YearToAvoid

2011 GMC Terrain Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2011 GMC Terrain, 6% of its 386 total complaints that year. These complaints are tied to 10 crashes, 1 fire, and 15 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 64,500. No related recalls are listed for this area.

Airbags complaints
25
6% of 386
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
15
Median mileage
64,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end or side-impact crashes, sometimes with resulting injuries.
  • Several drivers describe airbag warning lights coming on with no crash involved, later traced by dealers to faulty seat-mounted airbag connectors that flex and disconnect.
  • One owner reported a crash followed by fire and flames coming from under the hood shortly after impact.
  • Multiple complaints mention non-deployment even at highway speeds of 55 mph during rear-end collisions.
  • One owner reported non-deployment during a frontal collision with a deer at higher speed with no injury but raised concern about system reliability.

When 2011 GMC Terrain airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 19, 2011, latest Jun 29, 2022.

2011 GMC Terrain airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2011Oct 2013Jun 2014Oct 2014Nov 2015Apr 2017Jan 2019Mar 2020
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Jun 2022; peak Nov 2015 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 GMC Terrain

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Terrain model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201024 (8%)
  2. 201125 (6%)
  3. 201225 (7%)
  4. 201319 (5%)
  5. 201411 (4%)
  6. 201516 (5%)
  7. 20169 (6%)
  8. 201712 (9%)
  9. 201814 (6%)
  10. 20192 (1%)
  11. 20203 (2%)
  12. 20211 (3%)
  13. 20221 (2%)
  14. 20232 (5%)
  15. 20242 (4%)
  16. 20251 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2011 GMC Terrain have?
NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2011 GMC Terrain, making up 6% of the 386 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 GMC Terrain airbags?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the airbag complaints on the 2011 GMC Terrain.
Did the airbag issues cause crashes or injuries?
Yes. NHTSA data tied to these complaints show 10 crashes, 1 fire, and 15 injuries, with failures reported at a median mileage of 64,500.
What do owners say happened with the airbags?
Owners most often report airbags failing to deploy during crashes, along with some cases of airbag warning lights triggered by faulty seat connectors.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.