YearToAvoid

2019 GMC Terrain Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 41 electrical system complaints for the 2019 GMC Terrain, 22% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 15,900 miles. One fire and two injuries are tied to this area, and no recall currently covers it.

Electrical System complaints
41
22% of 185
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
15,900 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a chemical burning odor coming through the vents when the air conditioning is activated, sometimes causing headaches.
  • Some describe a push-button ignition that fails to start, with dash warnings for low battery and the need to jump the vehicle on separate occasions shortly after purchase.
  • A recurring 'climate off' error disables the AC or heat controls, described as a known issue that dealers said they could not fix.
  • Infotainment problems include the stereo failing to save settings and not connecting to a phone via USB even after disconnecting the battery.
  • Several complaints describe a 'service transmission' message accompanied by the vehicle losing power or dropping into neutral while driving, including on a highway.
  • Others report the check engine light coming on with a reduced power warning and the engine surging up and down at idle or while driving.

When 2019 GMC Terrain electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 22, 2018, latest Sep 24, 2026.

2019 GMC Terrain electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month7Nov 2018Nov 2020Dec 2021Oct 2022Jun 2023Dec 2023Aug 2025Aug 2026
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2021 (7).

Electrical System recalls for the 2019 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 list for the 2019 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA lists 41 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Terrain, which is 22% of the 185 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 GMC Terrain's electrical system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2019 Terrain.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up on the 2019 Terrain?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2019 Terrain is 15,900 miles.
Have electrical issues on the 2019 Terrain caused any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries tied to electrical system complaints on the 2019 Terrain.
How does the 2019 Terrain compare to other model years for electrical complaints?
The 2019 Terrain's 22% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is higher than most other Terrain model years, though the 2025 model year shows a higher 31% share on a much smaller number of complaints.

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.