints
- 290
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 12 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 18.5 city / 27 hwy
Top 2010 GMC Terrain problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine126 (43%)
- Electrical System53 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain51 (18%)
- Visibility & Wipers45 (16%)
- Brakes27 (9%)
- Airbags24 (8%)
- Other19 (7%)
- Fuel System16 (6%)
- Structure & Body13 (4%)
- Steering12 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine abnormally skipping gears and lunging forward during acceleration from a stop, sometimes causing a rear-end crash.
- Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking, with the brake pedal unable to stop forward motion.
- Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed frontal or side-impact crashes, resulting in injuries.
- Owners describe the engine hesitating, jolting forward, and stuttering, along with excessive oil consumption to the point the vehicle became undrivable.
- Windshield wipers reportedly became inoperable without warning during inclement weather, leading to a crash into a guard rail.
- Electrical issues include flickering dashboard and stereo lights and an oil filter clogging with metal shavings, restricting oil flow to the engine.
2010 GMC Terrain recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V137000Mar 8, 2022Electrical System740,581 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2017 GMC Terrain vehicles. A reflection caused by the headlight housings may illuminate areas above the vehicle and outside of the driver's view with excessively bright light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: The bright reflection may cause a glare for other drivers, reducing their visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install headlamp appliques, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222363740.
- NHTSA 14V447000Jul 23, 2014Structure & Body414,333 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
2010 GMC Terrain fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 GMC Terrain reliable?
- Compared to other Terrain model years, the 2010 ranks 4th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 80 and 290 NHTSA complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2010 GMC Terrain?
- The Engine is the top problem area, accounting for 43% of complaints (126 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 77,000 and 5 reported crashes.
- Does the 2010 GMC Terrain have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 Terrain: one for a headlight housing reflection issue (campaign 22V137000) and one for power height adjuster shoulder bolts (campaign 14V447000).
- Do the airbags work properly in the 2010 GMC Terrain?
- NHTSA complaints include 24 Airbags reports, 8% of total complaints, with 5 crashes and a median failure mileage of 44,229, several describing non-deployment during collisions.
- How does the 2010 Terrain compare to later years?
- The 2010 Terrain's Complaint Index of 80 is higher than 2016 (40), 2017 (27), and 2021 (0), which are rated Good or Best, indicating more reported problems in the 2010 model.