YearToAvoid

2013 GMC Terrain Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Owners filed 44 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 GMC Terrain, 12% of that year's 364 total complaints. The median failure mileage is 94,842. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this component on the 2013 model.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
44
12% of 364
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
94,843 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle rolls backward on an incline after the brake is released, and the engine stalls.
  • Transmission hesitates or jerks between gears, with the tachometer showing engine speed rising between shifts and a lurch forward, especially once the transmission is warmed up.
  • A loud abnormal noise develops from the front of the vehicle while driving at highway speed, later diagnosed as a hole in the transfer case.
  • Gear shifts unexpectedly from drive to neutral while driving, and the key cannot be removed from the ignition afterward.
  • Vehicle loses power suddenly while driving around 45 mph, traced to a transmission module needing replacement.
  • Vehicle shuts off and restarts on its own while stopped in drive, accompanied by a check engine light and transmission control module or torque converter warning messages.

When 2013 GMC Terrain transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 2, 2014, latest Jan 7, 2026.

2013 GMC Terrain transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2014Nov 2017Oct 2018Nov 2019Nov 2020Jan 2022Feb 2023May 2025
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2014 to Jan 2026; peak Mar 2021 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 GMC Terrain

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Terrain model year

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

  1. 201051 (18%)
  2. 201176 (20%)
  3. 201237 (10%)
  4. 201344 (12%)
  5. 201433 (11%)
  6. 201521 (7%)
  7. 201611 (7%)
  8. 201723 (17%)
  9. 201841 (19%)
  10. 201951 (28%)
  11. 202028 (14%)
  12. 20218 (23%)
  13. 20228 (13%)
  14. 20237 (18%)
  15. 202421 (43%)
  16. 20254 (31%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2013 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA lists 44 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Terrain, which is 12% of all 364 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2013 GMC Terrain?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this Transmission & Powertrain complaint category for the 2013 Terrain.
At what mileage do 2013 GMC Terrain transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2013 Terrain is 94,842 miles.
Do transmission complaints on the 2013 Terrain involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries among the 44 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Terrain.
How does the 2013 Terrain compare to other model years for this problem?
The 2013 Terrain's 44 complaints and 12% share are lower than the 2011 model's 76 complaints (20% share) but higher than the 2015 model's 21 complaints (7% share).

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.