YearToAvoid

2018 GMC Terrain Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 35 electrical system complaints for the 2018 GMC Terrain, 16% of that year's 220 total complaints. Median mileage at failure was 22,000. No related recalls are listed for this component.

Electrical System complaints
35
16% of 220
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
22,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Infotainment screens turn black or white at random, sometimes disabling the backup camera while driving.
  • Warning chimes, seat vibration alerts, and driver alert systems fail to activate or don't turn off when expected.
  • Combined dash warnings for Stabilitrak, parking assist, and transmission appear together with erratic shifting and stalling.
  • Wiring harness issues surface after exposure to water, such as shorting out following a car wash.
  • Steering wheel audio controls lag or fail to respond when using connected phone audio.
  • Rear door electric locks stop working, sometimes locking occupants out of the vehicle.

When 2018 GMC Terrain electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 12, 2017, latest Dec 11, 2025.

2018 GMC Terrain electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2017Feb 2019Nov 2019Jan 2021Apr 2022Jan 2024Jul 2025
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Dec 2025; peak May 2018 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 GMC Terrain

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Terrain model year

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

  1. 201053 (18%)
  2. 201136 (9%)
  3. 201240 (11%)
  4. 201331 (9%)
  5. 201448 (16%)
  6. 201550 (17%)
  7. 201618 (12%)
  8. 201716 (12%)
  9. 201835 (16%)
  10. 201941 (22%)
  11. 202028 (14%)
  12. 20217 (20%)
  13. 20227 (12%)
  14. 20237 (18%)
  15. 20246 (12%)
  16. 20254 (31%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA lists 35 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Terrain, making up 16% of the 220 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 GMC Terrain electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the electrical system on the 2018 GMC Terrain.
At what mileage do 2018 Terrain electrical problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for electrical system complaints on the 2018 Terrain is 22,000 miles.
Were there any crashes or fires linked to electrical complaints?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 fire among the 35 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Terrain, with 0 injuries reported.
How does the 2018 Terrain compare to other years for electrical complaints?
The 2018 Terrain's 16% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is similar to 2010 (18%) and 2015 (17%), and lower than the 22% share seen in 2019.

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.